Madam C.J. Walker: From Cotton Fields to Empire (Part 1)

Indianapolis, Indiana. How do you measure success? For some of us, it's about money or material possessions that reflect our social status. For others, it's more about looking back on where you started and how far you've come. You may have not heard the name Sarah Breedlove, but odds are you've heard of Madam C.J. Walker. Sarah Breedlove was her given name for the purposes of this episode until we reach the point where Madam Walker gets her business going. We will refer to her as Sarah.

TIMELINE
1865: By the time the war ended in 1865, the south had been largely devastated by the destruction of railroads, homes, and factories.
1867: Sarah Breedlove was born on December 23, 1867, near Delta, Louisiana.
1877: A few years later, in 1877, the sisters and Lavinia's husband, Jesse Powell, moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
1885: In June of 1885, the couple had a daughter, Lila, who would later go by the name Alila.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Indianapolis is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 27 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

If you liked this: Episode 180 (Hagerstown, Indiana)

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

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