Weatta Frazier Collins
Weatta Frazier Collins is the daughter and family spokesperson of Heavy Weight Boxing Champion “Smokin’” Joe Frazier and founder of The Legacy Exists, non-profit scholarship fund that was created to exemplify the embodiment and humanitarianism of her father.
Best and worst decision?
“The best: marrying my husband, Gary Tyrone Collins, 28 years ago. Partnerships are very important, and we were placed on this earth, as my father used to say, “to be fruitful and multiply.” Gary is a phenomenal person, he is the first guy I dated. The worst: not furthering my education. I have an associate’s degree, but I didn’t have enough confidence when young. I am dyslexic and don’t comprehend like the average person. My self-esteem was low; that could be why my father spent a lot of time on me. Parents know which child needs attention. I was a lot like my father; he felt he was an underdog and didn’t graduate from high school. I made sure my three kids got their education.”
Dream job as a child?
“I am about 5″2′, and my dream job was to travel the world and model clothes. I loved fashion at that time.”
Barriers to female leadership?
“Haters, those trying to knock you down. You must believe in your cause and your dreams. When you get a couple people on the same page as you, you should never ever stop or give up. When I have an obstacle, I think about what my parents would do or how I can get around it. I just keep moving.”
Who inspires you?
“I could say Michelle Obama, but in my spirit, right in front of me every day, is my mother, Florence Frazier. She inspires me. She is ill now, but she keeps going and is still determined to help people—her spirit is still high. My mother is my shero.”
Challenge for next Generation?
“Stamina. I don’t think some are willing to run the race. If something doesn’t work, you must try something else. Millennials have so much entitlement; I don’t know if it’s because we taught them civil rights, what others have done to us, and how to move forward. Being Black women, we are entitled, yeah, but we must go get it and work for it. My parents taught us was that we were gifted, but we had to do the work.
Best and worst decision?
“The best: marrying my husband, Gary Tyrone Collins, 28 years ago. Partnerships are very important, and we were placed on this earth, as my father used to say, “to be fruitful and multiply.” Gary is a phenomenal person, he is the first guy I dated. The worst: not furthering my education. I have an associate’s degree, but I didn’t have enough confidence when young. I am dyslexic and don’t comprehend like the average person. My self-esteem was low; that could be why my father spent a lot of time on me. Parents know which child needs attention. I was a lot like my father; he felt he was an underdog and didn’t graduate from high school. I made sure my three kids got their education.”
Dream job as a child?
“I am about 5″2′, and my dream job was to travel the world and model clothes. I loved fashion at that time.”
Barriers to female leadership?
“Haters, those trying to knock you down. You must believe in your cause and your dreams. When you get a couple people on the same page as you, you should never ever stop or give up. When I have an obstacle, I think about what my parents would do or how I can get around it. I just keep moving.”
Who inspires you?
“I could say Michelle Obama, but in my spirit, right in front of me every day, is my mother, Florence Frazier. She inspires me. She is ill now, but she keeps going and is still determined to help people—her spirit is still high. My mother is my shero.”
Challenge for next Generation?
“Stamina. I don’t think some are willing to run the race. If something doesn’t work, you must try something else. Millennials have so much entitlement; I don’t know if it’s because we taught them civil rights, what others have done to us, and how to move forward. Being Black women, we are entitled, yeah, but we must go get it and work for it. My parents taught us was that we were gifted, but we had to do the work.
