Netflix’s ‘Self Made’ Is The LeBron James-Produced Series About Black Hair History To Watch
If you’re Black, you know Madam C. J. Walker.
The African-American entrepreneur and philanthropist was the richest African-American businesswoman and wealthiest self-made woman in America in her lifetime and amongst Black communities, she is touted as The Pioneer of Black hair care. Her story is one of despair, triumph and riches and it’s getting the Netflix treatment.
‘Self Made’ is Netflix’s upcoming American television limited series set to premiere on March 20th.
According to Deadline, the new series will star Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish and Blair Underwood. A description from Netflix published in Deadline describes the series as telling “the untold and highly irreverent story of black hair care pioneer and mogul Madam C. J. Walker and how she overcame hostile turn-of-the-century America, epic rivalries, tumultuous marriages, and some trifling family to become America’s first black, self-made female millionaire.”
It’s also being produced by LeBron James.
The new series is an exciting one to be seen considering how late to the game streaming services have been to telling Black stories.
But also, it’s exciting considering how relevant and impactful Madam C. J. Walker is in today’s era of hair naturals.
There’s no denying that the natural hair movement is no longer “movement” it’s a Thing. Across the country and world Black women have embraced their natural hair, tossing out straightening creams and flat irons to truly embrace their rizos. Seeing Madam C. J. Walker’s story being told on Netflix shows not just the progress Black people have made in ensuring representation on screen it also says so much about the success of our fight for the portrayal of our diverse stories as well.
