Self Made - An important story indeed

Madam C.J. Walker is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first self-made woman millionaire in American history. She became a household name with a line of hair care products and salons specifically tailored for black hair treatment. Through countless struggles, denied opportunities, and a ton of determination, Madam C.J. Walker is a name that deserves to be remembered. I, for one, am ashamed to admit that I had not even heard her story until this limited Netflix series. Having watched it, I am glad to now know why her story is so important. Not to mention, this presentation of her story, in particular, is well delivered. 

The story follows the life and accomplishments of Madam C.J. Walker (Octavia Spencer), a laundrywoman whose life is in shambles. The stress has caused her to lose most of her hair, and with it, her sense of self-worth. That is until she meets a woman named Addie (Carmen Ejogo), who offers a special hair treatment to bring it back, more beautiful than ever before. The product works, and C.J. Walker's confidence thrives again. So much so that she wants to work for Addie by helping her sell the product. However, Addie refuses, as she finds Walker to be too ugly and incapable of understanding business. C.J. Walker decides to prove Addie wrong by making her own hair product, and in doing so, offer freedom and empowerment to all women. From there, Madame C.J. Walker would build an everlasting legacy of beauty, success, and female empowerment. 

The series succeeds in providing great entertainment value while also acting as a history lesson. What makes this particular historical drama stand out, at least to me, is the way it occasionally plays with visual storytelling. Minor spoiler, one example is in the first episode, where the relationship between Walker and Addie is represented by an imaginary boxing match. Bits like this are sprinkled throughout the story creating a striking visual representation of character's thoughts and feelings. It is the kind of thing you would typically expect to see in live theater, but it works surprisingly well in this series. I would not mind seeing more films and shows utilize this kind of tactic. 

The entire cast shines throughout the series. Octavia Spencer delivers a performance that keeps you hooked. Octavia Spencer is pretty much stellar in whatever she does. Though the real stand out, at least to me, is Tiffany Haddish as Madam C.J. Walker's daughter Lelia. Usually, Tiffany Haddish would be found in comedies, and while she is indeed tremendous at it, it is nice to see her get the opportunity to present her range as an actress. While she still retains her usual sense of charm, which is always appreciated, she succeeds in displaying a more extensive range of talent and ability. Which further compliments the entertainment value of the series. 

This is an excellent series through and through. It's entertaining, informative, and relevant for these strange and challenging times. All episodes are available on Netflix right now, so be sure to check this one out soon. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.