"Originally published as 'On Her Own Ground'."--Title page

Bundles, a journalist and great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, offers a lively portrait of an American businesswoman. Walker, the first freeborn child of slaves, rose from poverty to establish a successful hair-care business, became one of the wealthiest women in the U.S., and devoted herself to a life of activism and philanthropy toward race and women's issues. photo insert

Biological ancestors of Fairy Mae Bryant -- Descendants of Owen Breedlove, Sr. -- Prologue -- Freedom baby -- Motherless child -- Wife, mother, widow -- St. Louis woman -- Answered prayers -- World's fair -- Westward -- On the road -- Bold moves -- "The salvation of your boys and girls" -- "I promoted myself ..." -- Breaking ties, making ties -- Sweet satisfaction -- New horizons -- Black metropolis -- Southern tour -- "We should protest" -- War abroad, war at home -- Her dream of dreams -- Global visions -- "I want to live to help my race" -- A'Lelia Walker: an afterword -- Epilogue -- Endnotes -- Selected bibliography -- Permissions -- Acknowledgments -- Index