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Bestselling Author A’Lelia Bundles Joins St. Luke’s African American History Class
A’Lelia Bundles, New York Times bestselling author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, founder of the Madam Walker Family Archives and the great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, joined St. Luke’s students via Zoom during their African American History class this week.
Ms. Bundles shared the story of her great-great-grandmother, Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, and her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, the president of the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company and patron of the arts. A’Lelia was an icon of the Harlem Renaissance, and both were incredible entrepreneurs.
When asked how Madam C.J. Walker was able to grow her business, Ms. Bundles replied, “There was no venture capital for her at the time. Her story was total sweat equity. She tried to get people to invest, but it was really about mixing up a batch of hair care products, selling them, and then ultimately being able to train sales agents all around the United States, the Caribbean and Central America to sell her products. Her business model was smart. She understood that people needed the products, but she also knew that these women needed an education and economic independence.”
“It is an honor to have A'Lelia Bundles speak to our African American history class about the rich history of her ancestry,” shared Michael Powell, St. Luke’s Upper School History Teacher. “We have discussed and studied the Reconstruction era, the period after the Civil War, and the contributions of African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. Both Madam C.J. Walker and her daughter, A'Lelia Walker, contributed to the spread of the Harlem Renaissance through their philanthropy. Black patrons of the arts were essential to its development.”
To watch Ms. Bundle’s conversation with the class, please click here and take a look at the photos.
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Ms. Bundles shared the story of her great-great-grandmother, Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, and her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker, the president of the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company and patron of the arts. A’Lelia was an icon of the Harlem Renaissance, and both were incredible entrepreneurs.
When asked how Madam C.J. Walker was able to grow her business, Ms. Bundles replied, “There was no venture capital for her at the time. Her story was total sweat equity. She tried to get people to invest, but it was really about mixing up a batch of hair care products, selling them, and then ultimately being able to train sales agents all around the United States, the Caribbean and Central America to sell her products. Her business model was smart. She understood that people needed the products, but she also knew that these women needed an education and economic independence.”
“It is an honor to have A'Lelia Bundles speak to our African American history class about the rich history of her ancestry,” shared Michael Powell, St. Luke’s Upper School History Teacher. “We have discussed and studied the Reconstruction era, the period after the Civil War, and the contributions of African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. Both Madam C.J. Walker and her daughter, A'Lelia Walker, contributed to the spread of the Harlem Renaissance through their philanthropy. Black patrons of the arts were essential to its development.”
To watch Ms. Bundle’s conversation with the class, please click here and take a look at the photos.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
