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A Descendant of Madam C.J. Walker Speaks on the ‘Self Made’ Controversy
What lines should be drawn between fact and fiction of a Black historical figure?
When I first learned that Netflix was turning On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A’Lelia Bundles into a four-part series, I was thrilled. Not only was the anticipation of an on-screen, scripted dramatization of her life exciting for entertainment purposes, but I was hopeful this visibility might take a Black woman’s iconic legacy and vault her into a historic household name for all Americans. We’re now six days into the release of Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, and I think it’s safe to say that the limited series has grown visibility for a Black female hair mogul — but the question is, which one?
Self Made positions the fictionalized character Addie Munroe as the early confidante-turned-rival of Madam Walker’s ambitions. When they first meet, Addie is selling her own hair growth products door to door. A beat-down Sarah Walker welcomes Addie into her home, where they strike a deal: Sarah, a washer woman whose extensive work with chemical cleaning agents has caused most of her hair to fall out, will launder Addie’s clothes, and in return, receive free hair treatments. Over time, her hair grows back, and she aspires to…
