The Baton Foundation Presents Professsor Tyrone Freeman - Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving Virtual Event
The Baton Foundation, in partnership with the Auburn Avenue Research Library for African American Culture and History, welcomes Dr. Tyrone Freeman to discuss his book, “Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy During Jim Crow,” on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at 3 PM (EST).
This event is free and open to the public. Register for the the discussion via the link below.
A Cappella Books will have copies of "Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving" available after the event. Pre-order via the link below. At checkout, choose between the local delivery, curbside pick-up, or shipping options. For zip codes not listed in the above banner, select curbside pick-up or USPS shipping.
About the Book
Founder of a beauty empire, Madam C. J. Walker (1867-1919) was celebrated in the early 1900s as America’s first self-made female millionaire. Known as a leading Black entrepreneur, Walker was also devoted to an activist philanthropy aimed at empowering Blacks and challenging the injustices inflicted by Jim Crow.
Tyrone McKinley Freeman’s biography highlights how giving shaped Walker’s life before and after she became wealthy. Poor and widowed when she arrived in St. Louis in her twenties, Walker found mentorship among Black churchgoers and working Black women. Her adoption of faith, racial uplift, education, and self-help soon informed her dedication to assisting Black women’s entrepreneurship, financial independence, and activism. Walker embedded her philanthropy in how she grew her business, forged alliances with groups like the National Association of Colored Women, funded schools and social service agencies led by Black women and enlisted her company’s sales agents in local charity and advocacy work.
Illuminating and dramatic, "Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving” broadens our understanding of Black women’s charitable giving and establishes Walker as a foremother of Black philanthropy.
About the Author
Tyrone McKinley Freeman is an award-winning writer, speaker and teacher whose work examines the intersections of philanthropy, activism, and race in America. A nationally recognized expert in Black philanthropy, he writes and speaks about various forms of Black generosity and social change, past and present. Currently, Professor Freeman is an assistant professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. He also conducts workshops on fundraising and leadership for nonprofit organizations.
Professor Freeman is author of ”Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy During Jim Crow” (University of Illinois Press, 2020), and co-author of ”Race, Gender and Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations” (Palgrave MacMillan, 2011), which explores the personal lives and professional challenges of Black and women nonprofit executive leaders.
A proud HBCU alum, Professor Freeman graduated from Lincoln University (PA) with a B.A. in English. He earned a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Ball State University, and a M.S. in Adult Education from Indiana University. Dr. Freeman is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
