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Langston Hughes,
Poet (1902-1967)
Madame C.J. Walker, business woman (1869-1919)
Madame C. J.
Walker who, because of her innovations in the cosmetics business, was
to become one of the wealthiest and most famous women of her race experienced
an
early life of poverty and hardship. Born to ex-slave parents in Delta, Louisiana,
Sarah
McWilliams was orphaned at the age of seven, married at 14 and was left a
widow
with a small child at the age of 20. Deciding to begin a new life, she traveled
to St.
Louis and worked as a laundress in order to send her daughter to school. In
the
1890's, she married Charles J. Walker and, under the name of Madame C.J. Walker,
subsequently made famous her new hair-styling formula.
In 1910, she
went to Indianapolis to begin the manufacture of her hair preparations,
later adding a complete line of toiletries and cosmetics to her products.
As her
business expanded, she established many Walker schools of beauty culture across
the country. In the process, she became the first black woman millionaire.
Before her death in 1919, Madame Walker was well-known for her philanthopic
activities: she made large bequests to the NAACP, the YMCA of St. Louis, Tuskegee
Institute, and Bethune-Cookman College, and also stipulated in her will that
two-thirds
of the profits of her company should be given to charitable organizations.
Black International Cinema Berlin
28
Years of Black International Cinema Film Awards
1991 - 2018