The Woman Who Kept the Stories: A’Lelia Bundles and the Legacy of Madam C.J. Walker

On the first episode of Styled & Spoken, host Alicia Wilson sits down for an intimate, full-circle conversation with A’Lelia Bundles, journalist, historian, and the great-great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker.What begins as a discussion of legacy unfolds into a deeply personal dialogue about Black beauty history, family memory, and the responsibility of preserving stories that were never meant to be forgotten. Bundles reflects on growing up surrounded by history, discovering her purpose as a writer, uncovering letters and artifacts that humanized Madam Walker, and the powerful role beauty shops played as centers of leadership and community. The conversation closes with a reflection on beauty, identity, and the quiet power of wearing one’s hair naturally.This episode sets the tone for Styled & Spoken, where beauty talks, fashion remembers, and culture always has the mic.