| Hey there, AYA Family! August is here, and we’re celebrating a double-header: Black Business Month AND Black Philanthropy Month! It’s like a two-for-one special on inspiration and impact. Today, let’s chat about a woman who could’ve given any modern-day influencer a run for their money: Madam C.J. Walker. Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867, she was the first in her family to be born free after the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, Sarah’s early years were far from easy. Orphaned at 7, married at 14, and widowed by 20, she faced more challenges before her 21st birthday than many face in a lifetime. Little did the world know, these hardships were just setting the stage for one of the most remarkable success stories in American history. |
Her “aha!” moment came from a problem many of us can relate to: hair loss. While there were hair products for Black women, most were made by white-owned businesses that didn’t truly understand Black hair needs. So, Sarah cooked up her own solution – literally! Her custom-made pomade combined with the “Walker System” treatment (involving scalp preparation, lotions and iron combs) would completely change the Black haircare industry. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
 Madam C.J. Walker’s hair grower product was an immensely successful part of beauty culture. July 20,1919 In 1905, with just $1.05 in her pocket, she moved to Denver. Colorado, you can claim a piece of this success story! It was here that she married ad-man Charles Joseph Walker, renamed herself “Madam C.J. Walker,” and launched “Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.” She started her mail-order business in town, left her daughter to run it, and moved on to conquer the world. |
| Here’s the part that really gets me: Madam Walker didn’t just build a business; she built a community. She trained thousands of women as” beauty culturists” – think of them as the original beauty influencers – giving them the skills to start their own businesses. In a world that offered Black women very little opportunity, she created a network of empowered, financially independent entrepreneurs who could support themselves and their families. As her empire grew, so did her impact. At its peak, her company employed 40,000 African American women and men across the U.S., Central America, and the Caribbean. In 1917, she even founded the National Negro Cosmetics Manufacturers Association. Talk about creating your own table when you’re not invited to others! |
 Badge from the National Convention of Madam C. J. Walker’s Agents, 1917Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History andCulture, Gift of A’Lelia Bundles / Madam Walker Family Archives |
 Madam Walker and several friends in her automobile, 1911 Walker established clubs for her employees, encouraging them to give back to their communities and rewarding them with bonuses when they did. She funded scholarships for women at Tuskegee Institute, donated generously to the NAACP, the Black YMCA, and became a powerful voice in the anti-lynching movement. Just prior to dying of kidney failure, she bequeathed two-thirds of future net profits to charity in her will. |
| Like Madam Walker, we know that success isn’t just about individual achievement—it’s about lifting up our entire community. Our programs are led by Black entrepreneurs who’ve walked this path and come out stronger. We understand that a “business plan” for Black entrepreneurs isn’t just about numbers and projections. It’s about preparing for the barriers ahead and developing strategies to overcome them. This is where you come in, dear reader! Your support can help us provide the secret sauce (or should I say, hair product?) that our entrepreneurs need to succeed. 1.Make a one-time donation of $828 in honor of Black Philanthropy Day on 8/28 2. Become a monthly donor with a gift of $82.80 These donations may be eligible for the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (for Colorado residents) 3. Open a Donor Advised Fund with AYA 4. Spread the word about our work to your network By donating to AYA, you’re not just helping start a business; you’re helping create a legacy. You’re saying, “I believe in you” to every aspiring entrepreneur out there. And let me tell you, that belief is more powerful than any hair growth formula! Together, we can turn “I wish” into “I did.” With gratitude, excitement, and a touch of Madam Walker’s entrepreneurial spirit, Benny Samuels, CEO AYA Foundation P.S. For our Colorado friends: Your donation of $25 or more could be eligible for a 25% Enterprise Zone Tax Credit, amplifying your impact. |