Madame C. J. Walker
(1867–1919)

Orphaned at age 7, Madame C.J. Walker grew up poor, but her hair-care invention turned her into North America’s first self-made female millionaire. But making money and styling hair wasn’t what Walker was about. Her goal was to empower poor black women and show them how to become successful. Through her hair-care college, Walker trained thousands of working-class black women and gave them the opportunity to become self-sufficient.