"On Her Own Ground" by A'Lelia Perry Bundles

On Her Own Ground (2001) written by A’Lelia Bundles is a biography focusing on the life and times of Madam C.J. Walker who was an African American business entrepreneur, philanthropist and social and political activist. She was born in 1867 into a family of slaves and given the name Sarah Breedlove. By the age of seven, she was an orphan. She was married at 14 and became a widow at 20. For the next two decades she worked as a washerwoman earning about $1.50 per week. Life gradually changed for her when she started selling hair care products designed for African American women. Initially she worked for an already established business, but then she discovered her own formula for these beauty products and cosmetics. Eventually she founded the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company that was based in Indianapolis and spread out into various sections of the United States. Her company was so successful because at the turn of the century the belief was that straight hair was a sign of beauty, power, money and class. During her lifetime Walker donated much of her wealth to educational institutions and charities within the Black community. When she died in 1919 she was one of the richest business women in the country.
This book tells lots of fascinating personal stories about events in the life of Madame Walker. In addition, it is filled with details highlighting the historical evolution of politics, society and culture during the turn of the 20th century in the United States. It obviously is about African American history. It also touches on feminist history. On Her Own Ground can also be viewed as a book about business history –Walker was a pioneer of the modern cosmetics industry who made astute business decisions that successfully transformed her small kitchen company into a national industry with numerous franchises throughout the United States.
This book is not a light, easy read. Madam Walker’s life has been thoroughly researched and written about in detail. I have to admit that for me that book was a slow read, but I learned a lot about 19th and 20th century African American history and the people who made it. This biography is probably for someone wanting an academic approach to Walker’s life rather than for a student who is more interested in a book that would give more of an overview of Walker’s life.