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ACTIVIST: Tarana Burke

TARANA BURKE, co founder of the #MeToo movement and a veteran campaigner against sexual assault, has called for black Americans to recognise that evil black people exist.

Burke has also outlined why she thinks black Americans struggle to face up to the crimes of certain celebrities.

Speaking to Blavity on the day that Bill Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting a woman in 2004, Burke said: "We have to stop putting men like Bill Cosby on a pedestal because of their cultural contributions.

"We're so desperate for a hero...that we will sacrifice the bodies and lives and livelihood and dignity of black women and girls to do this."

Burke added: "We have to recognise that while systematic oppression of black people is real and does exist, evil black people do exist."

Amid the accusations made against Cosby, many have come out defending him on social media because of their association with him as one of the few positive black role models on TV during the time when his career was at its height.

Kristen Feden, the lawyer who prosecuted Cosby, told AP that she saw the actor smirking during the trial.

“He’s laughing at the cost of these women? And then Andrea Constand’s in the courtroom? I’m furious.

“No one in this courtroom is laughing. I understand that you’re a comedian, but this is not funny. This is not your stage. This is what you did wrong,” she said.

As part of a Time’s Up initiative, Burke has joined calls for corporations to sever ties with R Kelly and for him to be investigated for accusations of sexual abuse.

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