Tarana Burke created the #MeToo movement specifically to support Black surivors of sexual violence. The organizer and writer now seeks to keep the growing public conversation focused on them. She tweeted today (October 19) that she guest edited the November issue of Essence magazine to highlight Black women.
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I am SO excited to *finally* announce this collaborative w/ @essence! It was my deepest honor to be able to partner with this legacy magazine to shine a light on the issues around sexual violence that are directly affecting Black women.
rnttOut Oct. 23rd!https://t.co/W7K3F5SV1Mrnt— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) October 19, 2018
rnt“As the founder of the Me Too movement, which I originally started for us, I was pained to watch Black women, yet again, being erased from the narrative,” she writes in her editor’s letter, as quoted by Essence. “I started doing this work because there were so few resources and recourses for us, which is why it cuts deep to hear sisters, who are largely responsible for my visibility, saying the current iteration of the #MeToo movement isn’t for them.”
Essence adds that the issue will feature stories on survivors fighting the culture of silence and healing from trauma, as well as "women-led organizations on the front lines fighting for our communities." The issue arrives on October 23.
Note: Akiba Solomon, Colorlines’ senior editorial director, has an article in the issue.
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