[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 16, 2019)]
[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''.

                          ____________________