Madam C.J. Walker, an African American philanthropist, self-made businessperson, and political activist, died on May 25th, 1919, at the age of 51. Madam Walker was born in 1867 in Louisiana and spent much of her youth working as a domestic servant in St. Louis, Missouri. In the early 1890s, she developed her own hair care products and opened a string of salons to distribute her products. This business quickly became a success, leading her to patent many of her products and launch the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. Throughout her long career, Madam Walker used her successful business as a platform to help advance the civil rights and political participation of African Americans. She made generous contributions to organizations that supported African Americans, including the NAACP and the YMCA. Madam Walker was widely respected for her philanthropy and her business acumen. Her legacy lives on in the many strides she made in the fight for racial justice and business equality. Her passing is mourned by her extended family, her many close friends, and her many admirers.