A'Lelia Bundles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A'Lelia Bundles
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Bundles in 2012
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| Born | June 7, 1952 |
| Education | Harvard College (BA) Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (MSJ) |
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| Family | A'Lelia Walker (great-grandmother) Madam C. J. Walker (great-great-grandmother) |
| Awards | duPont Gold Baton, 1994 American Book Award, 1992 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Honor Book, 2002 American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2015 MacDowell Colony Fellowship, 2017 |
A'Lelia Perry Bundles (born June 7, 1952) is an American journalist, news producer, and author. She is best known for writing a book about her great-great-grandmother, Madam C. J. Walker. Madam C. J. Walker was a very successful businesswoman.
Contents
About A'Lelia Bundles
Her Family and Growing Up
A'Lelia Bundles grew up in Indianapolis. Her family was very involved in their community and in business. She was named after her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker (1885–1931). A'Lelia Walker was an important person during the Harlem Renaissance, a time when Black art and culture thrived. She was also the daughter of the famous entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker.
A'Lelia Bundles' mother, A'Lelia Mae Perry Bundles, was a vice president at the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company. She was also active in politics and worked for the City of Indianapolis. Her father, S. Henry Bundles Jr., led another hair care company called Summit Laboratories. He helped organize the Indianapolis 500 Festival for many years. He also started the Center for Leadership Development, an organization that helps young people in Indianapolis.
Her Education
A'Lelia Bundles was a top student at North Central High School. She helped lead the student council and started a group to talk about racial issues. In 1974, she graduated with high honors from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. She then earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1976.
Her Career in Journalism and Writing
A'Lelia Bundles worked as a producer and executive at ABC News. She helped find new talent and managed news bureaus. Before that, she was a producer for NBC News. She worked on popular shows like The Today Show and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.
Her Books
A'Lelia Bundles wrote a book called On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (2001). This book was recognized as a notable book by The New York Times. It also won an award for being the best book on Black women's history. In 2020, this book was made into a Netflix mini-series called Self Made. The show starred Octavia Spencer.
Bundles also wrote a book for young adults called Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur (1991). This book won an American Book Award in 1992.
Other Important Roles
A'Lelia Bundles has served on many important boards. She is a trustee emerita of Columbia University. She also used to lead the Board of Directors for the National Archives Foundation. She helps guide organizations like the Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study's Schlesinger Library. She is also involved with the March on Washington Film Festival.
Madam C. J. Walker's Legacy
As Madam C. J. Walker's great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles helps manage her family's history. She is the official historian for MADAM by Madam C. J. Walker. This is a line of hair care products sold at Walmart.
She also worked with Mattel to create a Madam Walker Barbie doll. This doll is part of Barbie's Inspiring Women Series.
A'Lelia Bundles has shared her thoughts on the Netflix series Self Made. She felt that some parts of the show were not completely accurate to her research. She explained that translating a true story into a movie can be tricky.
Published Works
A'Lelia Bundles has written several books:
- On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker (Scribner, 2001)
- Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur (Chelsea House, 1991; revised 2008)
- Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure (Arcadia Publishing, 2013)
- All about Madam C. J. Walker (Blue River Press/Cardinal Publishing, 2017)
She also wrote entries about Madam C. J. Walker and A'Lelia Walker for important history books.
Awards and Honors
A'Lelia Bundles has received many awards for her work:
- Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact List 2021
- Emmy Award (for her work with NBC News)
- duPont Gold Baton (for her work with ABC News in 1994)
- American Book Award in 1992 for Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur
- The New York Times Notable Book for On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker in 2001
- Distinguished alumni awards from Harvard University, Radcliffe College (2004), and Columbia University (2007)
- Honorary doctorate from Indiana University in 2003
- Indiana Historical Society's Indiana Living Legend, 2021
Personal life
A'Lelia Bundles is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This means she is a direct descendant of a patriot from the American Revolutionary War.
See also
In Spanish: A'Lelia Bundles para niños
