Madam C.J. Walker (Radio Edit)

You're Dead to Me

BBC

Comedy, History

4.7 • 10.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 May 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast I'd like to introduce myself. My name's
0:04.0	Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport
0:07.5	podcasts. I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with leading
0:11.1	journalists, experienced pundits and the biggest
0:13.3	sports stars. Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights
0:17.4	straight from the player's mouth. But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is
0:22.0	our unique access to the sporting world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.9	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.5	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty across the Hello and welcome to You're Dead to Me, the Radio 4 Comedy Podcast that takes history seriously.
0:47.0	My name is Greg Jenner. I'm a public historian author and broadcaster.
0:50.0	Today we're jumping into our Ford Model team and motoring back to 19th century America to learn all about the brilliantly successful black hair care entrepreneur Madame C.J. Walker.
1:00.0	And to help us, we have two very special guests.
1:02.8	In History Corner, she's the El Herbert Baloo,
1:05.2	University Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University in America.
1:09.1	She researches the cultural and racial implications of beauty, fashion and
1:12.2	adornment, as well as race, capitalism and education. and a
1:13.2	racial implications of beauty, fashion and adornment as well as race,
1:13.3	capitalism and education.
1:14.6	You may have read one for many books including hair raising,
1:17.3	beauty, culture, and African-American women.
1:19.5	It's professor, no leeway rooks.
	...

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