A'LELIA

WALKER
ROBINSON
BY TA S H I R A
B R YA N T
 The Harlem
Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a
movement that focused on the
celebration of African American
customs and traditions. It took place
during the 1920's and 30's.
The renaissance was known for being
the highlight of many black people's
careers and life choices. Some of the
key figures during this age were, Louis
Armstrong, Zora Neale Hurston, A'Lelia
Walker, Aaron Douglas, Bessie Smith,
and so many more.
Who is A'Lelia
Walker? • A'Lelia Walker, daughter of
Madame C.J. Walker, was and is
a highly known
and successful entrepreneur and
activist from the Harlem
Renaissance time frame.
• She inherited her mother's
fortunes and used them to live
lavishly.
• She used her fortunes for not
only her advantage, but the
advantage of others.
She supported others as well as
created a safe space for those
within the community.
Family Legacy
• During the 1920's she became
known as a patron of the arts. She
hosted most of the social gatherings
during the Harlem Renaissance. She
opened up her home for social
gatherings, and events.
• Her mother was the sole reason for
her success. Her mother was the first
self-made Black female millionaire. Her
mother's company, "Madam C.J.
Walker Manufacturing Company",
became a great success. Madam C.J.
Walker, founded the company in 1910
and then by 1913 she became a
millionaire.
 From Birth to
Death
• She was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on June 6th, 1885.
• Her birthname was, Lelia McWilliams
• She grew up in St. Louis Missouri.
• She attended Knoxville College in Tennessee before
entering her family's business.
• She was an independent hairdresser and retailer of
cosmetic creams.
• She became president of her Mother's company in 1919
and remained head of the company until she passed
away in 1931.
• Her role as president after her mother death consisted of
holding the value of the company, as well as using
effective strategies to continue to make profit.
• She passed away in 1931 due to hypertension.
Fairy Mae Bryant
• A'Lelia's only daughter.
• She was adopted in 1912.
• She was 15 when she was
adopted.
• In 1931, she took over the
family business after her
mother's passing.
• She had an arranged
marriage.
• She died in 1945.
Marriages
Husband: James
Husband: John Arthur Kennedy
Robinson (divorced (married early 1920s,
1914) divorced 1931)

1914 1920-1931

1919

Husband: Wiley
Wilson (married 3
days after her mother
died; divorced 1919)
Childhood
Influences
• She was a patron of the arts. She
had a passion for music and art.
Her passion began when she was
growing up in St. Louis. She grew
up during the ragtime era of the
1890s.
• She traveled internationally and
understood current events and
the politics of Jim Crow. "She had
an impresario’s instinct for staging
extravagant events."
HER LIFE
OUTSIDE
OF WORK
 1906: Sarah's first hair Sarah married Charles
product launched, Joseph Walker and Sarah turned a room in 1907: Sarah opened her
"Madam C.J. Walker's changed her last name her home into a salon. first beauty school
Wonderful Hair Grower" to Walker

Madam C.J.
Walker's Foundation: 1908: Sarah opened a
beauty school and 1910: Sarah moved
1913: She visited Cuba,
Panama, Jamaica, Costa
1917: Sarah led her first
Over the Years factory in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania named
to Indianapolis, where
she built her first factory
Rica and Haiti to expand
her business
convention
after A'Lelia Walker internationally.

Sarah was A'Lelia Walker became

1918: Made a large 1919: Sarah Breedlove
acknowledged by the president of her mom's
donation to NAACP passed away
NAACP foundation

1920: A'Lelia began

hosting events from her
1924: A'Lelia Walker 1928: The Dark Tower 1929: The beginning of
home for activist, writers,
suffered a stroke closed the Great Depression
actors, musicians, artists,
and intellectuals.

Her daughter, Fairy Mae

1930: The Dark Tower 1931: A'Lelia Walker 1945: Fairy Mae Bryant
Bryant took over the
was sold passed away passed away
company
 • T HE S A LON WA S A P LA CE
T H AT S U P P ORT E D YOU N G
HARLEM WRITERS AND
ARTISTS.
T H E • SHE TOOK ON THE EXPENSES
OF TWO HARLEM
H A R L E M RENAISSANCE ARTISTS, THE
T O W N H O U S E WRITER ERIC WALROND AND
S A L O N THE SINGER AND WRITER
TAYLOR G ORDON.
• S HE A LS O OP ENED T HE DA RK
TOWER TO RENAISSANCE
FIGURES SUCH AS LANGSTON
HUGHES, ZORA NEALE
HURSTON, BRUCE NUGENT
AND AARON DOUGLAS WHO
GATHERED FOR ART EXHIBITS
AND POETRY READINGS.
• SHE RAISED MONEY
FOR COMMUNITY AND
SOCIAL
S ERVICE ORGANIZATIONS .
The Dark Tower
• A'Lelia Walker was an important
activist during the Harlem
Renaissance.
• Her home, also known as the dark
tower was considered the party
central.
• Located on 108 West 136th Street,
her home was a safe space for all.
• She hosted for artists, musicians,
writers, and so many more.
• Many people considered it to be an,
"Urban Utopia."
 Madam C.J. Walker
Hair Products
• Influence: Sarah Breedlove, (Madam CJ
Walker), developed a scalp disorder that
caused her hair to fall out. She wanted
not only to help herself, but other
black women who may have been facing
similar issues.
• Madam Walker encouraged women to
wash their hair more often and to apply
the ointments, which contained sulphur,
an ingredient that long had been used
by physicians and pharmacists to heal
skin ailments like dandruff and psoriasis.
 • “I am not merely
satisfied in making
money for myself!”
Madam Walker told an
Quote By Madam audience in 1913. “I am
C.J. Walker endeavoring to provide
jobs for hundreds of
women of my race!”