Madam C.J. Walker has a tonic for that
Since my life revolves around women's history, sometimes I assume everyone knows a thing when they emphatically do NOT. They've got other shit to do. And I get that. Thus this newsletter!
If I mentioned Madam C.J. Walker, what comes to mind for you? If it's that she was one of the wealthiest African Americans of her time (that time was the turn of the century!) and used her position to be a badass and fight for racial justice, then you are CORRECT.
She went from a plantation in Louisiana, where she was born TWO YEARS after the Civil War ended, to St. Louis, to Denver. Inspired by Annie Turnbo Malone (A+ name)'s hair products for Black women, she created Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower at age 38. So great! Why don't more products have the word "wonderful" in them so we can all feel like we're buying things from a magical caravan?
She built a factory for her products in Indianapolis and employed FORTY THOUSAND African American men and women. Then she founded the National Negro Cosmetics Manufacturers Association. Because why not do something else cool.
I won't say Madam C.J. Walker was a self-made millionaire, because no one is. She had help from family, friends, and the women who came before her like the aforementioned Annie Malone (look her up, she's awesome). But she was a brilliant businesswoman who helped her community and made America better. Which is amazing.
If you want to read more about her, check out the biography On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. TO THE BOOKS!