Activist, Author, and Founder of the ‘me too.’ Movement
Tarana Burke: Biography at a Glance
- Tarana Burke is best known for founding the ‘me too.’ Movement. She has dedicated her life to social justice work and to giving strength to those who experienced sexual trauma or harassment.
- She was honored as one of The Silence Breakers, named TIME's Person of the Year, and named to TIME's "100 Most Influential People."
- Together with Dr. Brené Brown, Tarana is the co-editor of You are Your Best Thing, an anthology that brings together a dynamic group of Black writers, organizers, artists, academics, and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.
- The simple yet courageous #metoo hashtag campaign has generated over 13 million Facebook posts and Tweets, emerging as a rallying cry for people everywhere who have survived sexual assault and sexual harassment.
- Years before 'me too' became a viral hashtag, Tarana dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and had founded Just Be Inc., a non-profit that helps victims.
- The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices of thousands of sexual abuse victims, and puts the focus back on survivors.
- Tarana’s powerful, poignant story as creator of what is now an international movement that supports survivors will move, uplift, and inspire you.
Media
TIME: Most Influential People: Tarana BurkeTIME: Person of the Year: The Silence BreakersBook: You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Ex...Elle: Activist Tarana Burke On #MeToo's FutureLadies First with Laura Brown: Tarana Burke on PowerOmaha World-Herald: #MeToo movement founder speaks in OmahaVariety: #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke Pens Open Letter to Survivors: ‘Society Owe...
Videos
Biography
Tarana Burke is best known for founding the ‘me too.’ movement and has dedicated her life to social justice work and giving strength to those who experienced sexual trauma or harassment. She has been honored as one of The Silence Breakers, named TIME's Person of the Year, and named to TIME's "100 Most Influential People." Years before 'me too' became a viral hashtag, Burke founded Just Be Inc., a non-profit that helps victims.
What started as a simple, yet courageous hashtag campaign has generated over 13 million Facebook posts and Tweets, emerging as a rallying cry for people everywhere who have survived sexual assault and sexual harassment. Tarana’s powerful, poignant story as creator of what is now an international movement that supports survivors will move, uplift, and inspire you.
‘me too.’ was created as much more than an overnight hashtag sensation. Tarana has dedicated more than 25 years of her life to social justice and to laying the groundwork for a movement that was initially created to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse and assault. The movement now inspires solidarity, amplifies the voices of thousands of sexual abuse victims, and puts the focus back on survivors.
A sexual assault survivor herself, Tarana is now Executive Director of the 'me too' organization. On stage, Tarana provides insight into the current state of affairs and outpouring of sexual assault and harassment allegations, addresses pressing issues of respect, dignity, and power dynamics in schools, workplaces, and politics, and shines a light on the stories of survivors and voices that continue to be marginalized.
Topics
You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience
Activist and Author Tarana Burke has dedicated her life to understanding and teaching the topics of vulnerability and shame resilience. In this conversation, based on her bestselling book with Dr. Brene Brown, Tarana centers the conversation about diversity around Black humanity. By doing this, she gives audiences a space to recognize and process the trauma of white supremacy, be vulnerable, and unpack the roots and urgency of equality and inclusion for all.
Empowerment Through Empathy: ‘Me Too’ and the Journey to Healing
As her ‘me too’ movement continues to grow, Tarana Burke remains committed to ending sexual violence, empowering women, and interrupting systemic injustices that disproportionately impact marginalized people.
Tarana is no stranger to speaking truth to power. In this conversation, she will expose the ugly truths of sexism on an individual and systemic level and walk the audience through creating the ‘me too’ movement and a space to discuss sexual violence, consent, and bodily autonomy. Audiences will walk away empowered by her journey and inspired to take back the power in their professional and personal lives.
