I first "met" Madam CJ Walker during my internship at the Women's Museum. We had a few of her cosmetics for display, and she just seemed like an amazing woman. The first African American millionaire, male or female, she created a cosmetics empire long before Mary Kay. This biography is written by her granddaughter, which is both a good and bad thing. She did an excellent job of setting the stage--Walker was definitely a part of the movers and shakers in Jim Crow America. That being said, it took me forever to finish the book. Glad to have it on my shelf, as part of my long standing interest in beauty culture, but I only modestly recommend it. But you should know more about Madam Walker--it's too good of a story!