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A'Lelia Bundles

エイレリア・バンドルズ

A'Lelia Bundles

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1952-06-07 （Chicago, Illinois, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Indianapolis, Indiana → Washington, D.C. → New York, New York

Career

Occupations
journalist, news producer, author
Active Years
1976-
Affiliations
Radcliffe Institute (Schlesinger Library), National Archives Foundation (former chair of the Board), Columbia University (former trustee), March On! Festival (advisory)
Memberships
Daughters of the American Revolution
Influenced By
Madam C. J. Walker, A'Lelia Walker

Education

Harvard University (Harvard College / Radcliffe College)
Degree: BA
Period: 1970–1974
Year of Graduation: 1974
Country: United States
Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; received joint Radcliffe/Harvard diploma.
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Degree: MS
Period: 1975–1976
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: United States
Earned a Master of Science in Journalism.

Awards

duPont Gold Baton
1994
Organization: Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Awards
Result: 受賞
American Book Award
1992
Work: Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: 受賞
Letitia Woods Brown Book Prize
2001
Work: On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker
Organization: Association of Black Women Historians
Result: 受賞
The New York Times Notable Book
2001
Work: On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker
Organization: The New York Times
Result: 選出
Black Caucus of the American Library Association Honor Book
2002
Work: On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker
Organization: Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Result: 受賞
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2015
Organization: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Result: 選出
MacDowell Colony Fellowship
2017
Organization: MacDowell
Result: 受賞
Honorary Doctorate (Indiana University)
2003
Organization: Indiana University
Result: 授与
Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact List
2021
Organization: Forbes
Result: 選出

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker

2001 Biography / Non-fiction

A detailed biography of Madam C. J. Walker focusing on family history, business, and the entrepreneurial spirit of African American women.

entrepreneurshipfamily legacyrace and gender
Adaptations
  • [miniseries] Self Made (2020)

Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance

2025 Biography / History

A major biography of A'Lelia Walker, detailing her life and role in the Harlem Renaissance (published 2025).

Harlem Renaissanceart and social lifeBlack women's history

Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur

1991 Young adult / Biography

A young-adult biography of Madam C. J. Walker; recipient of the 1992 American Book Award.

entrepreneurshiprole model

Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure

2013 Local history / Photo book

A record of the history and preservation of the Madam Walker Theatre Center.

cultural heritagepreservation

All about Madam C. J. Walker

2017 Introduction / Biography

An accessible overview of Madam C. J. Walker's life and achievements for general readers.

biography of an entrepreneurBlack history

Bibliography

  • Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance (2025)
  • On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (2001)
  • Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur (1991; revised 2008)
  • Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure (2013)
  • All about Madam C. J. Walker (2017)
  • Essays and articles (Town & Country, LitHub, Andscape, etc.)

Adaptations

  • Netflix miniseries 'Self Made' (2020) — book optioned and adapted from On Her Own Ground
  • Madam Walker Barbie produced in collaboration with Mattel (2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
research-driven, factual narrativebiographical narration that weaves family and cultural history
Recurring Motifs
Black women's entrepreneurshipfamily legacy and memorycultural preservation and representation

Legacy

A'Lelia Bundles has meticulously documented and promoted the family history of Madam C. J. Walker, influencing both academia and popular culture. Through books, media adaptations, exhibits, and collaborations she has kept the Walker legacy in contemporary conversation.

Museums

  • Madam Walker Theatre Center Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Opened in 1927

Academic Societies

  • Association of Black Women Historians (associated)
  • Radcliffe Institute (associated)

Archives

  • Madam Walker Family Archives (founder / representative)

In Popular Culture

  • Netflix miniseries 'Self Made' (2020) — dramatization of Madam C. J. Walker's story
  • Mattel 'Madam Walker' Barbie (2022) — part of the Inspiring Women series

Quotes

  • I'd been part of a complex and frustrating dance as my nonfiction, fact-based material was translated from book to movie by scriptwriters whose visions, goals and sensibilities often were quite different from mine...I had been anticipating Hidden Figures. Instead The Real Housewives of Atlanta was staring back at me.
    Source: Andscape (article) (2020)

Trivia

  • Great-great-grandmother is Madam C. J. Walker; A'Lelia Walker is a prominent ancestor.
  • Her biography was optioned for the Netflix miniseries 'Self Made'; she has publicly commented on historical inaccuracies in the adaptation.
  • Collaborated with Mattel on a Madam Walker Barbie in 2022.
  • Served as a trustee of Columbia University.