In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Noliwe Rooks and comedian Athena Kugblenu to learn all about the life and business savvy of 19th-century Black American haircare entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker. After working as a sales agent for another haircare brand, Walker founded her own company, selling products to help Black women look after their hair and becoming incredibly wealthy in the process. But how did she make so much money, and what did she spend it on? From impoverished beginnings to a lavish villa in New York, via her charitable and political work, this episode charts Walker's journey to becoming the first self-made woman millionaire in American history. This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Andrew Himmelberg Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse
My name's Joe Wilkinson, and I've managed to force Patrick Bamford to come on a podcast with me, and he's gonna slowly fall in love with me.
Do you go to the tip?
Believe it or not, yeah, I do.
Do you go to the supermarket?
No.
You know when all the shirts started getting tight on the players and they started selling them like that to the general public?
Yeah, yeah.
And everyone looked like sausages.
My mate's a footballer with me, Patrick.
Bamford and Joe Wilkinson.
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Hello and welcome to you're dead to me, the radio four comedy podcast that takes history seriously.
My name is Greg Jenner.
I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster.
Today we're jumping into our Ford Model T and motoring back to 19th century America to learn all about the brilliantly successful black hair care entrepreneur, Madam CJ Walker.
And to help us, we have two very special guests in history corner.
She's the Elle Herbert Ballou University professor of africana studies at Brown university in America.
She researches the cultural and racial implications of beauty, fashion and adornment, as well as race, capitalism and education.
You may have read one of her many books, including hair raising, beauty, culture and african american women, is Professor Noliwe Rooks.