When people think about the #MeToo movement, they often associate it with celebrities and viral social media posts. But the movement didn’t actually start in Hollywood. It was started years earlier by a woman named Tarana Burke, whose work is still shaping conversations about justice and equality today.
Tarana Burke is an activist who began using the phrase “Me Too” in 2006, long before it became a global hashtag. She created it as a way to support survivors of sexual violence, especially young Black girls who didn’t always have access to resources or safe spaces to speak out.
Her goal wasn’t just awareness, it was empowerment. She wanted survivors to feel seen, heard, and supported. The phrase “Me Too” was meant to create a sense of connection, so people would know they weren’t alone in their experiences.
In 2017, the movement gained massive attention after allegations against powerful figures in the entertainment industry became public. The hashtag #MeToo spread quickly across social media, with millions of people sharing their stories. While this moment brought global recognition to the issue, Tarana Burke’s original mission sometimes got overshadowed.
What makes Burke’s work especially significant is her focus on healing and community. She has consistently emphasized that the movement isn’t just about calling out wrongdoing, it’s about supporting survivors and creating long-term change. That includes education, resources, and shifting how society responds to these issues.
Another important part of her work is intersectionality. Burke has pointed out that not everyone experiences violence or injustice in the same way. Factors like race, gender, and socioeconomic status can affect how people are treated and whether they are believed. By highlighting these differences, she has helped push the movement toward a more inclusive approach.
Despite the huge impact of #MeToo, Tarana Burke herself isn’t always the main focus in history or social studies classes. Often, current events are simplified or centered around the most visible moments rather than the people who laid the groundwork. As a result, students might know the hashtag without understanding where it came from or what it was originally meant to do.
Learning about Tarana Burke changes that perspective. It shows that major movements don’t just appear overnight, they are built over time by people who are deeply committed to making a difference. It also highlights the importance of grassroots activism, which often doesn’t get the same recognition as more public or high-profile actions.
Burke’s story is still being written, which makes it different from the other figures in this set. She represents “current history”, the idea that history isn’t just something that happened in the past. It’s happening right now, shaped by people who are still alive and still working toward change.
Understanding her role in the #MeToo movement helps create a more accurate and meaningful view of recent history. It reminds us that behind every major movement, there are individuals whose contributions deserve to be recognized, not just in the moment, but in the way history is taught in the future.