Madam C.J. Walker was raised by both of her parents, who were recently freed slaves (Owen and Minerva). Both of her parents died due to unknown causes,
so Walker became an orphan at the age of seven years old. She moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1877 with her sister and brother-in-law. Her job was picking cotton and probably doing household work (no documentation of this employment). When she was 14 she got away from the harsh working environments and the mistreatment from her brother-in-law and ended up marrying a man named Moses McWilliams in June 6, 1885. Madam C.J Walker gave birth to her daughter named A'Lelia. Her husband died two years after their daughter was born, she took her daughter up to St.Louis where her brother owned a barbershop. She worked at her brothers shop as a washerwoman who earned $1.50 a day. Later Madam C.J Walker found her second husband, he worked in advertising and helped her promote her hair care line for African American hair.
Madam C.J. Walker was inspired to do a hair care line because she once had a scalp condition that's caused her hair lost, and wanted to create products that will help a African American hair.In 1913 she divorced her husband and traveled to places such as Latin America and the Caribbean to promote her business. Not only did Walker care about her hair care business but she also founded philanthropies who helped with educational scholarships/ donations to, the elderly, NAACP, and the NCL. She wanted to help improve the lives of African Americans.
Madam C.J? Walker became widely successful. Her profits weren't growing in 1908, she open a factory and a beauty school in Pittsburgh, and she transferred her business operations to Indianapolis in 1910. Madam C.J Walker died May 25,1919 due to hypertension, she was 51 years old. She had many accomplishments and helped many people, her legacy is important. She helped many African Americans by providing the proper hair products they need and even donated to the African American community. Many people still use her products today.