March 7, 2008
Description: Sarah Breedlove Walker
Image copyright: http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=21469&rendTypeId=4
1. What conditions of her childhood made Sarah Breedlove Walker understand the value of hard work?
Sarah's family were former slaves, and had five people living in a one room cabin house. Sarah had learned to carry water to field hands, drop cotton seed into plowed furrows, and, for a dollar a week, wash white people's clothes with strong lye soap, wooden sticks, and washboards.
2. Why did Walker develop her special hair formula?
Her hair was falling out, and she had a dream with the ingredients for a new product.
3. Why did Walker move to Denver? Why did she later establish her company in Indianapolis? Why do you think she might have eventually moved to New York, although her products continued to be manufactured in Indianapolis?
Walker moved to Denver to start her business because St. Louis already had many companies being manufactured there. She moved to Indianapolis because it was one if the biggest inland manufacturing cities. She moved to New York as a base for her company.
4. What factors do you think helped Walker's business be so successful?
I think some factors that helped Walkers business become so successful was knowing where she came from and how hard she had to work. Also being determined and not letting anything get in her way of her success even though some people wanted to hold her back in her life.
5. How did Walker benefit the lives of African-American women?
Walker benefited the life of African American women by showing them that they can build businesses too. She showed them that African Americans women are powerful and can do anything that the non-colored people can do.
