Which company did Madam C. J. Walker build after launching a hair-care business for Black women in the early 20th century?

Madam C. J. Walker built the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company after launching a hair-care business for Black women in the early 20th century.

Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, Walker developed and sold hair-care products designed for Black women. She trained sales agents, created a recognizable brand, and used demonstrations and personal selling to reach customers across the United States and the Caribbean.

Her company became a major example of Black female entrepreneurship during the Jim Crow era. Walker also invested in philanthropy and supported educational, civic, and anti-lynching causes. Her business headquarters eventually operated from Indianapolis.

The company’s popular “Walker System” included preparation, care, and styling practices rather than a single miraculous product. A common mix-up is calling Walker the first female self-made millionaire without qualification; that widely repeated claim is disputed, although she was unquestionably a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.