Violetta Weaver
1911-1999
By
Sharon Black
Baltimore
Violetta Weaver, an African American warrior and longtime
member of the Baltimore chapter of Workers World Party, died
peacefully in her home on June 22, 1999 at the age of 88.
Weaver was a tireless comrade who joined Workers World in the
early 1970s while an organizer for the Welfare Rights
Organization.
She soon became an inspiration to everyone. Weaver was
tireless. She distributed Workers World newspapers at every
single protest and picket line. She sold buttons and raised
funds.
And what most stood out was her gentle way of reaching out
to individuals and encouraging them to become members.
She cared most about the youth. It was her efforts that
brought her then 14-year-old neighbor Tiffany Blannon into
activism and the organization. Despite physical and financial
hardships, she continued to care for six
great-grandchildren.
Violetta Weaver was always close to being penniless. But she
was always the one that would pull out her last dollar and slip
it in the donation basket or try to force it into the hand of
whatever comrade drove her to a meeting or activity in order to
help pay for gas.
When she joined Workers World Party, Violetta Weaver was
already a senior in her early sixties. But her energy and
strength was the envy of many younger comrades. In December
1974, in sleet and bitter cold, Weaver was on the front lines
of the march against racism in Boston.
Weaver fought racism and bigotry of all kinds. In 1975, she
came out to denounce Anita Bryant and the religious
conservatives who were organizing against lesbian and gay
rights. This grandmother, wearing her gay rights hat, was an
inspiration to gay and straight alike.
Violetta marched against apartheid in South Africa and for
workers' rights here in the U.S. In 1978 she joined a protest
in Washington to turn back the attack on affirmative
action.
And in 1979 Violetta Weaver was the backbone of the
rent-control campaign in Baltimore, encouraging neighbors and
friends to join. She went door-to-door in almost every poor
neighborhood in Baltimore.
In 1981 she stood on ice-slick streets in Buffalo, N.Y., to
protest when the Nazis tried to demonstrate on Martin Luther
King's birthday.
And she helped to found the Baltimore chapter of the
All-People's Congress. As an APC organizer she helped win the
release of surplus food to poor people, and stopped utility
shut-offs and bus fare increases.
Violetta Weaver was known by activists everywhere in this
region. She was the backbone of virtually every organizing
drive and every demonstration. She helped build the Baltimore
branch of Workers World Party and she helped found the
All-People's Congress.
Her accomplishments are immense.
Violetta Weaver also led a very remarkable life as a young
woman. She was one of the first women drummers during the late
1920s. She played in bands in Pennsylvania's famous theaters
and she tap danced. She knew Cab Callaway, Lionel Hampton and
many other famous jazz musicians.
But she also saw the horrible racist injustices of that
period: the lynchings and the Jim Crow segregated conditions as
she traveled. And this inspired her to participate in the
picket lines of that period.
The very rich and wealthy ignore the Violetta Weavers in
their obituaries and remembrances. Their heroes are business
leaders and CEOs, and occasionally a scientist, doctor or
actor.
But Violetta Weaver is our hero.
On July 8, at 7 p.m. at the All-People's Congress Hall, 426
E. 31st Street, a memorial will be held to celebrate the life
of Violetta Weaver. We will pay tribute to this remarkable
woman--our comrade.
Donations in the name of Violetta Weaver can be sent to the
All-People's Congress, 426 E. 31 Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218
or phone (410) 235-7040. Donations will be used to set up a
special yearly International Women's Day program in honor of
Violetta Weaver and to help organize young women.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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