Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867 on a Lousiana plantation, she was a daughter of former slaves. This young woman had transformed herself from an uneducated farm laborer and laundress into one of the most successful women in the 12th century. Even though she was orphaned at the age of seven she still strived to achieve success with the help and side of her sister, Louvenia. She often said, "I got my start by giving myself a start." (Madam C.J. Walker Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Social Activist)
             Sarah married a man named Moses McWilliams at age 14 to escape abuse from her violent brother-in-law, Jesse Powell. They soon had a daughter on June 6, 1885, Lelia, who later became known as A'lelia Walker. Her husband died after a short two years after the birth of their daughter. She picked up her things, along with her daughter, and moved to St. Louis. There she joined her four brothers, who were currently employed as barbers, and worked for as little as $1.50 a day which she put towards her daughters education.
             Although struggling to get buy, Sarah noticed that she was suffering from a scalp aliment in the 1890's which caused her to lose most of her hair. Eager to grow it back, she experimented with homemade remedies and store bought products. Some of these products where made by another entrepreneur Annie Malone who Sarah was inspired by to sell her products. She moved to Denver in 1905 to continue a door to door service where she met her third husband, Charles Joseph Walker, a St Louis newspaperman.
             Sarah had then changed her name to Madam C.J. Walker when finding her own business and selling products under the company name Madam C.J. Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower. This was a scalp conditioning and healing remedy which she said was revealed to her in a dream. The secret ingredient was said to probably have been sulphur though. Some people incorrectly believe it to be true that sh...