#MeToo Creator Tarana Burke Makes TIME's Person Of The Year List
In a world where the experiences of women are made to feel invalidated, speaking up is a radical and progressive act.
Sexual assault would not be able to take their power away anymore. More than any other year before it, 2017 was the embodiment of women no longer keeping silent about their discomfort for the comfort of men. Together, they said “no" to the word victim and subsequently reclaimed the power they felt left without. Together, they said, “#MeToo."
Today, TIMErecognized the significance of these women in their pick for their 2017 Person of the Year and the move was an equally powerful one.
TIME's Person of the Year are aptly called The Silence Breakers. The Silence Breakers are a culmination of women (and some men) from all walks of life that have refused to remain silent about sexual misconduct.
Among those gracing the cover of the special edition issue are actresses Alyssa Milano and Ashley Judd, the former spearheaded the resurgence of the #MeToo movement, and the latter went on record about her accusations against producer Harvey Weinstein. But the cover story sheds light on women outside of the industry, including a strawberry picker who didn't use her real name and corporate lobbyist Adama Iwu who came forward about being groped in the workplace.
Perhaps what is even more groundbreaking about this issue is that it is a story developed and produced by all women. Charlotte Atler, a national correspondent for TIME, said on Twitter: “This was conceived, reported, and written by women. It was fact-checked by women. The video was shot and edited by women. The layout and photo spread were designed by women. It was one of the reasons I'm proud to work at @time."
The creator of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke, who started the movement back in 2006 is also profiled in the issue among the Silence Breakers. Despite Me Too gaining popularity and becoming viral after Milano shared a tweet including the hashtag back in October, Burke is truly the mother of the movement.
Activist Brittany Packnett made mention of the power of black women forcing the media to give Burke her due diligence in regards to the significance she played in #MeToo via a post on Instagram. She wrote, "This recognition is an acknowledgment of the power of black women - and of the importance of being vigilant about speaking the truth. Years ago, Tarana would have been relegated to kitchen table conversations while someone else walked away with the public acclaim and just due that actually belonged to a black person-a black women. No more. No more. This is evidence of us individually and collectively facing down the evil of silence in many forms. Thank you, Tarana. Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Thank you indeed.
Host of Sirius XM's "BEVELATIONS" Bevy Smith shared a similar sentiment on Instagram, praising Burke and saluting what she did as a black woman and what all black women have the power to do. In her caption, she wrote:
"Kudos to @time for making #TheSilenceBreakers #TimePersonOfTheYear seeing the goddess [Tanara Burke] receiving her grace for CREATING the #MeToo movement over a decade ago. A movement she started for HER COMMUNITY which is now changing the world! You know Black Women are often the fire starters, we are on the front lines of every major movement but rarely given credit! Our voices overshadowed, IGNORED by others, 'they' tried it with Tarana & #MeToo but WE, BLACK WOMEN & our twitterverse SHUT IT DOWN! Today is a good day & it proves unequivocally that."
An activist in her own right, Burke started Me Too as a way for women to show solidarity with their fellow women and has been contributing to the advancement of women for over a decade. In 2007, she created a nonprofit called Just Be Inc., for women overcoming sexual trauma. 10 years later, Burke is being recognized for her contributions to the world and her part in creating social change with the founding of the viral hashtag. She said:
“Sexual harassment does bring shame. And I think it's really powerful that this transfer is happening, that these women are not able to just share their shame, but to put the shame where it belongs: on the perpetrator."
While people with a platform like Terry Crews, Rose McGowan, and Lupita Nyong'o coming forward with their stories is worthy of applause and celebration, in narratives talking about sexual misconduct and abuse, there are groups of people that are less likely to come forward with their stories. The woman whose elbow is only shown on the cover and the strawberry picker Pascual who doesn't use her real name serve as an example of that.
For those who are brave enough, they can be voices, but not necessarily faces.
As TIMEreported:
“Those who are often most vulnerable in society – immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities, low-income workers, and LGBTQ people – described many types of dread."
The sad reality is that for most victims of abuse, they have no choice but to accept the sexual misconduct out of fear of job loss. In the profile, the women of the Plaza Hotel shared their heartbreaking story that is an example of such an instance. Crystal Washington, an employee of the Plaza Hotel, recalled being excited about joining the hotel as a hospitality coordinator. But shortly after, a co-worker made vulgar statements towards her and would grope her, “I can tell you had sex last night."
Even though what the co-worker did to her was caught on camera, her management did nothing about the incident. Now, Washington and six other female employees of the Plaza Hotel have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the hotel.
“It's a dream to be an employee there. And then you find out what it really is, and it's a nightmare."
The Silence Breakers making the TIME cover as Person of the Year is a sign that we've come a long way, but the stories that some of the women shared and continue to share shows that there is still more work that needs to be done.
Read the TIME magazine Person of the Year feature in full here.
Featured image by Sarah Morris/Getty Images
- The Woman Who Created #MeToo Long Before Hashtags - The ... ›
- #MeToo: An activist, a little girl and the heartbreaking origin of 'Me ... ›
- Black Woman Tarana Burke Founded The "Me Too" Movement ›
- Meet Tarana Burke, Activist Who Started “Me Too” Campaign to ... ›
- The woman behind 'Me Too' knew the power of the phrase when ... ›
- Tarana Burke Says #MeToo Should Center Marginalized Communities ›
- "Me Too" creator Tarana Burke: "We have to make movements ... ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy