Madam C. J. Breedlove Research Papers

Breedlove, Sarah (December 23, 1867- May 25, 1919), known as Madam C.J. Walker was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist. Breedlove was born near Delta, Louisiana, one of six children and was also the first child in her family to be born into freedom. Her parents were Owen and Minerva Breedlove. After her parents died Breedlove became an orphan at the age of seven. In 1882, at the age of fourteen Breedlove married Moses McWilliams, allegedly to escape being mistreated by her brother-in-law. They had one daughter, A’Lelia McWilliams, born June 6, 1885. Moses died in 1887. In 1888, Breedlove and her daughter moved to Saint Louis, Missouri. Breedlove began to work as a laundress, hardly earning more than one dollar a day. She was determined that her daughter would have a proper education. Breedlove also sang at St. Paul African American Methodist Episcopal Church and she began to want an educated life like the community of women at church. Breedlove suffered from severe dandruff and other scalp issues such as baldness. Which is caused by skin disorders and harsh

Walker Manufacturing Company. Walker later built a factory, hair salon, and beauty school where she trained her sales agents and she also added a laboratory to help with research. Walkers staff included Freeman Ransom, Marjorie Stewart Joyner, and Alice Kelly as well as others to help manage the company. Many of Walker’s employees were women who strived to gain success. To increase her company’s sales force Walker trained women to be beauty culturists using “The Walker System.” Her method of grooming that was designed to promote hair growth and to condition the scalp through the use of her products. The system included a shampoo, a pomade that helps hair grow, strenuous brushing, and applying iron combs to hair. The Walker method claimed to make lackluster and brittle hair become soft and