Topic: Madam CJ Walker
Hey guys, I wanted to start off Black History Month with an individual I am thankful for who has paved the way in the hair business and the black community.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Since the '70s, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
I want to begin this post by shedding light on a true visionary, Madam C.J. Walker. Madam Walker started her business at a time when women, including women of color, had few rights and little opportunity. Along with her peer Helena Rubenstein, they had opened their first beauty salon, the Valaze House of Beauty in 1902. These women were pioneers in the beauty industry. They knew that the end game was less about beauty itself, and more about female empowerment.
Madam C.J. Walker also invented a line of African American hair products after suffering from a scalp ailment that resulted in her own hair loss. She promoted her products by traveling around the country giving lecture demonstrations and eventually established Madame C.J. Walker Laboratories to manufacture cosmetics and train sales beauticians.
Her business acumen led her to be one of the first black American women to become a self-made millionaire. As she was one of the most successful women entrepreneurs and the first self-made female millionaire, she pushed boundaries and challenged the status quo. Madam Walker offers young women starting their own businesses, the power of philanthropy and doing for others. The philanthropy she did out of the goodness of her heart, elevated the eyes of the public.
With her work, I am so thankful not only as a black woman but also a woman in the beauty industry!
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