Key Facts at a Glance
Quick, sourced details about Tarana Burke and the global movement she helped catalyze.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tarana Burke | Public records, interviews |
| Year of birth | 1973 | Biographical sources |
| Me Too movement origin | 2006 (organic groundwork); phrase popularized after 2017 | Historical timelines, interviews |
| Primary focus | Combating sexual violence, racial justice, gender equity | Organizational materials, statements |
| Notable platform moments | 2017 widespread use after high-profile cases; Time Person of the Year 2017 (Silence Breakers) | Major media, Time |
Who Is Tarana Burke?
Tarana Burke is a Black feminist organizer and social worker born in 1973, best known for founding the Me Too movement. She has spent decades at the intersection of racial justice, gender equity, and ending sexual violence, particularly in communities most affected by systemic oppression. Her work centers survivor support, community accountability, and institutional change, shaping a global conversation that extended far beyond viral moments.
Background and Early Activism
Roots and formative experiences
Burke grew up in the Bronx, New York, and began organizing in local community spaces. Her early activism focused on racial justice and economic equity, and she later channeled these priorities into addressing sexual violence within marginalized communities. Working with Black and brown youth, she observed how traditional systems often failed survivors, motivating a community-first approach.
Founding Me Too in 2006
In 2006, Burke created the phrase “Me Too” as a grassroots tool to support survivors of sexual violence. Initially local and community-facing, it aimed to show young people that they were not alone and to build solidarity. The phrase remained in use in her organizing for years before it became a global symbol in 2017.
The Me Too Movement: Origins and Growth
From community slogan to global hashtag
Me Too existed as a grassroots campaign well before widespread public awareness. Burke intentionally framed it as a reminder that survivors everywhere were not alone. The movement’s global scale accelerated in October–November 2017, following high-profile allegations in entertainment and media, when the hashtag saw mass adoption across social platforms.
Cultural impact and institutional response
The 2017 wave prompted many organizations to confront patterns of abuse and harassment. Burke has emphasized that the movement is about more than hashtags, focusing on long-term work such as policy reform, education, and survivor-centered services. Her leadership has influenced workplace trainings, legal reforms, and institutional accountability measures worldwide.
Advocacy Focus and Approach
Survivor-centered organizing
Central to Burke’s work is survivor agency: prioritizing the leadership of those most impacted, especially Black women, transgender and nonbinary people, and other survivors facing intersecting forms of oppression. Her model blends direct support—such as counseling and legal resources—with collective action.
Intersectionality in practice
Race, class, gender identity, and immigration status are core considerations in Me Too frameworks led by Burke. She has consistently connected sexual violence prevention to broader movements for racial and economic justice, arguing that isolated solutions are less effective than systems-level change.
Criticism, Misuse, and Challenges
Commercialization and dilution of intent
As Me Too went viral, some brands and institutions adopted the phrase superficially, prompting Burke and other organizers to caution against “hashtag activism” without material change. She has pointed out that genuine accountability requires shifting power, resources, and policies—not just public statements.
Misrepresentation of the movement
Media coverage at times simplified Me Too as outrage alone, overlooking the long history of Black feminist labor and community care that Burke built. Corrective reporting and interviews by racial justice outlets have helped recent portrayals better reflect the movement’s roots and goals.
Legacy and Ongoing Influence
Beyond immediate policy wins, Burke’s legacy lies in shifting culture around consent, accountability, and belief in survivors. The phrase Me Too remains a living framework, adapted across languages and contexts to fit local needs. Burke continues to speak and organize at the intersections of gender, race, and economic justice, sustaining a movement she describes as collective and lifelong.
Common Questions
- Who started the Me Too movement? Tarana Burke started the Me Too movement in 2006 as a grassroots effort to support survivors of sexual violence, long before it became a global hashtag in 2017.
- What does Me Too mean today? Me Too now signifies solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and a call for systemic change, emphasizing survivor leadership, racial justice, and institutional accountability.
- Are there other founders of Me Too? The phrase and movement framework were originated by Tarana Burke; others popularized it widely, but the core leadership and intent trace to her work.
- How can people support the movement in a durable way? Actions include believing survivors, supporting organizations led by impacted communities, advocating for workplace and policy reforms, and engaging in ongoing education rather than one-time statements.