On Her Own Ground : The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker

Author: A'Lelia Bundles
List Price: $30.00
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0684825821
Publisher: Scribner (01 February, 2001)
Sales Rank: 48,695
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5

Customer Reviews

Rating: 5 out of 5
A compelling portrait of an American pioneer
On Her Own Ground details the life story of Madame C.J. Walker, best known for developing a line of hair care products. To know her only for this accomplishment would be short sighted, indeed. Born to slaves, Sarah Breedlove (her given name) was orphaned by age 7, married by age 14 and widowed with a small daughter by age 20. She was one of many women who took in washing to earn a living and to support her daughter. She began to experiment with hair salves when she noticed her hair was breaking and falling out. Tapping into a common problem for black women of the time, she began to produce and sell her discovery. This is also the story of a woman who was in the forefront of black educational and political movements of the early 1900's. She was friends (and sometimes adversaries) with many of the well known names of the time,including Booker T. Washington,Mary McLeod Bethune,and W.E.B DuBois. and a force behind providing educational and employment opportunities for African American women. Her daughter , who also helped run the family business was at the forefront of the Harlem Reniassance. Working against the prejudice of not only her race, but her sex, she built a family industry that exisits today ( although no longer in family hands).She built a home among the most wealthy of the time and enjoyed an income comprabable to any white, male executive of the time. A'Lelia Bundles has skillfully woven a complex portrait of a woman who shaped marketing techniques still used universally today. Using a wealth of family material (Bundles is the great-great granddaughter of Madam Walker)as well as other well documented sources, the author opens the door to a vibrant time in Black history, provides a historical context to help explain and compliment this amazing woman and tells a story so compelling that this is a hard book to put down.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Good Reading
This book tells the incredible story of Madam C.J. Walker and her rise to fame and fortune. The author, takes time to include the complex relationships between her and her daughter, neighbors, competitors and finanacial contributors of her business and political pursuits during the course of her life. She includes the good, the bad and the ugly.

A'Lelia Bundles has untangled the life of Madam C. J. Walker in a way that is easy to read and follow. My biggest critism is that some of the details of her business decisions did not get proper attention. Other than the well told stories of her travels to train "Walker Agents" and make inroads to some of the best known Negro business and political organizations there is little detail of business acquistions, product expansions, etc. Though the company continued until the mid 1980's, I am curious as to what happend to some of the key players of it's most properus time - Ransom, Mae Walker, and others - and who ran the business after the death of A'Lelia Walker, her daughter. These lingering questions are my reasons for giving the book 4 stars in stead of 5.

I would still recommend this book to anyone.

Rating: 5 out of 5
My Speech On Mrs. Walker
Mrs. Bundles,
I just wanted to let you know, I got an 'A' for my presentation on your great- great grandmother. My teacher told me that my speech was on a 2nd year speech class level and that I was like a piece of brass, I just needed some fine polishing. I may have a future in motivational speaking and I just had to thank you. The information in your book was not only factual and informative, but interesting to me as well as my mother and sisters. Our family history could be parallel to yours, except we have yet to find the key to financial success, but we will.
I have fully enjoyed your book and reading what you yourself have been able to accomplish has been an added inspiration to me.
Thank you for your time in guiding me to my 'A'



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