by Tarana Burke
First published 2021
Tarana Burke tosses restlessly in bed after a grueling day working with young Black girls who have endured sexual trauma. Their stories trigger her own buried memories, and she realizes she cannot help them while hiding from her own past. That sleepless night produces pages of notes topped with two simple words: me too. Burke grew up in the Bronx with a loving mother, but sexual assault in childhood fractured her sense of self. She became two people: the good student who pleased everyone, and the hidden Tarana she believed was damaged and unlovable. Years later, as an activist working with survivors, Burke must reconcile these split selves. Her journey toward healing begins with radical self-empathy. She learns to embrace even the parts of herself she once rejected. This internal work becomes the foundation for a movement that will reach millions. Burke shows how empowerment grows from empathy, starting with compassion for our own wounded selves.
Genres: african-american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
Setting: Bronx
272 pages · Hardcover · Flatiron Books: An Oprah Book
Content warnings: sexual-assault