"We've got a lot of work to do:" MeToo Founder Tarana Burke Receives Activist Award From Harvard

While receiving the Gleitsman Activist Award at Harvard on Feb. 26, 2020, Tarana Burke, founder of the Me Too movement, said there is still work to be done to prevent sexual violence, despite a guilty Harvey Weinstein verdict and a Harvard Graduate School sexual harassment strike. She encouraged large institutions like Harvard to be the leaders in combating sexual violence.

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“I know there's a lot of excitement in the air and a sort of renewed energy after this Weinstien verdict,” said Burke. “But I need you to calm down. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” 

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Burke started the Me Too movement as a healing process for victims of sexual violence, allowing them to share their stories with other victims. In 2017, following the sexual assault accusations against producer Harvey Weinstein, Me Too turned into a viral hashtag that shared survivors’ experiences across social media.

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Three years later, Burke’s popularity continues: the John F. Kennedy Forum auditorium contained hundreds of audience members cheering as she walked on stage. Throughout the conversation, Burke expressed her love for universities, but also her call for them to initiate change.

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“There are some institutions that when they make changes other people follow and they set a standard,” said Burke. “I think these kinds of institutions can have a modicum of courage that they haven’t had in the past.”

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Burke also said she thinks colleges should use their resources to pilot new methods of preventing and dealing with sexual violence, even if it means having failed attempts first. 

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“Institutions, colleges, and universities have to be a little more courageous and not be afraid to fail,” said Burke. Burke said she believes through these attempts the institution can find ways to help the world fight sexual violence.

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These comments came at a relevant time at Harvard: the Harvard Graduate Student Union is negotiating policies with administration to protect against sexual harassment and racial discrimination after a month long strike. Burke said she had heard about the protests from December but seemed to be unaware of recent negotiations.

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“What do you think are the factors encouraging Harvard to be so antagonistic toward survivors?” asked a Harvard Graduate student after explaining the current situation. Burke recommended organizing people together and finding new ways to organize that put pressure on the university.

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“She situated herself in the context of Harvard as an activist herself, but also in the context of receiving an award from this ridiculously elite institution that benefits from the systems that she is trying to take down,” said an anonymous audience member in response to her comments. “Her language was appropriately vague to be useful to this audience and maybe less useful to the specific activists who asked the question.”

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Despite this critique, overall the audience seemed content with Burke’s discussion. In addition to her pressuring institutions, many felt Burke’s emphasis on community building and intersectionality was important.

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“As a woman of color, I thought the fact that she started her speech and grounded her speech in intersectionality and community organizing was really well done,” said one Harvard student.

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“What resonates the most with me about what Tarana said was about the lack of unity of the community against sexual assault,” said one student. “We’re missing that sense of social justice for sexual violence.”

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Through these messages, Burke reminded everyone how much work still needs to be done. Burke concluded her speech with what she says she tells all colleges and their students. 

“You have the power,” said Burke. “Sit down and examine what they are and use that power.”