I purchased this book a couple of years ago. The author did a great job of wetting the appetite of an admirer of Madame Walker. The pictures were great and I look forward to passing it down to my children. The only downside to the book was that it didn't give any info as to what happened to the business after Madame Walker passed on and what happened to the grand daughter of Madame Walker. Madame Walker is an inspiration to me and was a remarkable woman.

On Her Own Ground details the life story of Madame C.J. Walker, best known for developing a line of hair care products. To know her only for this accomplishment would be short sighted, indeed. Born to slaves, Sarah Breedlove (her given name) was orphaned by age 7, married by age 14 and widowed with a small daughter by age 20. She was one of many women who took in washing to earn a living and to support her daughter. She began to experiment with hair salves when she noticed her hair was breaking and falling out. Tapping into a common problem for black women of the time, she began to produce and sell her discovery. This is also the story of a woman who was in the forefront of black educational and political movements of the early 1900's. She was friends (and sometimes adversaries) with many of the well known names of the time,including Booker T. Washington,Mary McLeod Bethune,and W.E.B DuBois. and a force behind providing educational and employment opportunities for African American women. Her daughter , who also helped run the family business was at the forefront of the Harlem Reniassance. Working against the prejudice of not only her race, but her sex, she built a family industry that exisits today ( although no longer in family hands).She built a home among the most wealthy of the time and enjoyed an income comprabable to any white, male executive of the time. A'Lelia Bundles has skillfully woven a complex portrait of a woman who shaped marketing techniques still used universally today. Using a wealth of family material (Bundles is the great-great granddaughter of Madam Walker)as well as other well documented sources, the author opens the door to a vibrant time in Black history, provides a historical context to help explain and compliment this amazing woman and tells a story so compelling that this is a hard book to put down.

Way before Oprah (and this is not to knock her achievements)there was Madam C.J.Walker -- businesswoman, philanthropist, civic leader, feminist -- a black woman with unswerving faith in her ability to realize the life she dreamed. She believed it and she achieved it.

A distinguished journalist who happens to be a direct descendant of Madam Walker, A'Leila Bundles has written a mesmerizing biography that will stand as the definitive account of the woman who revolutionized the black hair care industry. On Her Own Ground is unparalled in its contribution to the history of African-American women.

Those of all races, creeds and colors who are interested in success,perseverance and the pursuit of one's destiny should definitely read this book. Especially useful for aspiring entrepreneurs and independent business owners with hopes of achieving Bill Gatesian or Oprah-esque financial and civic clout.

To minimize Ms. Bundles' work as being merely a biography about a poor washerwoman who made her fortune in the then-unserved African American hair products market is to dismiss this wonderful work unfairly. "On Her Own Ground" is a wonderful portrait not just of Madam Walker's meteoric rise from abject poverty and cruel circumstances to unequaled wealth among the African American elite (and the non-African American elite, too), but about the politics of race and the politics within the African American leadership at the turn of the century. Simply put, Madam Walker was what was then known as a "race woman": A woman who used her money and influence to further the rights and opportunities of African Americans. Because of her immense wealth, she made herself a voice to be heard and a force to be reckoned with within the male-dominated African American leadership of her time (her refusing-to-be-denied quest to gain the respect of Booker T. Washington is sad, admirable and amusing all at the same time)and against the Jim Crow/"turn our heads and look away from racism" white leadership of the day. Her works on behalf of and huge donation to the black YMCA in Indianapolis, her $5,000 donation to the anti-lynching fund of the NAACP (the largest contribution to the NAACP at that time), and her charge that the Walker agents, the African American women who sold her products, not only better themselves but work towards the betterment of the race, made her a woman way ahead of her time. In reading this book, it made me question why my affirmative action generation has not accomplished nearly so much with so much more at our disposal.

On a different note, Ms. Bundles is not a historian and does not pass herself off as being one. Unlike many historians, when Ms. Bundles does not know a fact for certain, she clearly states so and offers her theories as to what might have happened during some of the gaps in Madam Walker's history. And, in an act of intellectually honesty that is becoming increasingly rare, she never passes off her theories as the only possible explanations of what could have occurred, allowing the reader to engage in conjecture on her own, which, in my view, is all the more engaging. A thoroughly enjoyable read which I predict will become required reading in college African American studies' curricula.

I wanted this book to be full of scientific, hair care industry and even home remedies regarding "how not to lose your hair". Especially since most black women have super curly hair which is rather fragile which most can attest to because it's hard for a lot of us to grow it past our shoulders without getting that broken off look. Unfortunately, you only get part of this in the book.

Barry opted to have different people contribute to the book and so you get different points of view regarding hair in each chapter. For instance he lets a reverend write one chapter who goes off on a tangent about his particular religious beliefs and hair care. You know, the whole thing about cutting or not cutting your hair, etc. Anyway it seemed woefully out of place given the title of the book. Barry then has a major chapter devoted to the selling of his own hair care line. But neglects to give full ingredients list for these products. I felt quite annoyed at the number of pages taken up for his marketing campaign since that's not what I thought I was paying for when getting this book.

There are some rather informative chapters regarding possible hair loss due to disease such as cancer. He also has about 5 good pages devoted to hair care in shampooing tips and styling options to avoid hair breakage. I had hoped that more of the 180 or so pages would be devoted to these topics. There aren't many pics but there is a beautiful color section that discusses of all things, why some women will only let a man style their hair. What has that got to do with anyting?

There is way too much "other stuff" in this book. I gave it at least two stars because Barry does discusses the various ways women can lose their hair. It's just so disappointing that not much was forthcoming on how to stop losing our hair.

"Why are Blak Women Loosing their Hair?" is informative, thorough, intelligent, intimate and most of all practical.

Detailed instruction from credible medical professionals and hair specialists, provided me with an arsenal of information regarding my hair, it's needs and subsequent care.

I especially enjoyed hearing testimonies from REAL pople in REAL hair crisis scenarios. Each testimony added sensitivity, familarity and sometimes humor to a serious and emotional subject matter.

People of color are extremely diverse, and our hair--it's range in length,texture and thickness-- reflects this diversity. I appreicate Fletcher's sensitivity to our differences, and most of all his ability to synthesize and present them in a format everyone can relate to and benefit from.

A final thanks to Flethcer for having the foresight to provide us with the first complete Black woman's hair-care reference book of its kind.

Long overdue, much appreciated, worth the wait.

A must read,

Sincerely,

An appreciaiative Sister.

After reading this comprehensive "how-to" guide, it is no surprise that Barry Fletcher is lauded as a master in the Black hair care industry. Extremely informative, "Why Are Black Women Losing Their Hair?" doesn't treat our mane as a homogenized item. This book respects and addresses the "various" textures of African-American hair and caters to our specific hair care needs. No bookshelf or styling salon should be without these words of wisdom from one of the best in the business.