Sarah Breedlove

Madam C.J. Walker, born as Sarah Breedlove, was born in 1867 in Louisiana.  She lived on a cotton plantation, with her parents having just been freed from slavery when she was born. She became an orphan at 7 when her parents both died, so she then lived with her sister and brother-in-law in Mississippi.  She also worked on a cotton farm there and helped around the house, being abused by her brother-in-law.  She married Moses McWilliam at age 14 after escaping her sisters household, and gave birth to a daughter. Her husband died a couple years later, so she had to work to gain money for her and her daughter.  Sarah then met her new husband Charles J. Walker, who helped her develop her hair product company.  Since she had a scalp disorder which gave her hair loss, she experimented with a hair entrepreneur to finally create her product, pomade, brushing, and heated combs.  As her business grew, she made factories and beauty schools, and her product became popular through African Americans.  She became a the first American women millionaire, and donated to many charities and causes. Walker died in 1919 as a great effect to the Harlem Renaissance.