Television Review: Self Made
Every black woman has a hair story. Mine started when I was fourteen years old. My mother, who was doing my hair at the time, accidentally braided my chemically processed shoulder-length hair. This mixup was considered a big no-no in terms of healthy hair maintenance. When I unbraided it several weeks later, large clumps of dark brown locks fell unto my small shoulders and hands. Not only did this incident emotionally wrecked me, but I was teased relentlessly by my peers at school. It took me years to grow my crown back. And during that time, I had to learn how to love and nurture my curly 4C textured hair. That is why I am happy that Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker exists on Netflix. As well as showing the complicated process black women go through with maintaining their hair, the limited series also shows how black women can overcome their struggles with grit and glam.
Starring Octavia Spencer, Self Made loosely follows the story of African American entrepreneur and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker. The series begins with Spencer’s character, then named Sarah Breedlove, in utter disarray. Due to the stress of being a poor, unhappy washerwoman, Sarah’s hair starts to fall out. To make matters worse, Sarah’s abusive husband leaves, and her finances dry up. Fortunately, Sarah’s life turns around when a fair-skinned black beautician named Addie Monroe (Carmen Ejogo), helps the woman regrow her hair. As a token of appreciation, Sarah tries to become Addie’s business partner, but the ambitious woman immediately gets shut down since she “ain’t got the right look.” Angered but determined, Sarah takes on the name Madam C.J. Walker, creates her own hair grower, and attempts to become an entrepreneur in her own right.
Like many biographical series before it, Self Made depicts the trajectory of a prominent person’s life story in a straightforward, if not pedestrian way. We see Walker’s humble beginnings, her rise as a businesswoman, and the challenges she faces against naysayers all within the span of four episodes. That said, Spencer’s performance makes the limited series worthwhile. She slips into the role of the late self-made woman like a satin white-glove. Almost every line and gesture she makes helps sell the character. And despite my reservations about black women fighting against one another in the media (especially when it involves colorism), Walker’s rivalry against Addie works quite well. If anything, it is their competitive nature and desire for more that drives these women to succeed. But it is Tiffany Haddish’s take on Walker’s scatterbrained daughter, Lelia, that truly shines. Her charisma, playfulness, and infectious personality make for a delightfully fun performance.
Though the lead performances are great, there are some glaring problems with the direction and editing. Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Harriet, Eve’s Bayou) and DeMane Davis (You, Queen Sugar), Self Made feels like a glossy Lifetime series at times. Sure, some of the fantasy sequences are engaging, such as the tap dance sequence at Walker’s Indianapolis factory. However, many of these scenes are too saccharine for my tastes. Watching Spencer and Ejogo fight in a literal boxing ring, gloves n’ all, is just too much. The rapid-fire cuts at the beginning of the series are also jarring at best, cliché at worst. But even with its inherent hokeyness, the series looks positively gorgeous. With its floral prints and warm hues, the whole series looks like it came straight out of a Kehinde Wiley painting. And thanks to costume designer Karyn Wagner (Preacher, Underground), the performers look and feel like they belong in the 1900s.
Overall, Self Made is a solid look into one of America’s most aspirational female entrepreneurs. The directing may be cheesy at times, but the acting, costuming, and premise holds up. Most importantly, Madam C.J. Walker’s life story is extraordinary. The business maven’s success proves that the beauty industry has an essential place in the black community. Her accomplishments lead the way for beauty brand founders like Beatrice Dixon of Honey Pot and Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter. To put it bluntly, she is not just an aspiration for black women, but all Americans.
Verdict: Despite the hokey directing and editing, Self Made is a solid primer into one of America’s most aspirational female entrepreneurs. If anything, viewers will undoubtedly enjoy the period costumes, performances, and story.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Starring: Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Kevin Carroll, Blair Underwood, and Garrett Morris
Based On: The biography On Her Own Ground by A’Lelia Bundles
Image and trailer by Netflix
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