RECOGNITION OF MADAM C.J. WALKER AND RENAMING OF WEST 136TH STREET BETWEEN LENOX AVENUE AND ADAM CLAYTON POWELL BOULEVARD AS ``MADAM CJ WALKER WAY''; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 119
(Extensions of Remarks - July 16, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNITION OF MADAM C.J. WALKER AND RENAMING OF WEST 136TH STREET
BETWEEN LENOX AVENUE AND ADAM CLAYTON POWELL BOULEVARD AS ``MADAM CJ
WALKER WAY''
______
HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, Madam C.J. Walker is the first self-
made American female millionaire and the wealthiest African American
woman of her time as an inventor and entrepreneur.
Madam C.J. Walker born as Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867 in
Louisiana to Owen and Minerva Anderson Breedlove was the first of her
family born into freedom.
Madam C.J. Walker was orphaned at a young age. She first married
during her adolescent years and became a widow only a few years later.
After the death of her husband Moses McWilliams, she overcame adversity
and moved to St. Louis, Missouri as a single mother to her young
daughter A'lelia Walker working as a laundress--barely earning one
dollar a day--she persevered through the hardships of poverty solely
focused on supporting herself and her daughter.
Madam C.J. Walker was determined to make a better life for her and
her daughter and she was inspired to start her own line of beauty
products. Her inspiration stemmed from her own struggle as an African
American woman who had difficulty finding hair-care products that were
not only aimed for a specific hair type, but were also owned by an
African American woman.
Madam C.J. Walker was an activist and philanthropist who worked
alongside her daughter A'lelia Walker, leading the vanguard of women
and women of color in the world of business, philanthropy, advocacy
with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
the National Negro Business League, and the National Conference on
Lynching, and rich history and culture of Harlem during the Harlem
Renaissance.
Madam C.J. Walker dedicated her wealth and success to better the
lives of young African-American men and women through scholarships for
the Young Men's Christian Association, the Tuskegee Institute, Bethune-
Cookman University, and the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
as a testament to her fervent belief in furthering African Americans as
they pursue economic independence and financial security which
continues to pave the way for African Americans nationwide.
As the Representative of the Thirteenth Congressional District of New
York in the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to
recognize Madam C.J. Walker for her inspiration and achievement impact
in the African American community and celebrate the renaming of West
136th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard as
``Madam CJ Walker Way''.
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