The Untold Triumphs of Madam CJ Walker: Unraveling Netflix's Self-Made Transformation

Summary

"Self Made" deviates from the real-life account of Madam C.J. Walker in certain aspects, notably depicting Addie Monroe as a villain, despite her being a similarly accomplished businesswoman.

The series fails to accurately portray Madam C.J. Walker's relationship with C.J. Walker, neglecting to mention their time in Denver and their subsequent divorce prior to her relocation to Indianapolis and the establishment of her factory.

Although there were no official protests from sales agents in reality, they did express their worries to Madam C.J. Walker through a petition regarding the placement of her products in drugstores, which resulted in a decline in their own sales.

Netflix's Self Made depicts the true story of Madam C.J. Walker, although certain events in the four-part series have been fictionalized. Based on A'Lelia Bundles' biography, On Her Own Ground, which was written by Walker's great-great-granddaughter, the miniseries takes creative liberties with the actual events. In reality, Madam C.J. Walker, formerly known as Sarah Breedlove, was an innovative entrepreneur who began from humble beginnings and eventually established the successful Walker Manufacturing Company, a haircare empire. Recognized by Guinness World Records, she holds the distinction of being America's first self-made African-American female millionaire.

Renowned for her award-winning role in The Help, Octavia Spencer portrays Madam C.J. Walker in Self Made. Alongside Spencer, the series features an ensemble cast including Tiffany Haddish, Blair Underwood, Carmen Ejogo, Kevin Carroll, Garrett Morris, and J. Alphonse Nicholson. While the series takes certain liberties for the purpose of effective storytelling, it deviates more significantly from the life of Madam C.J. Walker. It is crucial to identify these substantial alterations within Self Made.

Madam C.J. Walker's Feud With Addie Monroe

Addie Monroe, known as Annie Turnbo Malone in real life, was a prominent entrepreneur just like Madam C.J. Walker. In fact, some argue that she was even more successful, as Madam Walker allegedly stole Malone's original "hair grower" formula. By 1920, Malone had built a self-made empire estimated at $14 million. Surprisingly, the series completely ignores Malone's achievements and instead paints her as a villain.

Contrary to what the show suggests, Madam C.J. Walker actually entered the haircare industry by working for Malone in 1904, not four years later. She served as a sales agent for Malone's product called "The Great Wonderful Hair Grower". Self Made implies that their falling out was due to Walker's appearance, with Addie rejecting her as the face of her brand. However, while there were disagreements between the two in real life, there is no evidence to support the notion that it was related to Walker's looks.

Denver And Marriage To C.J. Walker

C.J. Walker, born Charles Joseph Walker, was the third husband of Madam C.J. Walker. This fact was not emphasized in the series Self Made. Before C.J., Madam Walker was married to Moses McWilliams, who fathered their daughter Lelia but passed away after just two years of marriage. Following this, she married John Davis in 1894, but the marriage eventually ended in divorce.

It wasn't until 1906, when Madam C.J. Walker resided in Denver, that she tied the knot with C.J., a professional in the field of advertising. Furthermore, it was during her time in Denver that she embarked on the production of her own hair growth products. Self Made decisively eliminates any mention of Denver from its account. The portrayal in the series depicts the Walkers as a married couple residing in St. Louis prior to their relocation to Indianapolis.

Divorce From C.J. Walker

Self Made inaccurately portrays the timeline of the Walkers' relationship. In the show, it suggests that C.J. accompanied Madam C.J. Walker during her move to Indianapolis, a crucial event in the plot. However, the reality is that they had already divorced in 1910, as stated by the National Women's History Museum. It was only after their separation that she established her business in Indianapolis and constructed a factory. Consequently, C.J. was not present for the majority of the Walker Manufacturing Company's achievements.

Self Made's claim that C.J. had an affair with one of Madam C.J. Walker's employees is indeed true. However, the show omitted the fact that he also battled alcoholism, which further worsened their relationship. Their bond deteriorated rapidly, but unlike the series portrays, Madam C.J. Walker didn't prolong their divorce. Instead, she promptly terminated their marriage, with the assistance of Freeman Ransom, her loyal attorney.

Protests By Madam Walker's Sales Agents

As Madam C.J. Walker strives to expand the presence of her Glossine haircare product in local drugstores, the employees featured in Self Made are seen voicing their concerns outside a grand gala hosted at her opulent mansion in Westchester County, New York. Fearing the potential loss of their livelihoods if the product becomes readily available in retail stores, they passionately display their grievances through vivid banners adorned with expressions such as "Empower Us as Sales Agents" and "Grant Respect to Sales Representatives," all while uniting their voices in synchronized chants of "Preserve Glossine! Say No to Drugstore Sales!"

In reality, organized protests were unlikely to have taken place, but sales agents did present Madam Walker with a petition expressing their concerns. The petition highlighted their dissatisfaction with the lack of support they felt when their goods were placed in drugstores, which resulted in a decline in their own sales. Madam Walker attempted to reason with her staff before seeking business advice from her neighbor, John D. Rockefeller. Ultimately, she managed to unite the protestors and gain their support.

Madam C.J. Walker, however, was not one to be challenged easily. She allegedly warned that she would cease working with any agents who did not embrace her methods. Although it is true that John D. Rockefeller resided near Madam Walker's Villa Lewaro estate in Westchester County, there is no evidence suggesting any interaction between the two.

Lelia Walker's Lesbian Relationship

Lelia Walker, who later changed her name to A'Lelia, was the daughter of Madam C.J. Walker. Throughout her life, A'Lelia maintained a close relationship with her mother and eventually took over as president of the Walker Manufacturing Company after Madam C.J. Walker's passing in 1919. In the series "Self Made," A'Lelia's character is portrayed as marrying and divorcing John Robinson, which is based on true events. During this marriage, a strong bond forms between A'Lelia and a hairdresser named Esther. They are depicted happily spending time together, enjoying picnics and lounging on a bed. The series suggests a queer relationship between the two, which goes against Madam C.J. Walker's views.

It is important to note that Esther is a fictional character, and there is no evidence to suggest that the real-life Lelia was a lesbian. Lelia was known for her support of the arts and for founding The Dark Tower, a cultural salon in Harlem that welcomed the LGBTQ+ community. A'Lelia Bundles, the author of the original source material for "Self Made," confirms that A'Lelia Walker had a warm and accepting attitude towards queer individuals. Bundles states, "She had many friends who were queer. She was comfortable, they were very comfortable in her home," in an interview with O Magazine. However, Bundles also speculates that the real woman who inspired Lelia may have formed a close bond with a female friend following the end of her third marriage.