September 19, 2018

Inspiring Quotes from Founder of Me Too

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Tarana BurkeCivil rights activist Tarana Burke, founder of the Me Too movement, delivered a powerful speech to a packed house in Colton Chapel on Sept. 5. Burke first used the phrase “me too” in 2006 as part of a grassroots campaign to support survivors of sexual violence. In 2017, following accusations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the phrase became a global phenomenon. It gave voice to those who had suffered silently and sent a message to survivors that they were not alone. In a heartfelt speech that generated laughs, cheers, and some tears, Burke shared the history of the movement and her hopes for its future. Here are a few of the inspirational messages she shared during the event, which was sponsored by Lafayette Activities Forum, Pards Against Sexual Assault, and Nia (multicultural women’s support group).

 

“There are misconceptions about this movement—that it's about taking down powerful men. This movement is not a witch hunt. It's not even about mass disclosure. Me Too is a global community of survivors. It's a mechanism for action, for empowerment through empathy. It's about gaining power from knowing there is someone who gets you.”
“I can tell you that you can feel whole again and there are resources—and I can help you get to those resources. Everyone needs to know that being OK is possible. That's a radical thought. You can be whole again. This trauma and this pain may never leave you, but you can lean into joy, and not to lean into that trauma; it doesn't have to take over your life. That's what this movement is about.”
“I need you all to embrace the movement and take ownership of this movement. This is not about anyone in Hollywood. It's not even about just me. It's about the collective trauma people around this world experience. And it's about the collective responsibility we have to do something about it. It's about healing: healing individuals and healing communities. Period.”
Me Too movement founder Tarana Burke speaks to a packed Colton Chapel audience.
“I don't want to miss this moment. It's not always going to be on TV. The media isn't always going to care about what I have to say about sexual violence. When that goes away, I need you to still care about this. I need you to recognize this is an epidemic, a pandemic that won't go away by just talking. Speeches and hashtags don't make it go away.”
“It's not enough to celebrate me if you are not going to embrace the things I stand for. It's just not enough. I need you to take action.”
Categorized in: Featured News, Lectures, Lectures-Discussions, News and Features

1 Comment

  1. Carla Grifo Gunn says:
    October 7, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    Thank you Lafayette for hosting. How many men were in the audience?

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