Being the great, great granddaughter of Frederick Douglass, the nineteenth century social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. has been a vibrant part of Maria Weaver’s family legacy for many generations.
If she could “channel” her famous ancestor during this time of social upheaval, he would tell everyone to vote, says Weaver, CMO of Comcast Advertising, in this interview with Beet.TV
(Note: Marking Martin Luther King Day, we are republishing this video with Maria from July 2020. At the time she was at Comcast. Today she is President of WMX, at the Warner Music Group.)
In this wide ranging interview for the Black Lives Matter series on Beet.TV, she urges women of color to “bring their whole selves to work,” not a version shaped by what is expected of them.
In the aftermath of the George Floyd murder and the widespread upheaval over racial injustice, she is encouraged by the movement of many corporations to make real change in hiring, mentoring and moving to be more inclusive. For society at large, however, much more work needs to be done, she notes.
Celebrating their Douglass legacy, Weaver’s two daughters Alexa and Haley recently took part of a virtual group reading of the abolitionist’s July 4 speech which was delivered on July 5, 1852. The segment was produced by NPR.
This video is part of an ongoing Beet.TV series of interviews with men and and women of color, addressing their personal experiences and hopes for essential change addressing racial inequality. Please find additional videos here.
