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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Unbound summary
Tarana Burke
My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement
30 mins
Brief summary
Unbound by Tarana Burke is a powerful memoir about her journey as a Black woman from the Bronx to becoming the founder of the #MeToo movement. It explores the intersections of race, gender and class and the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence.
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Unbound
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Key idea 1 of 10
The #MeToo hashtag went viral, prompting millions of people to share experiences of sexual assault.
Tarana Burke was awakened one Sunday morning in 2017 by her phone. It was exploding with messages. The hashtag #MeToo had gone viral on Twitter. Thousands of women were sharing their experiences of being sexually abused, and using the hashtag to signal solidarity.
Burke was shocked. She had been building a movement to support survivors of sexual assault for years, using the slogan “Me Too” to represent how important empathy among survivors is for healing. But she’d had nothing to do with this Twitter storm.
The key message here is: The #MeToo hashtag went viral, prompting millions of people to share experiences of sexual assault.
The outpouring of reactions was a response to news stories about movie executive Harvey Weinstein’s decades of predatory and abusive behavior toward young actors – behavior that had gone unpunished for decades. Burke applauded the fact that Hollywood actors were stepping forward to share these experiences, and inspiring others to share theirs, too.
But she couldn’t help but notice that the vast majority of those women were white. Where were the voices of Black women, or Latinas? Burke had spent her career trying to create space for marginalized survivors of abuse. But now they seemed to be getting squeezed out of the movement she’d worked so hard to create.
Burke was also concerned that women were being encouraged to share very raw experiences without any follow-up to check if they were OK, or support in processing those declarations.
As the day went on, she kept checking Twitter. By then, there were hundreds of thousands of responses, all sharing experiences using the hashtag #MeToo. One particular response touched Burke especially. A woman shared an experience of being sexually assaulted in college. She’d never told anyone about it, she said. But seeing everyone else share experiences had made her realize she had nothing to be ashamed of. She wasn’t alone.
Burke started crying. The woman’s words moved her deeply, and made her realize that while she hadn’t chosen to turn her work into a viral hashtag, the Twitter outpouring did have the potential to help survivors, and spread the work she’d been developing her whole life.
#MeToo was reaching hundreds of thousands of people around the world, showing how deeply toxic and ubiquitous sexual abuse is, and showing survivors that they aren’t alone.
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What is Unbound about?
Unbound (2021) is a powerful memoir by Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too movement. Survivors of sexual abuse stay silent because of shame and victim-blaming around the abuse. The Me Too movement has created a remarkable community of survivors who support each other in challenging stigma and holding perpetrators to account.
Unbound Review
Unbound (2021) by Tarana Burke offers a powerful exploration of trauma, healing, and the importance of solidarity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With vivid storytelling and raw honesty, Burke sheds light on the experiences of survivors and the necessity of creating safe spaces for healing.
- Through her personal journey and work as a co-founder of the #MeToo movement, Burke provides invaluable insight into the systemic issues surrounding sexual violence.
- The book empowers readers to take action and confront the culture of silence surrounding sexual assault, inspiring meaningful change in our society.
Who should read Unbound?
- Followers of #MeToo who want to find out where it all began
- Survivors of sexual assault looking for an inspiring story about how to heal in spite of obstacles
- Activists who want to learn more about Burke’s unique approach to fighting for social justice
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Unbound FAQs
What is the main message of Unbound?
Unbound empowers survivors of sexual violence by sharing stories of resilience and advocating for change.
How long does it take to read Unbound?
The reading time for Unbound varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Unbound a good book? Is it worth reading?
Unbound is a powerful book worth reading. It provides an inspiring perspective on resilience and the importance of speaking out against sexual violence.
Who is the author of Unbound?
Unbound is written by Tarana Burke.
What to read after Unbound?
If you're wondering what to read next after Unbound, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey
- Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
- A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro
- Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
- Tapping by Donna Eden
- Rethinking Narcissism by Craig Malkin
- The Soul of America by Jon Meacham
- May Contain Lies by Alex Edmans
- Moore’s Law by Arnold Thackray
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz