College Avenue Gym. It’s 7:20 p.m., there’s old pop music and purple hats everywhere. Everybody is excited, nervous and sharing smiles. At 7:30 sharp, this colorful and warm atmosphere breaks up with the words of the two presenters; Rutgers is ready to start the evening.
The first artist on stage is Steven Ikegwu, who creates a powerful vibration in the feelings of all the attendants through his poetry. He is followed by board members and representatives of organizations on campus such as Black Lives Matter Rutgers or Rutgers NO MORE. After, two Rutgers students share their stories and explain the public how the #metoo movement had a great impact on them. Words like feminism, community, belonging, journey, speaking up, survivors and allies start to hold an important position in the room.
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. McGinty speaks on behalf of the university and insists on the purpose of her office to “include all students in the fabric of the Rutgers community.”
It is time now to welcome the main speaker, the reason why we were all there: Tarana Burke. Starting her speech crossing her arms in an allusion to the Bronx, Burke explains how the international movement #metoo was created and how it became viral on one Sunday in 2017. With Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison as influences, Tarana Burke grew up on the moto “pride is good but action is better.” As a black woman with heavy historical and cultural interests, she became engaged in different organizations during her time at college. However, it was an experience in a summer camp in 1996 that made her realize that she had a duty to the world to be the voice of those lacking it. She realized there was a growing problem of gender violence in our society, and that something needed to be done. In her words, “that was me knowing that something different had to happen.”
The origins of the #metoo movement can be traced to Burke’s willingness to give the community the words, the support, the space and the tools to be able “to start the healing journey.” Starting as a Myspace page, the #metoo movement became a global phenomena in 2017 after a celebrity used the hashtag on Twitter.
Regarding other similar social movements such as #timesup, Tarana Burke applauds the individual specific focalization they have, such as on this case, on sexual assaults in the workplace. However, she explains that the #metoo movement is about the whole spectrum of gender violence. #metoo is for black and brown people, for trans, queer, disabled people, men; for everyone, and she emphasizes that #metoo does not mean you need to speak: “You don’t have to ever say me too, it is not required. It is not the only way to show courage. You have the right to decide.” According to its founder, #metoo seeks standing up for each other, interrupting gender violence wherever it exists and connecting as survivors.
Rape, misconduct, sexual assault, gender violence- they all that keep happening in our communities. According to Burke, “Some people have to shift their behavior. Period.” #Metoo encourages the society to take action: “We all see what is happening, if you have your privilege over, you have to use it to serve up, you have to do that,” says Burke in relation to social media and how important and accessible it is nowadays to share the stories of the minorities who cannot do it themselves.
Bursts of applause keep coming throughout the speech.. The whole audience is immersed in the narrative of this movement, on the narrative of serving the community, understanding and speaking for the silenced minorities. Finally, her last words hit the stage: “I am here not to shift the narrative, it will takes us all. This is a great time: be active in the world, say #metoo.”
By Laura Ferre Sanjuán