Anita Hill

An Evening with Anita Hill

An American women’s rights icon, historic figure, attorney, and powerful advocate for equality, Anita Hill brought the issue of sexual harassment to the forefront of our national conversation in her historic testimony before the Supreme Court confirmations hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas. Her bravery empowered women from all walks of life to bring forth their own sexual harassment lawsuits and helped revolutionize equality for women in the workplace.

That was over 28 years ago and today, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, the Judge Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, and the volatile social and political climate, Anita Hill is more important than ever. Her moment in history becoming her a lifelong battle against discrimination and for race and gender equality.

As a brilliant intellect and thoughtful voice, Anita speaks of progress and setbacks, outlining the arc of sexual harassment, asking “Have we learned nothing since 1991?” Her answer is clear, “We must raise our voices just as we did then to say, ‘enough is enough.’” Inspiring others to get engaged, find their voice, and speak truth to the power, she explains how we must change the overarching culture and systems of our society in order to foster true change.

“I think we have to understand the root problem for what it is. It’s not just about sexual harassment. In many ways, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It is about the abuse of power that occurs. We have to see this as a problem of power-power alignment and abuse, overall.” Anita argues that this abuse of power in a corporate or academic setting profoundly affects an institution’s culture, morale, and reputation. By taking action, individuals can go beyond just prevention and policy to re-defining structure and culture that includes equal voice, leadership opportunities, and pay for women.