CONTENT NOTICE: SEXUAL ASSAULT, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS, RACISM
written by: Elizabeth Waite, F2F Intern Spring 2025
Many people are aware of the #metoo movement, which became part of the public vocabulary during the sexual harassment and abuse allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The movement saw a surge in popularity when actress Alyssa Milano posted a tweet using the hashtag to raise awareness of sexual assault. However, many more are unaware that the phrase’s origins date back to long before 2017 and originated with Tarana Burke.
Tarana Burke is a lifelong activist and community organizer who works at the intersection of racial justice, arts and culture, anti-violence, and gender equity. In the 1980s she got her start when she joined the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement. After graduating from Alabama State University, she worked full-time at 21st Century where Tarana encountered many Black girls who had experiences of sexual violence. As a survivor of sexual assault herself, Tarana felt personally connected to the work she was doing and focused her efforts on providing young women of color with resources, support and safe space to share their stories.
In 1996, she was the director of an all-girls youth camp when a girl approached her and asked to speak with her about her sexual assault. The girl confided in Tarana, which further fueled her passion for activism. In 2005, she started her non-profit, Just Be, Inc. The organization’s focus is on the empowerment and wellness of Black women and girls.
“‘When I started my youth organization, I named it Just Be because I was observing that Black girls never got a chance to just be. When people talk about youth “failing forward,” it’s typically white youth. And we just didn’t get a chance. […] We need a space to try and fail. We need a space to experiment.’” (Greenlee, 2021)
The next year, she began using the phrase ‘me too’ as a way for sexual violence survivors to share their stories and promote empowerment through empathy.
She continued working for her organization and other nonprofits, such as the Art Sanctuary, Black Belt Cultural Arts Center, and National Voting Rights Museum & Institute. While at the museum, she helped organize the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which later led to a consulting role on Ava DuVernay’s film Selma.
When the hashtag began gaining popularity in 2017, Burke was recognized as a leader in the movement. She became the Times’ Person of the Year in 2017 and founded ‘me too.’ International, a global non-profit, in 2018. She gained much more recognition, including the Sydney Peace Prize in 2019, TIME 100 Most Influential People in 2019, and USA Today’s Women of the Decade in 2020.
Tarana is currently the Senior Director of Girls for Gender Equity in Brooklyn, NY, and is continually recognized for her work with sexual assault survivors. She continues to publish work and appear in public speaking capacities. Learn more on her website: https://www.taranaburke.com/bio
Sources:
About Tarana Burke. Tarana Burke. (n.d.). https://www.taranaburke.com/bio
Alexander, K. L. (n.d.). Biography: Tarana Burke. National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/tarana-burke
Get to know us: Tarana Burke, founder and chief vision officer. me too. Movement. (2025, March 6). https://metoomvmt.org/get-to-know-us/tarana-burke-founder/
Greenlee, C. (2021, September 16). Tarana Burke on the birth of #MeToo, letting Black Girls “just be,” and leaning on her faith. SELF. https://www.self.com/story/tarana-burke-memoir
Tarana Burke. Archives of Women’s Political Communication. (n.d.). https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/tarana-burke/
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