On this day, we honor trailblazing haircare entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker. Madam C.J. Walker was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist. She created specialized hair products for African American hair care and was one of America’s first self-made millionaires. In 1917, the civil rights activist was part of a delegation that traveled to the White House to petition President Woodrow Wilson to make lynching a federal crime.

Editor’s Note: This tribute is the first in a series of daily posts honoring Black History Month.