Although there are many important African-American inventors, the most
documented is Sarah Breedlove, known universally as Madam C. J. Walker. She was born
on December 23, 1876 in Delta, Louisana. Madam Walker was orphaned at the age of
seven and moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi with her sister at the age of ten. She was
married at the age of fourteen to Moses (Jeff) McWilliams and had a daughter, A'Lelia, in 1885, at the age of
eighteen. Madam Walker's husband Moses was reportedly killed in a race riot in 1887
which left her to raise her daughter alone.
Madam Walker moved to St. Louis and made a living as a laundress
and continued her education in public night schools. During the 1890's Madam
Walker's hair began to fall out, especially around her temple area, due to alopecia caused
by several factors including stress, diet, and hygiene. She noticed that many other
African-Americam women had the same problem. After researching and experimenting
with various mixtures to grow and straighten hair, Madam Walker had a breakthrough.
Between 1900 and 1905, she invented a formula with a secret ingredient (probably sulfer)
which she always said had been revealed to her by a "big African man" in a
dream, that would stimulate hair growth.
With the discovery of this formula and with her entrepreneural skills,
Madam Walker started her own business. Though she is credited with doing so, she did
not invent the straightening comb.
In 1905, Madam Walker moved to Denver and married an old friend,
Charles Joseph Walker a newspaperman. By 1906, because of his ability to help her
with advertising they went into business together selling Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair
Grower. To promote the new product line, Madam Walker traveled into many
African-American communities. She would demonstrate her product anywhere there was
an audience including churches and lodges.
In 1908, Madam Walker moved her business to Pittsburg where she opened
her first training school for "hair culturist" called Lelia College. In
1910, she setteled in Indianapolis where she built a factory, hair and manicure salon, and
another training school. Less than a year after arriving, she made headlines in the
national Black press for contribution $1000 to the building fund of the
"colored" YMCA in Indianapolis.
As her client list kept growing and with the production of other inventions,
Madam C. J. Walker became the first American woman of ANY
race to become a millionaire.
"I am a woman who came from
the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there 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"
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"Madam Walker, 1912,
National Negro Business League Conv.
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African-American Inventors 
