03/31/2023
We’re wrapping up an incredible Women’s History Month by paying tribute to two inspiring figures who played an important role in paving the way for women in business. Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam CJ Walker are two of the first female entrepreneurs who, beyond reaching success, used that power to support their surrounding communities for the greater good.
Annie Turnbo Malone understood from an early age the importance that people placed on women’s appearance, especially African American women. Hair had the power to represent social standing and class, and had a direct effect on the opportunities that women were given. In the early 1900’s, Malone’s fascination with chemistry led her to develop products that would aid hair growth. With time, her success allowed her to establish a cosmetics school called Poro College. This college trained and employed thousands of women, and even acted as a meeting point for major African American organizations who were denied access to public places because of segregation. Malone’s economic success was used to support philanthropic efforts around her community, and changed the lives of many African American women.
Sarah Breedlove, most known as Madam CJ Walker, was one of the women whose life Malone completely changed. Walker was a single mother who worked as a laundress to support herself and her child. She struggled with scalp issues of her own and started experiencing hair loss at an early age. Walker enrolled in Poro College and eventually became an agent of Malone’s. Inspired by the business’ success, she created her own remedy to repair her scalp and soon started to sell it to the public. In 1908, Walker relocated to Pennsylvania where she opened a beauty school called Lelia College, named after her daughter. Her business skyrocketed and Walker was recognized as the first self-made female millionaire. Walker is estimated to have employed about 40,000 African Americans. Like Annie Turnbo Malone, she used her fortune for philanthropic causes like supporting the NAACP, who was focused on improving voting rights and running anti-lynching campaigns.
Malone and Walker were not just inspiring because of the success they were able to attain, despite socioeconomic and racial disparities, they used their success to help others achieve success as well. Though Malone and Walker eventually had competing businesses, they taught us the importance of sharing one’s success and how powerful it can be to uplift others to reach their own potential.
