‘The untold story of a beauty pioneer, philanthropist, and America’s first Black female millionaire.’
Few names have been as overlooked in American history as Annie Turnbo Malone. Though she was the daughter of formerly enslaved parents and rose from the hardships of orphanhood and poverty, Annie became one of the first Black female millionaires in the United States. She built a global health and beauty empire, dedicated her fortune to charitable causes, and transformed lives through education and economic opportunity.
In The Hidden Story of Annie Turnbo Malone: The First Black Female Millionaire, author James Bryson — Annie’s great-great nephew — brings her remarkable journey to light. This powerful book resurrects her legacy and corrects the record too often overshadowed by misrepresentations of her life.
Despite leaving high school due to health issues, Annie’s vision and resilience led her to found PORO College, a beauty and cosmetology school that trained tens of thousands of African Americans. Her products and business model spread nationwide and abroad, creating one of the largest Black-owned enterprises of her time.
But Annie’s story was not only about wealth. She gave away large portions of her fortune to support charities, including the Annie Malone Children’s Home, which continues to serve communities today. Her faith and determination shaped her into not just a businesswoman, but also a servant leader.
Bryson grew up with fragments of Annie’s history preserved through family documents, photographs, and artifacts passed down from his grandparents. Inspired to tell the truth of her story — especially after seeing her misrepresented in the 2020 Netflix movie Self Made — Bryson decided to write this book to reclaim her rightful place in history.
In that dramatization, Annie was renamed and portrayed as a vindictive rival of Madam C. J. Walker. In reality, Walker had once been Annie’s student and employee, and her success was built on foundations Annie had already created. Without Annie Turnbo Malone, there would have been no Madam C. J. Walker.
Bryson is an award-winning educator, author, and national trainer who has dedicated his career to helping people succeed through coaching, seminars, and workshops. As the founder of the Annie Malone Center for Development and the New Millennium Institute, he works to preserve Annie’s legacy while empowering others in education, diversity, workforce development, and healthy living.
He is also the author of several motivational works, including Stop Tripping and Start Living, which focuses on promoting healthy lifestyles and empowering African American males.
At its core, The Hidden Story of Annie Turnbo Malone is about more than wealth. It is about resilience, faith, and service. Annie faced betrayal, personal disappointment, and unimaginable obstacles — yet she remained committed to giving back. Her life’s work continues to echo in the institutions she built and the countless individuals she uplifted.
For readers, the book offers both an education in a forgotten chapter of Black history and inspiration to persevere through challenges with dignity and purpose.
The Hidden Story of Annie Turnbo Malone: The First Black Female Millionaire is available now. To learn more, visit aunt-annie.com.
James Bryson - Global Book Network with Paul Ryden!
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