By: Kimi Danaei
Netflix’s newest original series “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” provides an engaging insight into Sarah Walker’s journey to success as a self-made entrepreneur.
“Self Made,” tells an inspiring story and captivates viewers for the entirety of the series. It exceeds its expectation as it presents a realistic story-line in such a powerful manner that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Netflix series is based on the novel, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, written by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’lelia Bundles. The series was released on March 20 and stars Octavia Spencer as Madam C.J. Walker, Tiffany Hadish as Lelia, Blair Underwood as C.J. Walker and Carmen Ejogo as Addie Munroe.
The four-part limited series tells the story of America’s first female self-made millionaire, Sarah Walker, as she faces both racial and gender barriers and betrayal to ultimately achieve success. The plot begins in the early 1900s in St. Louis where Sarah meets Addie Munroe, an African American hair care entrepreneur who helps Sarah leave her abusive husband and grow her thinning hair back. Sarah later decides to leave Addie and moves to Indianapolis to produce her own hair growth product and create her own company.
The characters are a very positive element of the series as they are all very dynamic and face some sort of struggle. The most outstanding aspect of this series is the performance Oscar award-winning actress Octavia Spencer provides as Madam C.J. Walker. Spencer engages audiences through her powerful and inspiring depiction of Madam C.J. Walker. She truly conveys the struggles and strength Walker had which attracts viewers.
The series depicts a realistic portrayal of life in the early 1900s through the dialogue, costumes, and set designs. The dialogue provides context without seeming awkward or unnecessary and gives each character a distinctive speaking style that fits their personality.
The costumes and set designs are elaborate and help further display the 1900s, making the show even more captivating to watch. One scene is filmed in Harlem, New York and depicts the setting well through its tall brick-like structures and bright colors. The costumes also complement the time period and make the scenes more authentic.
One factor that was unenjoyable was the boxing scenes and dance numbers that interjected the storyline and pulled the focus away from the show’s main purpose of portraying Walker’s life. It disrupted the flow of the plot and seemed awkward in the historic setting of the overall series.
“Self Made” is a must-watch series for both teens and adults. The four-part series is not only enticing because of its storyline and characters, but it also provides a realistic portrayal of the journey and obstacles Walker underwent to achieve success. The series shines a light on a very important figure in history who is not generally acknowledged for her dedication and ultimately, her accomplishments for African Americans and women.
Released on March 20, “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” is rated TV-MA and is available to stream on Netflix.
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