A'Lelia Bundles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A'Lelia Bundles
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Bundles in 2012
|
|
| Born | June 7, 1952 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (MS) |
| Occupation |
|
| 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 on June 7, 1952, is an American journalist, news producer, and author. She is well-known for writing a book about her great-great-grandmother, Madam C. J. Walker. Madam C. J. Walker was a very successful businesswoman.
Contents
A'Lelia Bundles' Family and Early Life
A'Lelia Bundles grew up in Indianapolis. Her family included business leaders who cared about their community. She was named after her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker. A'Lelia Walker was an important person during the Harlem Renaissance. She was also the daughter of the famous entrepreneur, Madam C. J. Walker.
Bundles' mother, A'Lelia Mae Perry Bundles, was a vice president at the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company. She was also active in local politics. Her father, S. Henry Bundles Jr., led another hair care company called Summit Laboratories. He was also involved in the Indianapolis 500 Festival. He helped start a youth organization in Indianapolis called the Center for Leadership Development.
Education and School Years
A'Lelia Bundles was a top student in high school. She graduated from North Central High School in 1970. She was the co-editor of the school newspaper. She also helped start a group that worked on racial issues at her school.
In 1974, Bundles graduated with high honors from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. She then earned a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1976.
A'Lelia Bundles' Career in News and Writing
A'Lelia Bundles had a long career in television news. She worked as a producer and executive at ABC News. She helped find new talent and managed news bureaus. She also produced stories for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.
Before ABC News, she worked at NBC News. She produced segments for The Today Show and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. She also produced other news programs in Washington, D.C.
Her Books and Stories
Bundles is famous for her book, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker. This book was published in 2001. The New York Times called it a "Notable Book." It also won an award for being the best book on Black women's history.
In 2020, her book was made into a Netflix mini-series called Self Made. The series starred Octavia Spencer. Bundles also wrote a book for young adults called Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur. This book won an American Book Award in 1992.
Bundles has also written other books about Madam C. J. Walker. She wrote Madam Walker Theatre Center: An Indianapolis Treasure and All about Madam C. J. Walker. She also wrote entries about Madam C. J. Walker and A'Lelia Walker for important history books.
Working with the Walker Family Legacy
As Madam C. J. Walker's great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles manages the Walker Family Archives. She helps protect the family's history and legacy. She worked with Mattel to create a Madam Walker Barbie doll. This doll is part of Barbie's Inspiring Women Series.
Bundles has also written a new book about her great-grandmother, A'Lelia Walker. The book is called Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance. It was published in June 2025.
She has spoken about the Netflix series Self Made. She explained that while it was based on her book, the show took some creative liberties. She wanted the show to be very accurate to history.
Awards and Recognition
A'Lelia Bundles has received many awards for her work.
- She won an Emmy Award for her work at NBC News.
- She received the duPont Gold Baton for her work at ABC News in 1994.
- Her book Madam C. J. Walker: Entrepreneur won an American Book Award in 1992.
- On Her Own Ground was named a New York Times Notable Book in 2001.
- She received the Letitia Woods Brown Book Prize in 2001.
- She has received awards from Harvard University, Radcliffe College, and Columbia University.
- She received an honorary doctorate from Indiana University in 2003.
- She is in the North Central High School Hall of Fame.
- She was named an Indiana Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society in 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 who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
See also
In Spanish: A'Lelia Bundles para niños
