A period tale set in four parts, Self Made is inspired by the life of an entrepreneur, and political and social activist of the late 1800s, Madam CJ Walker. But the world knows her better as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She erected an empire of hair care products that was born out of sheer frustration over her loss of hair, which she thought made her look ugly. Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer plays the lead part. She carries on her shoulder the responsibility of representing the struggle and strife of a woman with serious social and cultural baggage. Also one who went from rags to riches on her merit and steadfast determination.
Born to parents who were former slaves, Walker was the fifth child to them. With meagre resources, she barely went to school. Orphaned early, she became a washerwoman, sometimes earning less than two dollars a day. And then the big turnaround happened. All this and more had to be assimilated and contextually placed by Spencer and she did a fine job of it through the series.
Not only was this an important story to be told but also one that would take the protagonist from supporting roles to a lead one for the first time. She approached it with the restraint a story like this beckons. Self Made is an extremely uplifting watch, filled with optimism and determination. Every time Walker stands up for herself, a new rush of enthusiasm urges for us viewers. It’s a powerful story of coloured women and their triumph.
Tiffany Haddish plays Walker’s daughter named A’Lelia. Another well-essayed part, A’Lelia is free-spirited and fun, and is her mother’s greatest companion. But she’s also unpredictable. First, she marries a man out of the blue and then, almost as shockingly, rejoices when they decide to divorce. As the story builds up, she is shown to be attracted to another woman but this aspect is fictional.
The series picks up many important matters, some of them dealing with prejudiced beauty (especially hair) standards, cultural underpinnings for women of colour, and the fight to build themselves up post-slavery.
However, we missed seeing Walker’s philanthropic efforts in the series, which she was generously credited for. It would also have been nice to go back into time and see what it was like for a woman like her, who was the first child in her family, to be born after the Emancipation Proclamation. Walker’s story is an endorsement for being aggressively and unapologetically determined. It reminds one that everything worth getting, is also worth fighting for.
Self Made
Platform: Netflix
Directed by: DeMane Davis and Kasi Lemmons
Genre: Drama