Member-only story
There’s No Erasure in Veneration: A ‘Self-Made’ Recap
She’s an ancestor.
I’ve admired Madam C. J. Walker for years. In awe of her ability to create wealth for herself and others in such a hostile climate. I was excited to see another series paying homage to a Black woman during Women’s History Month. Looked forward to what it offered. I pondered what inspiration I could gain from her story? Nuggets I could take away and apply in real-time. And though I gathered a few good gems, it’s unfortunate another opportunity to tell our story became overshadowed by Hollywood tropes and recycled narratives akin to our community. Sourness met disappointment through Sarah’s creative theft and the misrepresentation of Annie Turnbo Malone.
I’ll start with the positives.
I resonated with Sarah Breedlove’s tenacity and spirit of vision portrayed in the series. She set out with a goal to break societal norms and re-imagine entrepreneurship with a focus on the independent Black woman. Sarah wanted more, saw an opportunity and took it. She let no distraction stop her — not even the love of a partner.
Her vision guided thousands of women into greatness. Before there was an Avon or MaryKay, Malone and Walker owned the scene, and I respect their pioneering ways. Walker’s niche was that she understood storytelling as a tool to reach her consumer because…
