In 2006, Tarana Burke originated the phrase “me too” to empower women affected by sexual violence. By 2017, the hashtag #MeToo had evolved into a global movement, profoundly impacting media, politics and the workplace. For Burke, the movement extends beyond high-profile cases, aiming to bring everyday experiences of violence into the light.
Before it became a viral hashtag and a cultural phenomenon, “me too” began as a grassroots effort to support survivors of sexual assault. Tarana Burke first used the phrase in 2006, launching it as a youth program designed to address the widespread issue of sexual violence within communities.
Over a decade later, in 2017, the movement exploded into the global consciousness thanks to a tweet from Alyssa Milano encouraging individuals who had experienced abuse and harassment to share their stories using the hashtag #MeToo. The phrase and hashtag quickly gained traction, becoming a broad-based and international viral movement, fueled by the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases and subsequent revelations.
The impact was immediate and far-reaching. As the outrage surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination intensified, Burke received an invitation to attend the Senate hearing where Christine Blasey Ford testified about an alleged assault. According to Burke, it was the first time she had witnessed the cause mobilize people into the streets on a large scale.
“Hearing her recall the fear she felt during her assault, thinking she might die, how her attacker’s sinister laughter was ‘indelible in the hippocampus’ was more than I could stand,” Burke recalled of witnessing Ford’s testimony. The moment underscored the deeply personal and often traumatic nature of sexual violence.
In 2017, Time magazine recognized Burke’s work, naming her, along with other prominent activists dubbed “the silence breakers,” as the Time Person of the Year. She subsequently founded me too. International in 2018, serving as its Chief Vision Officer, to provide a framework for the ongoing movement. Harvard University even published a case study on Burke’s work in 2020.
Burke, a New York City native born on September 12, 1973, began her community organizing efforts in the late 1980s. She attended Alabama State University and later Auburn University at Montgomery, continuing to advocate for social justice throughout her education. The #MeToo movement, born from a desire to support survivors, continues to shape conversations around consent, accountability, and systemic change within the entertainment industry, and beyond.
