Madame C.J. Walker, Latifah Shakir

Artwork Overview

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Madame C.J. Walker, 2012
Where object was made: Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
Material/technique: buttons; beads; collage; found objects; machine piecing; acrylic ink; machine quilting; cotton batting; hand drawing; cotton fabric
Accession number: EL2017.056
Not on display

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Label texts

And Still We Rise

1905: Sarah Breedlove McWilliams, who will later be known as Madame C. J. Walker, starts an African American hair care business with a secret formula she developed. She and her husband will begin traveling in 1907 to promote the “Walker System” of hair care using Madame C. J. Walker hair products. Walker will be America’s first self-made woman millionaire. She is celebrated by the artist as a teacher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Exhibitions