Marjorie Stewart Joyner was born on October 24, 1896 in Monterey, Virginia, which was the Blue Ridge Mountain area of the state. She was the granddaughter of both a slave and a slave owner. She was a very strong businesswoman and humanitarian with strong ambitions and desires. When she was a teenager, she and her family joined the Great Migration, moving to Chicago, Illinois, where many African Americans moved in search of work and a better life. Once she arrived in Chicago, she began studying and pursuing a career in cosmetology. Marjorie Joyner had a strong message that she carried throughout her life: be proud of who you are and treat yourself like you care. From this belief, she became a passionate advocate for young men and women throughout her life. She attended the A.B. Molar Beauty School and became the first African American woman to graduate from the school in 1916. Marjorie decided to become an educator in African American beauty culture. He did this by inspiring many young African Americans. Marjorie also fought for racial and gender equality during the growing years of the black community in Chicago. At the tender age of twenty she married a man named Robert E. Joyner and soon after opened a beauty salon. Of course, Marjorie Joyner developed an interest in becoming a cosmetologist early on, so she opened a salon in her home. Her mother-in-law was not impressed with the way she did her hair and felt she needed more practice, so she suggested that Marjorie study at one of Madame C.J. Walker's beauty schools. She was a very kind and generous woman and even offered to pay for Marjorie's expenses to attend beauty school. Soon after, she was introduced to the very famous Afric......middle of paper......Joyner and even tried to copy his invention and add her own twist to it. Then, quite naturally, his invention evolved and paved the way for further technological advances. The permanent wave machine paved the way for the newer items we have today, such as straighteners and curling irons. She was an inspiration to many and dedicated her life to helping others. Marjorie Joyner's invention opened new doors for many beauticians and their clients. It helped pave the way for the evolution of hair for both African American and Caucasian women. Marjorie inspired many generations and left an extraordinary legacy full of selflessness and creativity. I will end this article with a quote from the amazing Marjorie Stewart Joyner: “There is nothing a woman can't do. Men might think they do things on their own, but a woman is always there to guide or help them.”
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