The washerwoman who became a millionaire: the success story of Sarah Breedlove (7 photos)

After the abolition of slavery in the United States, did blacks equalize with whites? As if not so: it is time for racial segregation. And it was easier to say that former slaves can do than what cannot be done.





In fact, yesterday's slaves continued to work for former owners, only for a miserable fee. And from hopelessness and absence prospects climbed into the bottle or loop. But there were also fighters among them.



The girl was born in 1867. Slavery for two years how it was cancelled. But it left an imprint on Sarah's parents, depriving them of health. At the age of 7, the baby was orphaned. She was taken by her married elder sister Luvenia, who used the girl as a servant. Tired of hard work, Sarah married Moses McWilliams at age 14 and ran away. Family life did not last long: her husband died, and at the age of 20 she remained alone with a small daughter in her arms.

There would be no happiness



Then there was another attempt to arrange family life. But marriage with John Davis did not last long. Like the next one, with Charles Joseph Walker. The third spouse also did not stay long, but left the surname under which she would soon become famous.

As a result, the woman moved to Missouri, where her three brother, and got a job as a laundress. Paid little - a little more than a dollar in a day. And the work was not only physically difficult, but also dangerous. Soon Sarah began to notice that she had appeared and did not go away. dandruff. And then my hair started falling out in clumps.

Non-healing wounds appeared on the hands due to alkali. But the woman categorically did not want to turn into a wreck before time. She began to look for a way to keep her hair, experimenting with simple pharmacy ointments and lappings, mixing them in different proportions.

Soon, relatives noticed the transformation of the worker and began to begging for a recipe, marveling at how luxurious, thick and shiny hair became. Non-healing wounds are also in the past.

Tools are not for everyone



It's funny, but later Madame CJ Walker (she will enter business history under the name of her ex-husband) focused specifically on creating care products for blacks. After all, if the whites could have them everything prohibit, then why not amuse pride at least in this way?

The woman went to work for the entrepreneur Annie Malone, specialized in hair products. And like a sponge absorbed all the nuances of the case. Then she started developing her own line of shampoos and ointments for hair. Looks like several have worked. factors: both the innate instinct of a woman, and a really empty niche in market. And, of course, a demonstration of concern for a special category of consumers - black.

Backpack with beauty



A network of female agents began working for Madame CJ Walker. For them, a uniform was required - white blouses and black skirts, no gouging and negligence. And behind his back - a mandatory satchel with a variety of products - shampoos, rubbing, oils, ointments. Yes, especially for blacks.

But in lectures on hair care, which the woman regularly arranged, it was not only about that. She spoke and about the attitude towards ourselves, changing the system of views, which should was to kill slaves in blacks and change the vision of the world and yourself in it.

goodbye poverty



The woman's business developed. She hired and trained staff. Opened new salons. The first assistant was an adult daughter Lelia. Soon the brand C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company went on international level. And Sarah herself became not only wealthy, but a very rich woman.

The beggar girl who picked cotton for food could now allow a villa with a couple of dozen rooms, a private car, the most luxury clothes and jewelry.

But not only a demonstration of wealth was engaged in a business woman. She opened schools for black girls, sponsored religious organization donated large sums to charity.

Unfortunately, life is short. Sarah was only 51 the year she had a stroke. The daughter tried to continue the family business. But the Great Depression struck, it was not up to that. And business gradually fell apart.



Shot from the series "Madame CJ Walker"

But the name of Madame Walker, who went down in history as a business woman, philanthropist and first female millionaire in US history, continues remain motivating for new generations of businessmen.