Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919) was one of the first American women to become wealthy solely through her own efforts. In addition to personal appearances by Madam Walker and traveling saleswomen called Walker's Agents,advertisements in African American newspapers and periodicals promoted her hair and complexion products.
By 1917, this daughter of former slaves had built the largest black-owned company in the United States. Advertisements for hair-straightening products were (and continue to be) very common in the African American press.
