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Innovation Strategies Home Page
Great-great-granddaughter of Madame CJ Walker honours Dyke & Dryden pioneers at City Hall tribute
On Friday January 19, salon owners, manufacturers, distributors and other senior figures from the US and UK gathered at City Hall for a celebration of the ground-breaking achievements that laid the foundations of a multi-million pound industry that now employs thousands of people and makes an invaluable contribution to ethnic communities and the British economy.
The evening’s keynote speaker was author and journalist A’Lelia Bundles, a veteran television news producer who is also the great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, the legendary post-slavery innovator and entrepreneur. Her critically-acclaimed, best-selling biography, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, tells the story of how her great-great-grandmother built a beauty empire, amassed unprecedented wealth and devoted her life to philanthropy and social activism.
As she told her ancestor’s story, it became clear to everyone in the room that Madam’s Walker’s success was secured by a steely determination to create a better life for the black women of her generation, through the benefits of her health and beauty products and the independent income it created for the hundreds of agents who sold them. That conviction allowed her to thrive and build a succesful business, despite the tremendous odds facing her.
She was followed by special guest Anthony Wade MBE, former managing director of Dyke & Dryden, the first Black British company in the sector to exceed £1 million in revenues. He too spoke of the difficulties that he, Len Dyke and Dudley Dryden faced in the early years, and how they managed to overcome the challenges and beat the banks and others who refused to give them a chance.
Event organiser Anne Long-Murray of Salon Strategies echoed the feelings of many present: “I’m glad we decided to honour these heroes, to highlight the incredible contribution they have made to entrepreneurship in the Black community and the legacy they have built for thousands of people who are now employed in this industry. The racism they faced is almost unbelievable, compared to the issues black businesses face today. It’s still not easy, but we are so much further ahead because of their sacrifices.”
Event sponsors Brendan McParland of Noble Sleek and Larry Mallory of Pro-Line each spoke about the contribution their respective companies have made to the industry and acknowledged the debt the industry owes to pioneers like Dyke, Dryden and Wade. According to Mallory, “They touched the lives of almost everyone in the industry through Dyke & Dryden and the Afro Hair & Beauty Show. I feel privileged to have worked with them.”
To get a copy of ‘How They Made a Million’ or ‘Black Enterprise in Britain’ call 08000 409 333 or email
admin@ccmuk.net.
To get a copy of ‘In Their Footsteps’ visit www.madamecjwalker.com.
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Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden, Anthony Wade MBE.
Lee Jasper welcomes keynote speaker A’Lelia Bundles to City Hall.
Larry Mallory of event co-sponsors Pro-Line International recalls his years of working alongside Anthony Wade at Dyke & Dryden.
A’Lelia Bundles (second from right) congratulates Luster Products on their first 50 years: Precious and Phyllis Luster, Reginald Maynor and Elvis Ramclam.
Brendan McParland of co-sponsors Noble Sleek with Patricia Hope, Caprius Salon and Orin Lewis, African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.
Enoch Williams greets A’Lelia Bundles and Anthony Wade.
Madam C.J. Walker, post-slavery innovator and entrepreneneur.
Sisters in business: Although not related, Yvonne Thompson shares a passion for business success with Sharon Thompson of Namasté.
To your health: Toastmaster extraordinaire Ralph Straker, Afro Hair & Beauty Organiser Verna McKenzie and Michael Campbell of the GLA.
Media men: Choice FM co-founder Neil Kenlock and Pat Petker of Black Beauty & Hair.
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