Walker, Madam C.J. (Sarah Breedlove)
1867-1919 · Contribution: 1905-1919
Built a hair care empire training tens of thousands of Black women as sales agents; recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female self-made millionaire in America
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Quick facts
- Category
- Business & Misc.
Impact on the world
Walker created not just products but a national career ladder for Black women, turning tens of thousands of them into independent earners while using her wealth for civil-rights philanthropy.
Sources
- Library of Congress (This Month in Business History)
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