On Her Own Ground is the first full-scale; definitive biography of Madam C. J. Walker—the legendary African American entrepreneur and philanthropist—by her great-great-granddaughter; A'Lelia Bundles.The daughter of slaves; Madam C. J. Walker was orphaned at seven; married at fourteen and widowed at twenty. She spent the better part of the next two decades laboring as a washerwoman for $1.50 a week. Then—with the discovery of a revolutionary hair care formula for black women—everything changed. By her death in 1919; Walker managed to overcome astonishing odds: building a storied beauty empire from the ground up; amassing wealth unprecedented among black women and devoting her life to philanthropy and social activism. Along the way; she formed friendships with great early-twentieth-century politi-cal figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. On Her Own Ground is not only the first comprehensive biography of one of recent history's most amazing entrepreneurs and philanthropists; it is about a woman who is truly an African American icon. Drawn from more than two decades of exhaustive research; the book is enriched by the author's exclusive access to personal letters; records and never-before-seen photographs from the family collection. Bundles also showcases Walker's complex relationship with her daughter; A'Lelia Walker; a celebrated hostess of the Harlem Renaissance and renowned friend to both Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. In chapters such as “Freedom Baby;†“Motherless Child;†“Bold Moves†and “Black Metropolis;†Bundles traces her ancestor's improbable rise to the top of an international hair care empire that would be run by four generations of Walker women until its sale in 1985. Along the way; On Her Own Ground reveals surprising insights; tells fascinating stories and dispels many misconceptions.
#1099623 in Books Touchstone 2003-09-03 2003-09-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.44 x .40 x 5.50l; .43 #File Name: 0743254139160 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. PERFECT!By Lana JacobsPerfect selection - gave as gifts and everyone enjoyed. A great resource.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good book for kids that can readBy Nancy A.Nice for elementary school kids.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great for Kids and Adults!By Beth RodgersI was introduced to 'What Does Being Jewish Mean?' when it was first published in 1991. At that time; I was just an eight-year-old; and so many of the questions in the book resonated with me. I would talk with my mom; aunt; grandparents; and other family members about the questions and answers. I was super curious about my religion and why Judaism was so important - even though I knew deep down how important it already was to me; even without this book to help prove that fact.Now; more than two decades later; I decided to read it completely through. I probably never did that originally; skipping from place to place in the book; looking for answers to specific questions. I thought that this time around I should see how my own Jewish knowledge gained over my lifetime stacked up next to the "true" responses posed about history; culture; religion; and all the other aspects of Judaism covered throughout the book.The authors of 'What Does Being Jewish Mean?' - an Orthodox Rabbi; a Reform Jew; and a Conservative Jew - have supplied answers that cross the barriers that sometimes seem to separate areas of the Jewish faith more than they bring us together. The answers may still make you ask questions; but the questions you ask are likely answered somewhere else throughout the book. Surely not every question you'll ever wonder about is included. However; if you have ever wondered what all those holidays throughout the year are actually celebrating; how the Jews have survived millenia despite all the odds stacked against them; or why the Jewish calendar is different than the regular; secular calendar; you will be thrilled to have this book as a guidepost. The glossary at the end is also an extremely useful way to brush up on terms that you may have forgotten or need a simple refresher course about. All in all; a motivational and inspiring read that can be read by Jew and non-Jew alike. It will strengthen your Jewish faith or merely give you insight into what it means to be Jewish.Beth Rodgers; Author of 'Freshman Fourteen;' a Young Adult Novel
