No story is too small—a response to “Reflection on Me Too”

While I thank the Editorial Board for urging us to think critically about Me Too’s role on campus, I strongly disagree with their view.

The Editorial Board seems misguided and uninformed on both the original mission of Me Too and the need for space to showcase multi-layered narratives about identity. While race is an “uncomfortable issue,” the board implies that topics of mental health and body image, sexual assault and domestic abuse are not. This notion invalidates the experiences of those who struggle with these diverse issues everyday and who acted with courage by sharing their narratives on the Me Too stage. It also insults the authors who were brave enough to submit this year. All the issues covered in Me Too are uncomfortable. From mental health to sexual assault to suicide to eating disorders to domestic abuse. These topics are no less important to someone’s identity than her race. Implying that those who struggle quietly and constantly with various disorders may not feel on the margins rejects the realities of so many multifaceted individuals on our campus and further tells them that their narratives are not enough. That their strength in seeking help, finding a safe space and finally telling their stories are not enough. That their tales of domestic abuse, manic depression and anorexia are not enough. That their want for love or their attempted suicide is not enough. Me Too reminds others that no matter which identity marker you choose to share with us, you are more than enough.

Duke’s dominant white and affluent culture doesn’t want to admit it has a race problem. It also doesn’t want to admit it has problems with class, sexism, mental health, and heteronormativity. To bring these problems to light, Me Too gives a stage to those in isolation, without passing judgement on whether or not their experience is too “common.”

The board also seems to assume that non-racial issues do not affect or could not be written by students of color. While one monologue this year spoke solely to issues of race, the topic was discussed in multiple other monologues, highlighting the intersectionality of our experiences. Implying that issues of mental illness and sexual assault only exist in the dominant white culture or were not highlighted by a person of color denies that student the full expression of his experiences. That I, as a black woman, am limited to solely topics of my blackness or of my womanhood because my identity is not also defined by my more “subtle” markers of marginalization. That those in communities of color, marginalized communities, and low-income communities do not face a higher stigma concerning issues of mental health, topics often deemed as “white” issues, designed to discredit individual experiences.

I understand that Me Too is not a perfect project. There needs to be more stories centered on the minority Duke experience. I would love to hear more about how we live in these intersections of race, gender,socioeconomic status, sexuality, emotional and mental health. I agree with the Editorial Board that with heighten popularity comes a responsibility to prioritize those whose voices are often ignored. I remember watching Me Too as a first year and thinking of it as a safe space for frank narratives about identity. As Me Too becomes more popular and thus more “mainstream,” can it still be a safe space for these minority stories?

After seeing a lack of such stories last year, I decided to get involved and audition this year. I now see how the production team intentionally tried to get more diverse stories on stage. However, we are only as strong as those who support this work- the writers of the monologues, the actors, and the audience. Out of 80 submitted monologues this year, two were primarily about race. Both of those monologues were in the show. These monologues are a gift and we cannot perform what is not given to us. This article is a call for all to submit, get involved with the production team, encourage others to submit, change the narrative and continue to fulfill the mission of Me Too.

Ngozi Max-Macarthy is a Trinity senior.