Tarana Burke: “Full Power of Women”

Tarana Burke is an American activist focusing on supporting survivors of sexual assault and uplifting Black girls and women. Burke began the Me Too movement (sometimes styled as MeToo) in 2006. Using Burke’s own experiences with sexual violence, the Me Too movement used empathy and community as tools of recovery. Activists encouraged survivors to speak openly about their stories to find connections, access resources, and minimize narratives of shame. The hashtag #MeToo rose to prominent usage in 2017, particularly in the entertainment industry. Burke received numerous awards for her work as the movement grew, including being named Time’s 2017 Person of the Year along with other “silence breakers” speaking up about sexual harassment. The increased awareness of widespread sexual harassment led to national dialogues and a number of demonstrations across industries. Burke was also honored in Variety magazine’s 2018 “Power of Women” issue, for which she delivered this acceptance speech.