The Real Story Behind America’s First Female, Self-Made Millionaire

When the Netflix historical drama Self Made premiered in March of 2020, millions of people worldwide heard Madam C.J. Walker’s name for the very first time. For those who have yet to watch the series, Madam Walker is the ultimate rags to riches story.

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But what makes her even more impressive was her ability to overcome extreme adversity in a time where women, let alone Black women, were rarely seen in the white male-dominated business world. So just how did Sarah Breedlove rise to become Madam C.J. Walker, the first female, self-made millionaire documented in America?

This is the story of how one woman exceeded everyone’s expectations and built a company from the ground up, despite color divisions that ran deep.

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