Madam CJ Walker

Madam "Mrs. Phloem" C.J. Walker

Hey! My name is Mrs. Phloem! But today, you can call me Madam C.J. Walker!

Most commonly known for creating hair care products for African American women. I am also one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire!

I was born in Near Delta, Louisiana on December 23rd, 1867 and passed May 25th, 1919.

During the early 1890’s, I developed a problem with my scalp that caused me to lose a lot of my hair. I tried to stop the hair loss by using everything from home remedies to store products, but nothing worked!

In 1905, I was hired to sell hair products for a woman named Annie Turnbo Malone. She was also a Black entrepreneur with a hair care line.

By 1906, I began my own line of hair care products that cured the scalp problem I was having.

By 1907, my husband and I were traveling the south and southeast of the US to promote and demonstrate my products!

In 1907, the “Walker Method” was born. This involved the use of my hair care products, brushes, and heated combs.

In 1908, I opened a factory and beauty school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1910, I made Indianapolis the official home of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company!

My company didn’t just create cosmetics, we also trained beauticians, the “Walker Agents!” “Walker Agents” became known throughout African American communities in the U.S. by promoting the phrase “Cleanliness and Loveliness.”

In 1913, I was able to donate the largest amount of money by an African American to an Indianapolis YMCA.

In 1918, I had a mansion built designed by an African American architect named Vertner Tandy, in Irvington, NY, and named it “Villa Lewaro.” This mansion held many meetings for prominent figures during the Harlem Renaissance and became a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

In 1927, an African American cultural center was named after me called the “Walker Building.” The “Walker Building” is also listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Today, I am Madam C.J. Walker. And so are you!