"Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story"

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The life and legacy of Annie Turnbo Malone is also being reclaimed and reintroduced through the documentary Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story.

Darlene Peterson-Young and Barbara Alexander were children when they met the Beauty Culture Queen. Their encounter with the founder of the African-American health and beauty industry still impacts them today, over 80 years later.

Ms. Peterson-Young and Ms. Alexander are not referring to Madam C. J. Walker. They are referring to Annie Minerva Turnbo Pope Malone, a visionary often compared to innovators like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs because she built a revolutionary international empire from the second floor of a two-story shack—later expanding it into a global enterprise.

The documentary highlights how Malone’s vision, leadership, and business model laid the foundation for what would become a worldwide beauty industry. It also explores how history has often failed to fully and fairly preserve her contributions.

Independently produced by the Annie Malone Film Project, LLC, the documentary took nearly seven years to complete. Filming spanned five cities and historic sites, including a moving visit to Burr Oak Cemetery, where Tyrone Haymore faithfully maintains her gravesite.

One of the most notable interviews in the documentary features A’Lelia Bundles, the great-great granddaughter of Madam C. J. Walker and author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker. Ms. Bundles acknowledges that previous portrayals, including the Netflix adaptation based on her work, misrepresented Annie Turnbo Malone’s legacy and confirms that Madam C. J. Walker was once employed by Malone before launching her own enterprise, utilizing a similar business framework.

Producers of the documentary emphasize that the project was driven by purpose and faith.“God was the Executive Producer on this project,” said Demetrius Davis. “What should have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, we were able to complete for under ten thousand.”Giovanni Joseph shared, “When one door closed, another opened. It was as if God was guiding every step and removing obstacles that would have hindered the project.”Kim Love added, “This was a passion project. We set out to tell Annie’s story because history has not been kind to her.”

The documentary is currently being showcased in select Midwestern cities and will be released more widely soon. For more information, visit:

https://www.anniemalonefilm.org/

or email inquiries to: info@anniemalonefilm.org

Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story stands as one of the most powerful and inspirational historical documentaries highlighting entrepreneurship, faith, resilience, and legacy.  Annie Turnbo Malone represents vision, innovation, and generational transformation. She built when barriers existed. She created when access was limited. She gave when she had every reason to hold back.

Her legacy is not only found in business success, but in the thousands of women she empowered, the institutions she strengthened, and the communities she uplifted.Her life reminds us that true greatness is measured not only by what is built, but by how many lives are changed along the way.Her leadership reflects vision. Her work reflects legacy. Her life reflects enduring impact.

Before recognition, headlines, and historical correction, there were women like Annie Turnbo Malone—women who built anyway, gave anyway, and led anyway.

Her story reminds us that legacy is not always immediately seen, but it is never erased when it is rooted in purpose, faith, and service. Through her life, we are reminded that one woman’s vision can shape industries, communities, and generations.

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