Conclusion

Madam C.J. Walker had a drive and personal connection while creating her hair products. Her determination to invent the “Wonderful Hair Grower” came from her personal experience of suffering from hair loss and her desire to help improve the appearance of African American womens hair, attitude, and place in society. As a result, her compassion with the hair product the ”Wonderful Hair Grower” enabled her to create her manufacturing company called the “Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company” with manufacturing plants in Denver and Pittsburgh, and her headquarters in Indianapolis (Bundles, A., 2001). In Walker’s lifetimes, she ammased a fortune of over 1 millions dollars (Vare & Ptacek, 1988). Her success continued well past her death as she gave her buisness to her daughter Leila to manage. Although Madam C.J. Walker had a wealth of over 1 million dollars, when she passed, she left trust funds for organizations such as Negro orphanages and schools (Vare & Ptacek, 1988).

Not only did Walker’s business improve hair products for African American women, it produced many opportunities for female employment in the Walker Company. I think that Walker’s invention and journey to become the first African American millionaire in America made a huge impact on not only equality and segregation issues, but enhanced women’s physical appearance and self esteem. The Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company supported many African American women with jobs that gave a solid income. Her success served the country as advocating for women’s independence and ability to succeed in the workforce.

Most importantly, Walker’s success enhanced African American women’s ability to feel confident and beautiful in their skin. The industry of beauty products for African American women blossomed from Walker’s invention and business success. It is amazing how an invention to improve the quality of hair became such a drastic turning point for African American hair care and beauty.