Marie M. Daly and Madam C.J. Walker

Madame C.J. WalkerScurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.) | Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History : Archives Center [Public Domain] via Wikimedia CommonsPeople may think of super heroes to be Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. In my eyes I think that a hero is an individual that makes a difference within a community or society. I have completed research on two individuals that I think to be heroes. Each of these African American women have endured many obstacles but in the end rose to the top with having education.

Madam C.J. Walker is a well-known woman in African American society being that she was the woman who invented a hair straightening substance that was targeted for the African American people to use. She grew up with parents that were former slaves, and at the age of 7 she became an orphan. As a result of this, she had to move in with her older sister and brother-in-law. As an act of bravery and independence, she got married at the age of 14 to escape the harsh treatment and difficult working environment. She was a woman that was all for education and chose to further her studying in chemistry. Later in her life she was diagnosed with a scalp condition that caused her hair to fall out. She was determined to do something about her condition, so she began tampering with chemicals and store-bought hair treatments to figure out a way to improve her condition. Madam C.J. Walker was one of the first African American women to become a millionaire. Madam C.J. Walker had a great deal of perseverance which led her to have a very successful life for her and her daughter.

Marie M. DalyBy Queens College Silhouette Yearbook | Public Domain via Wikimedia CommonsAnother individual I note as a heroine is Marie M. Daly, In my eyes she a role model. Regardless of the color of her skin and her gender, she still was driven to reach her goal. She was born to a family that was very education-based. As she went to school to further her education. She always seemed to excel at just about every school she attended. Marie attended Columbia University, and there she received her doctorate degree in chemistry. She made history by becoming the first African American woman to receive a PhD in chemistry in the United States. After receiving her PhD, her educational journey did not come to an end. She returned to Columbia University to accompany one of her former professors to do research on the cause of heart attacks. Their research helped to determine the relationship between high cholesterol and clogged arteries. Their discovery also helped for a better understanding of how an individual's diet and food could affect the health of the circulatory system. Her love for education was furthered, as she continued to surround herself with education by teaching biochemistry courses.

These women are role models for me because they endured many obstacles that could have knocked them off their path to success. They knew the power of education and always kept that in mind. Doing research on each of these females helps me to realize that success has no limits on gender, color of an individual's skin, or where you came from. I understand that education is the key in life that will help with becoming successful. Women back in those days were restricted from doing many things, such as learning and furthering their education.