28
The activist reflects on her year of pushback.
When Tarana Burke looks back at her late 20s, she often returns to memories ofher child, Kaia.
My child turned 4, and we threw them aDora the Explorerparty, she says.
Kaia serves as an anchor for Burkes 20-something memories.
At 28,I was adulting.
She set boundaries in both her personal and professional lives.
The book debuted on theNew York Timesbestseller list and has been hailed by Oprah as “Searing.
Below, Burke talks with Bustle about catching discriminatory Realtors, September 11, and quitting her job.
What key moments from age 28 do you remember?
I turned 28 in 2001, and my child turned 4 that year.
It’s funny because I always remember 27 as my favorite year of my 20s.
The beginning of 28 was tumultuous for me.
I made some big decisions about friendships and relationships.
So I decided tostop the friendship.
I put myself first.
I remember that very clearly.
What were your other friendships like at the time?
I wouldn’t have gotten through my 20s, 30s, or 40s without my friends.
What were you doing in your career at 28?
My work was tied to housing issues in the Black community.
I was the enforcement director at the fair housing office in Montgomery, which meant we dealt withhousing discrimination.
In Alabama, it wasnt against the lawto record somebody without their knowledge.
So my job was to catch Realtors discriminating and also tacklepredatory lending.
How long were you doing that?
One major decision I made at 28 was that I left my job.
I had been at the fair housing office for about two years.
I was on the phone with her after the first plane hit.
My boss called me the next day to ask why I wasnt at work on September 11.
Not a model manager.
She wasn’t a terrible person, but she was a terrible boss.
I was working like crazy, basically running the office.
Then I got involved in the predatory housing lending project, which was a collaboration with another organization.
She showed up at a meeting and said she wanted them to compensate me for my time.
Her demand wasnt necessarily bad, but she was only showing interest because money was involved.
Then she threatened them that I wouldnt work with them unless they put this money up.
I was so angry at this idea of this white woman telling these Black people that she controlled me.
Like, Tarana’s not coming back.
So I quit and I went to work for them as a consultant.
What was that transition like?
I quit solely on the strength of not wanting this woman to dictate anything for me.
Tarana won’t be returning to you.
You were saying how you wanted to be treated in the world.
I wanted my personal life to reflect my public life.
How did 9/11 affect your family?
What was that like for you?
Oh, it was awful.
It was the first time I ever fainted.
I fainted justlike white women in the moviesdo.
I was glued to the TV.
People were running away at top speed and I knew [my mom] couldnt run like that.
Then I just collapsed, and my poor child was trying to wake me.
My stepbrother lived in Atlanta and he drove a truck for a Glass company.
He drove his company truck from Atlanta to Alabama to be with me.
To sit with me.
He was like, I got to go get my sister.
You couldnt call anybody that day.
Did you guys sit around watching the TV or did you attempt to get your mind off things?
Jay-Z’s albumThe Blueprintdropped that day.
My brother brought it with him and we just sat in the living room listening to Jay-Z.
My brother told me, This will calm you down.
Did it calm you down?
I was a huge hip-hop and Jay-Z fan.
We listened to that album like three times back to back to back.
Looking back, how did your 28th year change your life trajectory?
I moved to Selma and startedJust Be [Inc.], the organization that ended up starting Me Too.
I wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t quit that job.
It was the first time I broke free to do my own work and make my own way.
I forgot all of that happened in my 28th year.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onDec.
