Leon Jett Memorial Lecture about the iconic Madam C.J. Walker

Join storyteller Portia Sholar Jackson, “Momma Portia,” for an engaging lecture about iconic African American entrepreneur and businesswoman Madam C.J. Walker, followed by a Q&A session. Portia, a very talented storyteller, believes in the power of oral traditions. She uses her talents to present stories to audiences of all ages throughout the country. She emphasizes topics such as cultural awareness, American History, self-esteem building, and decision-making skills.

About the Leon Jett Memorial Lecture: Leon Jett was Eiteljorg’s public programs manager from 1999 to 2007, when he was taken from us at a much too young age. In his eight years at the Eiteljorg, Leon made his mark on the museum through his dedication to quality programming and to working within the Indianapolis community to ensure that anyone coming to the Eiteljorg could see themselves in the museum—in the stories, in the art and exhibitions, and in the programming. In keeping with Leon’s personal and professional mission, we instituted this annual memorial lecture to highlight the contributions and all-too-often unknown stories of historical and contemporary African Americans in the West.