ST. LOUIS — Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story Brings a St. Louis Legacy Back Into Focus. The documentary Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story is prompting renewed attention on one of St. Louis’ most influential and least discussed business leaders: Annie Turnbo Malone, the entrepreneur and philanthropist whose name many residents recognize, but often without knowing the full story behind it.
I attended a recent screening and left with the same takeaway I heard echoed in the room: this isn’t just a film about history, it’s a film about visibility.
A Familiar Industry Narrative, With a Missing Chapter
In conversations about Black hair care and beauty, the name most commonly mentioned is Madam C. J. Walker. While Walker’s impact is widely celebrated, Malone’s role is often left out of mainstream discussion, including the early business infrastructure and training systems that helped expand the industry.
For many St. Louisans, Malone’s name is most closely tied to a single tradition: the Annie Malone May Day Parade. The film challenges audiences to look beyond the event and toward the woman whose legacy stretches into entrepreneurship, employment, and community investment.
The St. Louis Screening
A screening of Annie Turnbo Malone: The Untold Story was held Saturday, February 7, at The Sun Theatre in the Arts District off North Grand.
According to information shared at the event, the documentary was produced by a St. Louis team that includes Demetrius Davis (E4C Video Productions), Giovanni Joseph (Siskojoe Media), and Kim Love (Kim Love Productions). The film explores Malone’s life and provides additional detail about her business reach and the impact of her work on St. Louis and the broader Black community.
Why the Film Lands Differently in St. Louis
The documentary’s strongest contribution is how it reframes Malone as more than a name connected to a parade. It positions her as part of St. Louis’ economic legacy, raising a question that feels timely: How many Black builders are celebrated symbolically, but not taught fully? For viewers, the result is less nostalgia and more urgency: to learn, document, and pass the story forward.
What’s Next
Organizers have indicated there will be an upcoming screening at Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Missouri). At the time of writing, a public date had not been confirmed in the materials I’ve seen, so readers should look for official updates from the film’s team and Lindenwood’s channels.
STL Black Biz Takeaway and Call to Action
If you care about Black business history, this is a local story with national weight.
Show up when the Lindenwood screening is announced. Bring someone who knows the parade but not the person. And after the credits roll, do the practical work: support Black-owned businesses now, while you’re thinking about the people who made it possible for us to build in the first place.