SIUE Hosts Metro East Premier Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story
The Metro East premiere of “Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story” will take place May 2 at the Dunham Hall Theatre on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Film screens at 6:00 p.m.
Most people know about Madam C.J. Walker’s success selling hair care products for Black women in the late 1800’s early 1900’s. Before she started her business, she worked for Annie Turnbo Malone.
Annie Malone was born in Metropolis, Ill. and grew up in Peoria where she gained an interest in chemistry, which led her to create products that helped women’s hair grow. It has been said Annie tested her formulas on anything and anyone who would allow. After perfecting a mixture, Annie and her sister went door to door selling her hair care products. Soon she decided to move to Lovejoy where Malone and her sister set up their business. Before the 1904 World’s Fair, Malone moved to St. Louis, Mo. to set up shop and PORO College was born.
Malone was one of the first Black millionaires to live in the state of Missouri. She gave to many charities, helped students through college and trained more than 75,000 women how to sell her PORO Beauty Products.
“To me Malone set the business model for Mary Kay, Avon and other beauty products,” says Robin Boyce, Associate Director of Corporate Support for WSIE 88.7 The Sound FM. “Malone was a businesswoman who cared about her community!”
This presentation is being sponsored by the Black Faculty Staff Association of SIUE, Healthy Hair Solutions and WSIE 88.7 The Sound. The film was researched and produced by the Annie Malone Film Project, LLC.
For more information on the film, visit anniemalonefilm.org.
PHOTO: “Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story” Promotional Poster
