She then worked as a dressing-room attendant for a photographer and served as a personal maid to film star Leatrice Joy.

Charles Butler, an agent for African-American actors, saw one of her early performances and recommended that she audition for a film role.

In the film Holiday Inn (1942), Beavers performed a song during a minstrel show number celebrating Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

Because the number features Bing Crosby and others in blackface, some consider it racially offensive and it is often excised from television screenings of the film.

[6] In addition to her film work, Beavers conducted theater tours as long as 20 weeks each year.

As she became more widely known, Beavers began to speak against Hollywood's portrayal and treatment of African Americans, both during production and after promoting the films.

She endorsed Robert S. Abbott, the editor of The Chicago Defender, who fought for African-Americans' civil rights.

She supported Richard Nixon, who she believed would help black Americans in the struggle for civil rights.

She was also involved in the 1939 public ceremonies celebrating development of the all-black resort Val Verde County Park.