On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker (Lisa Drew Books (Paperback))

A’Lelia Bundles has not only written a fascinating and masterful biography of her great-great-grandmother, but has also woven in a primer on the historical background of the times in which she lived. The first freeborn in her family, Sarah Breedlove achieved at a level that would have seemed impossible for a black child orphaned at the age of seven, married at fourteen, mother at seventeen, and a widow at twenty, growing up in the America of the last third of the 1800s and early 1900s. But life whirled on for her, she grabbed her freedom, fled the cotton fields, was intent on being somebody, for herself and for her daughter, Lelia. Sarah learned early that freedom could be slippery for blacks. Not as easy to grab as she might have thought. She worked as a washerwoman, pulled a scant living, saving each loose penny. She was determined her child would have an education. Lelia would not be scalding her hands and stooping her back at the washtub, Sarah was set on that. Ironically Sarah’s path to success was set when she started to lose her hair, probably due “to a combination of infrequent washing, illness, high fever, scalp disease, low-protein diets, and damaging hair treatments.” This occurrence changed life for her and her daughter, forever. Sarah was not going to be a bald headed colored lady (“The glory of woman lies in her hair.”) She even “prayed to the Lord” for guidance. She searched for remedies, studied deeply into culturing hair. Eventually went to work for Annie Pope-Turbo promoting her hair-care practices and products. After learning the business Sarah went on to develop her own products, traveled the states, selling person-to-person, building a business. Then her world expanded, she married C.J. Walker, a prominent newspaperman. Lelia, active in the business, helped her mother create markets across the country, establishing a successful hair-care enterprise. Ultimately, Sarah, now Madam C.J. Walker, was touted as America’s first female self-made millionaire. But her story wasn’t about a bouquet of dollars. Her life was much more than that, it was about living by her heart, keepin’ on, being somebody for herself and her daughter, standing up strong for her race, opening doors for “Negro womanhood,” in her words, “I have made it possible for many colored women to abandon the washtub for more pleasant and profitable occupation.”The soul of this magnificent woman was probably best expressed as she lay on her deathbed, “I want to live to help my race.” So no, her life, though financially successful, was not about a bouquet of dollars, it was more — much, much more.

"On Her Own Ground:""The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker" (Lisa Drew Books) is an excellent history book about the mid 1800's to early 1900's and it is regarding Ms. Walker's beginning business of creating and concocting new hair remedies for hair shampooing, hair conditioning, and hair growth which were necessary ingredients for black people's hair in the early days as well as it is necessary for black people's hair today. It is interesting to read about how black hair care got started historically.I was able to write a college paper project using this book and other books and I received an 'A' for the grade on my assignment.

On Her Own Ground, The Life and Times of Madam CJ Walker is not just your average `rags to riches story' instead On Her Own Ground, reads like an African American history book, packed with historical figures, dates and events - one in which I wish we would have used when I was in school. The author not only details the remarkable story of business woman, and philanthropist Madam CJ Walker, but the lives and experiences of African Americans from the Reconstruction Era to the Harlem Renaissance as well.I bought the book, interested in starting my own hair care business, thinking I would get an insight on how Madam CJ Walker started and maintained her business and On Her Own Ground delivered this, as well as so much more. I was intrigued by the relationships Madam CJ Walker had with other historical figures, such as Booker T. Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune, Paul Laurence Dunbar, W. E. B. Du Bois, Nannie Helen Burroughs and others, as well as her numerous contributions to organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, NAACP, and numerous educational institutions such as the Tuskegee and Daytona Normal and Industrial Institutes.I was also entertained by the book's account of the relationships of Madam CJ Walker and her daughter A'Lelia Walker, which read like a Tyler Perry movie or play (specifically the account of Madam CJ Walker contemplating pulling out a gun on her cheating husband). And the final chapters leading into the Harlem Renaissance and depicting a glimpse into the life of A'Lelia Walker left me wanting to learn more about her life as well. On Her Own Ground is a very inspirational biography and one that I think everyone should read.

Super fast shipping and definitely A+ quality book!

Why Is it that Madam C.J. Walker isn't found in U.S. history books? Her story is one of endurance, strength, hope, courage, independence and resolve! One of the first African American business women; an entrepreneur, her own self-marketing agent, tireless worker and fierce and fearless in her endeavors to achieve, she is one of the first black women in history to earn the highest wages, in her time! I highly recommend reading this entertaining biography. The only reason I gave it a 4-star in lieu of 5-star, is that it is so loaded with facts; dates and lineage, that it occasionally became a little "dry" in places. There's a vast amount of information to be gleaned! For the most part, it was an intriguing, inspirational and well written book that kept my interest all the way through! The research by its author is mind-boggling and extensive! Kudos to the achievements of Madam C. J. Walker!I chose this title as a selection for our book club. Everyone was blown away by this woman's fierce determination to succeed! We just couldn't understand why she isn't more predominant in American history books in school. None of us remember reading about her contributions!

Nell'800, appena finita la schiavitù negli Stati Uniti, una donna di colore diventa multimilionaria grazie al suo spirito imprenditoriale e si occupa attivamente di far progredire la comunità nera.

I`m sure my wife will enjoy that book once it arrives. Until then, take care and stay safe.

J'ai aimé la série. Cependant le livre est encore plus intéressant ! Reçu dans les temps.

I did it before!

Book was well packaged and excellent value.