As the end of Reconstruction ushered in a volatile period in which former Confederate states instituted laws that severely restricted the upward mobility of African Americans, life for Black people largely remained just as harsh as it was during slavery. Black residents along the Mississippi River began to flee the South in the late 19th century, settling North for better opportunities. Among those making the journey was an entrepreneur who would become known as Madam C.J. Walker. Walker not only worked her way to becoming a self-made millionaire, she also became a staunch advocate for Black women.