Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

I found this to be a literary masterpiece as well as a riveting depiction of what life was like for almost all middle-aged black women in such a dark moment within the body politic of America. This book spoke to the true character of Madam Walker and her life's work which was in many ways selfless, it appears that she lived her life in an attempt at always trying to make life better for those around her.The author A'Lelia Bundles has taken great care and consideration in translating in vibrant detail, the events of Madam Walker's trials and triumphs and her single-minded drive to accomplish what could have been considered as unthinkable at the turn of the century. Anyone who enjoys reading biography will also appreciate the extensive research that has been ascribed to this work, the noticeable attention to detail that has been applied to support, substantiate and sustain the historical record of events is second to none.

Our Bookclub, Black Girls Think & Grow Rich, wanted to separate fact from fiction regarding the ” movie “SELF MADE”.The mini series was “inspired” by the original book “On Her Own Ground” penned by Author, Ms. A'Lelia Bundles . A’Lelia (Madam C.J. Walker’s Great-Great Grand-Daughter) shares the FACTS about Madam and answers so many questions that we have always had about Madam in this book.This is a well written book. I prefer audio books, but I bought the paperback as well because it is FULL of historical facts and GREAT photos and deserves a special space on my bookshelf. It’s a book I want my Grandchildren to read when they’re old enough. As an African American woman in the natural hair business, reading THIS book about the first Black woman Millionaire has caused me to not only focus on my business model, but has created an urgency in me to learn more about the women in my own family.The overall consensus of the Bookclub was a DEFINITE 5 Star Book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Bravo, Ms. Bundles!!! I hope we can get another movie that is more factually based on Madam’s amazing journey and contributions.

Incredible true story of Madam C.J. Walker, the first black female entrepreneur in US history to build a national business and become a millionaire. Her parents were freed slaves working as sharecroppers in 1876 when she was born. Self-educated and highly ambitious, she built an empire in the cosmetic business, developing products to heal unhealthy scalps and promote hair growth in black women. She trained other black women to sell the products and open salons, lifting an entire generation of poor uneducated black women from lifelong toil as washerwomen, sharecroppers, or domestic servants into successful independent businesswomen. The book is written by Madam Walker's great-great granddaughter, using photos, letters, and other personal documents, in addition to magazine and newspaper accounts of her extraordinary life. Once established as a successful businesswoman, she used her influence to champion civil rights, overturn Jim Crowe laws, and abolish the hateful practice of lynching. This is an inspiring story of what one woman accomplished in the early 1900s, overcoming her gender, her race, and her lack of education.

Madam CJ Walker has an very interesting life story of how she was the child of slaves and became the wealthiest black woman in America. How the story was written however was slow and repetitive. I thought I'd been reading this book forever.Don't get me wrong, this is a story that we need to know. So many parts of it are simply amazing. I just wasn't a fan of the writing. I will probably enjoy it more watching on Netflix.

The book came damaged. The Amazon box had no damage. Just the book. Super disappointed as I bought it because I thought this beautiful book would look great on my coffee table, & I have only watched it on Netflix like 100 times. It's my favorite movie. When I buy something I expect it to come in perfect condition. I will be sending this one back for a replacement, & I absolutely would not recommend buying from this store at all...

Having worked with historians, I could tell the author did intense research on this book project. When it comes to African American history, one must dive deep into the archives of historical records, newspapers, and other periodicals and piece all the facts together to paint a complete picture. A'lelia did just that.I'm sure her ancestors would be very proud.

Thank you for all you've done with continuing your family's legacy in this way Ms. A'lelia Bundles. This book in and of itself is an American Treasure, and I don't take for granted the exceeding value I've received by investing in it as part of my library. Your careful, detailed research and wise insights have made an indelible impact on my life.I am so grateful for God's great gift to me through you and your family. I won't go into a lot of detail in this post about just how deeply this book has impacted me, but know that it is very significant. So, I hope to help others take a closer look for their own benefit, also, and am glad for this chance to leave a review.I truly feel that this book should be required reading for every American school child at the middle school level and above. Truthfully, a teacher could easily use an entire semester, or even a whole year, to go through this book in detail with their students and probably still feel they weren't able to fit all of its goodness into the curriculum.I also definitely feel that homeschool families, like our family, would greatly benefit from a book like this because it helps to tie all of the historical pieces together all in one book.Sincerely,Donna Marie Johnson[...] On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker

I wasn't familiar with much of the story of Madame CJ Walker, but what I especially appreciated was how it put the story in context of what was happening in the US at that time, and brought my attention to many elements of US history that were unfamiliar to me.Definitely the worth the read!