I think it is selfish for me to try to frame Me Too as something that I own. It is bigger than me and bigger than Alyssa Milano. Neither one of us should be centered in this work. This is about survivors.
The young girls of color that first encountered the 'me too' movement in community centers and classrooms and church basements were there not only because they needed a safe space, but because they needed their own space.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the importance of creating safe and personal spaces for marginalized individuals, particularly young girls of color, to express themselves and heal.
Tarana Burke emphasizes that the 'me too' movement originated from a need for specific, safe environments where young girls of color could come together. These spaces are not just about safety in a general sense, but about having a space where they can be heard, understood, and connect with their own identities, free from judgment and stigma. It underscores the broader idea that belonging plays a crucial role in healing and empowerment.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about the creation of youth programs in community centers to support marginalized groups.
More from Tarana Burke
All quotes →Get up. Stand up. Speak up. Do something.
'Me Too' became the way to succinctly and powerfully connect with other people and give people permission to start their journey to heal.
We want to turn victims into survivors - and survivors into thrivers.
I think that women of color use social media to make our voices heard with or without the amplification of white women. I also think that, many times, when white women want our support, they use an umbrella of 'women supporting women' and forget that they didn't lend the same kind of support.
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