Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

It came to me in a dream.

Hair is beauty.

Hair is emotion.

Hair is our heritage.

Hair tells us who we are, where we've been,

and where we're going.

My name is Sarah Breedlove.

Making products for our hair is my passion.

Hasn't been easy,

but no matter what, I refuse to give up the fight.

Addie Munroe's Magical Hair Grower!

Fifty cents a tin. Get Magical Hair Grower right here!

You got dandruff, ma'am?

You got bald patches?

Hair that won't grow? I got your fix! Right here, ladies!

Magical Hair Grow...

Heard of that stuff.

Do it work?

Saved my life.

Hair is power.

You can't imagine what it's like to lose it.

Seems like I was born to struggle.

The life of a washerwoman is hard.

I'd scrub my fingers to the bone for pennies.

Most days, I can't even make ends meet.

After a while, I guess I just lost hope... forgot how to dream.

That's when my hair started falling out.

My husband Davis only made things worse.

He was arrested, and when he came back, he was a changed man.

You look like a mangy dog.

- Baby, wait, don't go. - No.

Please. Davis.

I was devastated.

Didn't know what I was gonna do.

I used to wonder if God don't like ugly,

why did he make me?

With so much beauty in this world, how come I got so little?

And then everything changed.

I'm Addie Munroe, and I would like to talk with you

about my new hair product.

Um...

You all right?

Is anyone here?

I'm... I'm gonna help you.

It's gonna be just fine.

Oh, dear.

Oh, it's okay.

What happened?

I started using the Hair Grower that day.

In a few months' time, my hair came back.

Hmm.

Aw.

Look at how your hair is growing.

Thanks to you.

I don't know why I'm so surprised. My Magical Hair Grower is magical.

Yes, indeed, Addie.

Yes, indeed.

Addie's Hair Grower worked.

My hair grew back.

And so did my confidence.

Now I got me a new man, CJ, who loves me and treats me right.

My hair grew back so good, I thought, maybe I could sell it myself.

That's why I wanna sell your Hair Grower.

That's why I wanna sell your Hair Grower.

That's why I wanna sell your Hair Grower.

But what do I say when the customers complain about the sulfur smell?

Oh, smile and say, "That's how you know the product is working."

Here.

I put it on at night.

Tie it up real good.

By morning, the smell's gone.

Mostly.

Now that's a tasty idea. Thanks.

If a washerwoman like Sarah can figure it out,

y'all should have no problem.

You've just got to convince the customers

that by using my product, that they'll look like me.

Or you all, at least.

What?

No. No...

But, it... It works. Trust me.

You gals will be fine. You'll get the hang of it soon.

In the meantime, just smile a lot.

Hmm. Okay?

They just get younger and dumber, don't they?

Hmm.

Oh.

Ah...

Maybe I could sell your product.

I'd be honored, in fact.

Oh.

I don't think sales is for you.

I've been singing your praises for almost two years.

I got you, what? Eight new customers?

Mmm. That's not the same as selling door-to-door, though.

Oh, I know everything about Hair Grower.

I'm proof that it works.

Sarah, I know what I'm doing.

It's business.

Nothing personal.

Hiring a bunch of mulatto gals to con folks ain't gonna work.

Even a fool knows they didn't get good hair from your product.

Their mamas and grandmamas got raped.

Language.

All I'm saying is...

when a customer looks at my hair,

they'll know they're seeing what your product can do.

Colored women will do anything to look like me.

Even if deep down they know they can't.

Now we've got a good arrangement here.

Laundry for hair treatments.

Let's not complicate things.

You saw the laundry in the back.

I'll have it for you on Friday.

I was hesitant at first, but then I realized...

this is my calling.

That I could help others the way Addie helped me.

And that's why I'm here.

It worked for me.

It'll work for y'all.

That's one hell of a story.

Give me one tin.

Thank you.

Me too.

- I'll take one. - How much is it?

She said it grow hair?

Thank you, baby.

It's worth the money.

I can't wait to try!

Let me know how you doin' with it. Check back in.

- All right, then! - Thank you!

- Sarah? What are you doin' here? - I did it.

I sold 20 tins.

What now?

I borrowed a few tins of your Hair Grower.

After I told you no?

Just to see if I could sell 'em!

But you can't. It don't make sense!

- I figured if I just showed you... - You stole from me?

After everything I've done for you?

No, I'd never steal from you! I brought all the money. It's all for you!

I got you back on your feet.

I confided in you.

How could you?

I just wanted to show you that I can sell.

We can make a lot of money together. I got ideas...

Are you out of your mind?

Even in your Sunday best,

you look like you just stepped off the plantation.

These are my products.

And I will not have the likes of you associated with them.

Sorry for overstepping.

It won't happen again.

Sarah!

For Addie's newest sales agent.

What happened?

I ain't got the right look.

Now, wait a minute, now you...

You're the most beautiful woman in the world.

- Stop. - No.

All these years I done made ads, I'd drawn every type of face there is.

And ain't none more beautiful than yours.

Tell me what happened.

She treated me like I was nothing, CJ.

I thought we was friends.

Week after week, I sat in that chair. Told her stuff I ain't never told nobody.

I should've known I was just a customer to her.

And an ugly one at that.

Okay, stop.

I ain't gonna let you keep beating up on yourself, you hear?

You hear me?

I love you, CJ.

Mmm.

Come here.

What you makin'?

From now on, I'm doing my own hair, making my own hair grower.

I'm through with Addie Munroe.

Mama!

What you doin' up?

Just workin' on a little something. Sit, there's something I wanna try.

What is it?

Hair grower. Maybe.

Just something I'm fiddling around with.

Mmm. Smells better than Addie's already.

Just trying to figure out the right mix.

Where you been?

Ray Ray's Bar was hot tonight,

and me and John was dancing the Big Bear Dance all night long.

Just... mm-mm-mmm.

- John, huh? - Mm-hmm.

The guitar player?

Sit... Sit your behind down!

What did I tell you about that sponger?

You ain't even met him yet.

I can tell by the way you talk about him, he ain't got no money.

I know you think I'm puttin' on airs.

But...

you ain't cute or clever enough

to survive gettin' knocked up by some do-nothin' musician.

Gotta find somebody who'll make your life better. Like CJ.