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“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the wash-tub. Then I was promoted to the cook kitchen, and from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. I have built my own factory on my own ground!” —Madam C. J. Walker addressing the National Negro Business League in Chicago, 1912 Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist, Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919) created a haircare empire, including a product line, training schools, and salons, which made her one of the wealthiest African Americans of her time. Walker garnered the support of Booker T. Washington, one of the nation’s most powerful advocates for Black businesses, and she supported Black colleges, secondary schools, and social organizations, such as Black YMCA branches. Learn more about Madam C. J. Walker in our newest photography exhibition, "In the Driver's Seat: The Rise of Madam C. J. Walker," which is on view post-security in Terminal 3 and online at: https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/madam-c-j-walker Link also via bio.
This image was posted on April 01, 2021.