Madam CJ Walker: 5 Things Based On The True Story (& 5 Creative Liberties Taken)

One of the latest addition to Netflix’s creative content consisted of the limited series, Self Made, based on the vibrant life of Black mogul Madam CJ Walker. The autobiographical series followed the rise of the businesswoman despite the political climate of Jim Crow America and captured how she went onto becoming the first female millionaire in American history.

The show focuses on an array of themes including struggle, politics, sexism, racism, success, and more with the help of a star-studded cast. That is namely with Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer in the titular role. And while the show did a wonderful job of telling Madam C.J. Walker’s story, one can agree that most autobiographical works rely on facts and fiction to bring a vision to the screen.

As such, this article will consist of a deeper analysis of the show as we pull out 5 things based on Madam C.J. Walker’s story and 5 creative liberties made by production.

10 Fact: Madam CJ Walker Was An Orphan

It was portrayed in the television series that Madam CJ Walker was orphaned by the age of 14 years old and we can confirm that the latter is true. Indeed, according to PBS, both of Walker’s parents died before she was seven years old. She then went onto work in the cotton fields. To escape her circumstances which included the violence suffered at the hands of her brother-in-law, CJ Walker (then Breedlove) married Moses McWilliams at the age of 14 and it is with whom she had her first and only child Leila.

9 Fiction: Addie Munroe Was Not A Real Person

The show highlighted a fierce rivalry between Madam CJ Walker and her fairer-skinned counterpart, Addie Munroe. Although the two were close friends at first, their friendship quickly turned sour after CJ Walker professed wanting to get into the business of haircare as well. The two did not see eye to eye for many reasons and the latter encouraged a series of low-blows from each party throughout the series. Unfortunately, the existence of Addie Munroe is all fiction, though it is believed that she may have been inspired by someone close to CJ Walker at the time called Annie Turnbo Malone.

8 Fact: …Though, There Was A Rivalry

As previously mentioned, the character of Addie Munroe was not real, but she was inspired by Annie Turnbo Malone who closely resembled the character’s profile. Malone sold hair products as well and CJ Walker was employed by Malone as a seller. This goes against the show’s plot of Munroe turning down Walker because she did not have the right ‘look.’ Nevertheless, as the two started doing their own thing, a rivalry did occur.

According to A’Lelia Bundles, Walker’s great-great-granddaughter, the extent of the rivalry was purely competitive and not as nasty as the show portrayed. Moreover, the rift commenced right between both parties following Madam CJ Walker’s marriage to CJ.

7 Fiction: Munroe Recruiting A Spy

Much like Addie Munroe was not a true character, we can also assume that the majority of the ploys she undertook never took place. In the show, we see Munroe hiring Walker’s son in law to spy on her and provide input on trade secrets. None of this occurred in real life and there remains no record of such acts between Madam CJ Walker and Annie Malone–the figure who inspired Munroe’s character.

6 Fact: CJ Walker Cheated With An Employee

Prior to her marriage to CJ, Madam CJ Walker was married twice. As previously mentioned, her first husband was Moses McWilliams and it is with whom she had A’Leila Walker. Mcwilliams died due to unforeseen circumstances and she remarried with her second husband John Davis. They separated in 1905 and it is when she married her final and third husband, CJ Walker.

As such, unfortunately, CJ Walker did cheat on her with one of their employees named Dora Larrie. According to an interview with Blair Underwood (who plays CJ on the show) for Oprah Magazine, CJ Walker was a well-known alcoholic and both him and Dora ”did end up getting married, and they started their own company. She was using Madam C.J. Walker, and that didn’t last long, and the marriage didn’t last long either.”

5 Fiction: Madam CJ Walker Stole Her Recipe

It was implied in the series that Madam CJ Walker had stolen her haircare recipe from Addie Munroe. The same cannot be stated as entirely true in real life. According to Collectors Weekly, there is an existing letter penned by Annie Malone wherein she accuses Walker of stealing the formula to her hair grower. Walker’s granddaughter confirms, however, that the formula may have been, but it remains difficult to say it was officially copied.

4 Fact: Madam CJ Walker Stood Up To Booker T. Washington

In the show, it was clear to viewers that CJ Walker wanted civil rights activist Booker T. Washington on her team in support of her business. She ended up ambushing one of his events and making a speech before a group of people. Records do show that the latter occurred and that Booker T. Washington later grew fond of Walker due to her philanthropic efforts. He invited her to multiple events so she can make formal remarks, stayed in her home, and chauffered her to the train station as well.

3 Fiction: …Though There Is No Record Of Him Being A Sexist

The show depicted a fierce scene involving Madam CJ Walker and Booker T. Washington. Herein, we saw Madam CJ Walker attempting to convince Washington to support her products and business.  And Washington was reluctant to do so because he believed that the product enforced a white, eurocentric standard to African American women. While Washington did feel that way about her products, he ended up supporting her and being an ally. As for the fictional backroom conversation where Washington revealed a sexist attitude–there is no evidence of such confrontation in real life.

2 Fact: Leila Walker Ran The New York Business

On the show, Walker handed the New York business for her daughter to handle. According to Elle Magazine, this did happen and Leila ran that business successfully. A book is currently in the works and will provide more details on Leila’s life.

Apparently, Walker’s daughter made a lasting impact on the Harlem Renaissance at the time and was known for being a flamboyant hostess and patron of the arts.

1 Fiction: …But Her Sexual Orientation Remains A Mystery

Finally, the show portrays Walker’s daughter Leila as a queer woman. No evidence supports the latter and her lover on the show, Esther, did not exist either. Though Bundles shared with Oprah Magazine that she believes A’Leila could have possibly dated a woman after her third marriage ended.