Blair Underwood’s feminist advice for his daughter

Blair Underwood called upon his recent acting role to share advice he’d give to his daughter. In the Netflix four-part miniseries “Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker,” Brown plays Charles Walker, husband of the first black millionaire, Madam Walker (born Sarah Breedlove), played by Octavia Spencer. After suffering from a scalp problem that caused hair loss, Walker invented a hair-care line for African-American women, which she also marketed and advertised by traveling around the country.

Sarah’s business began in 1905, which marked a giant step for female black entrepreneurship. Even though her husband helped to market the business, it was Sarah who developed the products and it was her name and picture on the brand. And because of her success, her husband’s ego was destroyed. Charles’ father scolded him simply because his wife made more money.

In an interview with Essence’s Joi-Marie McKenzie, Underwood shared advice that he’d give his daughter for dealing with ego-insecure men. “If he could not adapt or cannot adjust then get out of the relationship,” he advised, point-blank. “To make any relationship work, you have to respect each other – more than love each other – you have to respect each other.” And to men whose wives make more money than they do, Underwood gave this advice: “If she’s able to go out there and make more money than you then deal with it.”