Location: Boston College Lyons Hall 301

Biographies 

Alicia Garza

As one of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, Alicia Garza's social justice accomplishments are numerous. Garza identifies as a mixed-race queer woman from California, a self-proclaimed "dignity, fairness, and freedom fighter." On top of her work with Black Lives Matter, Garza worked as an executive director for an organization called People Organized to Win Employment Rights/POWER, as director of special projects of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and as a board chair for Right to the City Alliance/RTTC in Oakland. The name of the movement is attributed to Garza who, in the aftermath of George Zimmerman’s acquital in the murder of Trayvon Martin, posted the following phrase to her Facebook: "Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter, Black Lives Matter." Garza coined a slogan that would ring from countless individuals' mouths for years to come. The slogan serves as a necessary plea for the world to affirm that Black Lives Matter now and always. 

Opal Tometi

Another co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Opal Tometi, has long been involved in social justice work, specifically related to African immigrants’ rights and domestic violence prevention. She grew up in Arizona with her parents, who were both Nigerian immigrants, witnessing firsthand the immigration crisis in the U.S. She later went on to become the first woman Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, helping Black immigrant families around the world. As one of the founders of Black Lives Matter, Tometi is credited for publicizing the movement on social media. She was named one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Women of the Century, and has received other numerous awards. 

Patrisse Cullors

Patrisse Cullors is one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in California, she became involved in social justice and activism at an early age. At 16, she was exiled from her home when she came out as queer to her family and became very spiritual, connecting faith to her activism. Cullors created the hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter, reinforcing the phrase Garza had previously coined. One of the reasons Cullors was so passionate about fighting systemic racism was because of the abuse that her brother had endured while incarcerated. Following the founding of Black Lives Matter, Cullors has gone on to be involved with many more activist organizations, mostly against police brutality and racism. She was the executive director of the Coalition to End Sheriff Violence in L.A. Jails, and co-founded Dignity and Power Now, an organization that fights for the rights of incarcerated people and their families. 

Tarana Burke

The Me Too Movement's proud founder, Tarana Burke, is a sexual abuse survivor who works to bring awareness to sexual abuse by "empowering through empathy." Burke's goal in the Me Too Movement is to allow survivors to draw strength from one another. The phrase "Me Too" originated out of one of Burke's experiences working at Just Be Inc. Just Be Inc. is a youth organization where the "health, well being and wholeness of young women of color" is the center of importance. While working with this organization, a young girl Burke called Heaven disclosed to her that she had been sexually abused. Burke was at a loss for words in how to respond until, later, she realized all she needed to say was "me too." Me Too serves as a validation for sexual violence survivors and reminds them that they are not alone. On top of her involvement in the Me Too movement, Burke works as the Senior Director at Girls for Gender Equity in Brooklyn. 

Reflection Questions!

1) What words did you think of when you first saw the mural?

2) How do you think these women lived out the motto “Go forth and set the world aflame?”

3) Who are other women who have played a role in these movements?

4) What can you do in your everyday life to live out their mission?