The Maybelline Story

Happy 119th Birthday to Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams… Happy Martin Luther King Day,

By Sharrie Williams · Written January 2015 · 1 min read

Happy 119th Birthday to Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams… Happy Martin Luther King Day,
Happy Birthday to my Great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams


Maybelline Advertising Genius Ties Civil Rights and Women’s Rights together in 1964.


Happy 119th Birthday to Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams… Happy Martin Luther King Day,

Maybelline was the first Cosmetic Company to feature an African American face, in 1959, Je’Taun Taylor.

Happy 119th Birthday to Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams… Happy Martin Luther King Day,


 In 1964, Great Lash Mascara was born and featured a beautiful young Black Model, who spoke in code, to the growing liberated female market. The genius in this Ad was connecting Civil Rights with Women’s Rights. 1964 was the year that changed America, both Culturally and Politically. Be sure to see the new PBS Documentary called 1964.




At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

Happy 119th Birthday to Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams… Happy Martin Luther King Day,



Martin Luther King Jr. was the driving force behind the the March on Washington, which helped bring about the Civil Rights Act of 1964. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986.





Be sure to visit my hilarious 1964 Saffrons Rule Blog at http://saffronsrule.com/
Coming soon · Next from Sharrie Williams

Maybe She’s Born With It

The next chapter of the Maybelline family story. Get a text the day it’s out.

Where it began: The Maybelline Story — Amazon · Ebook · Signed copy