She was born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana in 1867. She was the first child in her family born into freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation. After both of her parents died, she lived with her sister and abusive husband. She escaped by marrying Moses McWilliams when she was only fourteen years old. They had a daughter named Lelia. After her husband died and after another marriage, she ended up in St. Louis, Missouri and married a newspaper sales agent named Charles Joseph Walker. They were married for six years.

Sarah experienced hair loss like many of the women of her era. She developed a shampoo and ointment that helped her scalp and gave her healthier hair growth. She began selling her product all over the United States. Her daughter helped by running a mail-order business in Denver. The Walkers moved to Pittsburgh and started Lelia College for Walker Hair Culturists. In 1910, she moved to Indianapolis and her female hair product became a national success.

Madam Walker began lecturing across the nation to promote her business and to help inspire women into business. She also became involved in black issues of the day. She supported America's entrance into the First World War and worked to have black veterans granted full respect. In 1917, she became involved in federal anti-lynching legislation after a bloody riot in East St. Louis, Illinois. The following year, she spoke as the keynote speaker at the NAACP Convention to raise money for the cause of civil rights. She was honored by the National Association of Colored Women for her generous contributions to saving the home of Frederick Douglass. By the end of 1918, she had a home built next to the homes of Jay Gould and John D. Rockefeller in upstate New York. She had become the first self-made female millionaire. She died at the age of 51 due to complications from hypertension.

Madam C.J. Walker was an inspiration to women and African-Americans throughout the United States for her entrepreneurship and devotion to the cause of civil rights. Her philanthropy was one of the most generous of anyone during her era. She realized the American dream and became a great American.

Charley Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi in 1938, the son of poor sharecroppers. He learned to play the guitar as a young boy, but his biggest love was baseball. In 1952, he became a pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. The following year, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He continued to try out for major league baseball clubs with no success. In the off-season, he worked in construction in Montana and contemplated a career in music. Pride also had to served two years in the Army.

In 1963, Pride sang "Lovesick Blues" for Red Foley and Red Sovine backstage at a concert. They were impressed and encouraged him to go to Nashville. He signed a record deal with RCA in 1965. In 1966, his song "Just Between You and Me" was nominated for a Grammy. His country career took off. He had five #1 hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s, becoming the highest-selling artist for RCA since Elvis Presley. Pride had hits in the top 10 every year until 1984.

Pride became the second black country singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. In his career, he was the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year twice and Entertainer of the Year once. He won three AMA awards and two Grammys. In 1994, the Academy of Country Music awarded Pride with their Pioneer Award. In 2000, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His 57 career albums make him one of the most prolific country western singers of all time. Pride is also part owner of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. He passed away in 2020 from complications from COVID-19. His pioneering work in country music as an African-American artist broke barriers that made him a great American.