Madam C. J. Walker, the successful businesswoman who defied the racial and gender constraints of her time, has become a key part of our national historical narrative. Central to her story is the way she used her personal success to forcibly change long-established business, social, and political networks and foster new ones that empowered African Americans and women.

Through her business activities, Walker laid the foundation for an international network of Walker agents who were given the tools to connect with one another, build their own community, and garner collective power. She provided black women professional and business education as well as a path toward economic independence. Beyond her business, she was an activist with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a vocal advocate for federal anti-lynching legislation and women’s suffrage. Walker was also a generous philanthropist, supporting a variety of organizations aimed at developing the business and political potential of the African American community in her time and beyond.