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The long-awaited Madam C.J. Walker miniseries is here. Created by Nicole Jefferson Asher, and produced by and starring Octavia Spencer, “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” is the story of the first self-made American female millionaire. I’ve watched the first two episodes, both directed by the great Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet”). Other episodes are directed by DeMane Davis (“Queen Sugar”).
Sarah Breedlove — aka Madam C.J. Walker — was born two years after Emancipation. Society is still rife with racism. She is a poor laundress with a daughter and is experiencing stress-related hair loss. She meets Addie (Carmen Ejogo), a lighter skinned African American woman with money who is making a hair tonic to help black women. She helps Sarah, restoring her self-esteem. She also inspires her to think bigger than laundry, but when Sarah offers to sell the tonic to other black women, Addie tells her she is “too dark to shine.” This only motivates Sarah further.
“Self Made” sees Sarah experimenting with lots of different solutions, and slowly she figures it out. She starts employing her whole family, opens a salon, and is on her way. She inspires men and women alike with her tenacity, but the culture’s deeply ingrained sexism is on full display throughout the miniseries, particularly when she tries to get Booker T. Washington to endorse her product. He reminds her to “know your place.” Her journey is a constant fight with Addie every step of the way, with Addie using her money and light-skinned privilege to constantly try and hold Sarah back. But she succeeds — and then some.
I love Sarah’s ambition. I love that no one can rein it in, no matter how hard they try. I was also super happy to see Tiffany Haddish playing a non-comedic role as the titular character’s daughter, Lelia. I’m very much looking forward to watching the last two episodes.
“Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” is now available on Netflix.
