tarana burke
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Tarana Burke Says Ava DuVernay Was ‘The Only One’ of Many Prominent Black Women Who Would Go on Record Against R. Kelly
As I write this, there is still a debate waging in one of our comments sections over whether filmmaker Ava DuVernay is obligated to embrace the term “auntie” or not (for the record, we think everyone should embrace whatever term they want). But as #MeToo creator Tarana Burke revealed on Tuesday night, DuVernay took an…
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Tarana Burke to Sit Down With Reporter Jim DeRogatis About New R. Kelly Book, Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly
For nearly 20 years, no one in media knew more about R. Kelly’s trail of alleged abuse then journalist Jim DeRogatis. Now, with his forthcoming book, Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly, DeRogatis tells the story behind his explosive reporting—and why, for nearly 20 years, few people seemed to listen to black women and girls…
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#MeToo: Tarana Burke Bolts From Sexual Violence Forum at FAMU in Dispute With HBCU
#MeToo founder and activist Tarana Burke abruptly ended a sexual violence forum at Florida A&M University after getting into a verbal altercation with a FAMU employee. Burke along with professor and influencer Yaba Blay were wrapping up their presentation when Burke and an unnamed FAMU employee had words regarding a program to end sexual violence…
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Tarana Burke's #MeTooHBCU Tour Is Creating a Safe Space for Students to Speak Out
It’s no newsflash to us that the broader #MeToo movement has looked very different for black women. National headlines have put a spotlight on convicted comedian Bill Cosby and alleged sexual predator R. Kelly, but black survivors have arguably not been as prominently highlighted or compassionately addressed. Subsequent to the groundbreaking Lifetime docu-series, Surviving R.…
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A Word: How We Fight White Supremacy Reminds Us That ‘We’ Have the Power
What does it mean to fight white supremacy today? After centuries of trying, those of us actively committed to doing so know that grand gestures are well outnumbered by daily acts expressed in myriad ways with varying levels of visibility. This is the message of How We Fight White Supremacy, a new African American anthology…
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The 'Me Too.' Movement Makes Moves, Launching an HBCU Tour This Spring
As the discussion around sexual violence continues and we collectively consider how best to combat it at its roots, education is key—as is accountability. With that in mind, this spring, ‘me too.’ is launching a first-time, five-stop HBCU tour across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States, with support from Lifetime Network and The Root. Featuring…
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Oprah Knows She's 'Gonna Get' Backlash for After Neverland Special, Says 'It's Bigger Than Any One Person'
Immediately following the second half of HBO’s Leaving Neverland documentary was a much-anticipated interview between Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jackson’s accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, as well as the film’s director, Dan Reed. The special aired on Monday evening, with an intimate group of sexual abuse survivors in the studio audience—including #MeToo movement founder…
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Internationally Known: On International Women's Day, Watch Tarana Burke and Ava DuVernay Accept VH1 Trailblazer Honors
They’re well known for blazing trails within our community, but two of our favorite women, Ava DuVernay and Tarana Burke, have also been honored as 2019 VH1 Trailblazers. The VH1 Trailblazer Honors, which will air this year on International Women’s Day, pay tribute to the #MeToo founder and award-winning filmmaker, both steadfast activists, along with…
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As Sexual Assault Allegations Hit Home, Lisa Borders Resigns Leadership of Time’s Up
A cruel irony has rocked the leadership of one of the primary organizations combating inequality and sexual misconduct. Following an announcement by Time’s Up President and CEO Lisa Borders on Monday that she’d be stepping down from the post she’d assumed only last October “to address family concerns that require [her] singular focus,” it has…
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Past, Present & Purpose: Tarana Burke Is Bringing the Power of Empathy to the 2019 MAKERS Conference
“I practiced deeply listening to little black girls when they told me the truth about their lives,” Tarana Burke says in a short video teasing her appearance at the 2019 MAKERS conference. “The idea that somebody who you look up to believes you—that’s a very small thing to ask.” Burke has made validating the voices…