One of the best feelings in the world is being so absorbed in a book that you lose all track of time. Unbound is the epitome of this feeling. It began with my interest in feminist literature. I am always on the lookout for novels that will engage me in hard truths and beautiful prose. Unbound goes far beyond a mere chronicle of the birth of the #MeToo movement. It delves into the complex journey of a Black woman navigating the world. Within the first few pages, I had already embarked on an intense emotional journey. I was amazed by Burke’s ability to write eloquently about the traumatic and harsh realities of molestation, sexual assault/abuse and the violence that many women endure. Her openness throughout the novel is simultaneously inspirational, gut wrenching, and serves as a reflection of the realities women face in our society. 

One of the most captivating elements of this book is its authentic flow. It feels intimate, like reading a diary entry. She recounts her memories and gives us engaging, powerful and sometimes agonizing stories. These stories range from heartwarming moments of resilience, like her decision to leave an abusive partner, to heartbreaking stories, like remaining silent over her traumas to protect people around her. Burke’s raw self reflection puts into words what so many women are petrified to say. We become aware that suffering in silence is not an option for healing, and her storytelling ability is responsible for this awareness. 

Along with learning of Burke’s triumphs in self-love and healing, she gives us many windows into her low moments.  A moment of intense vulnerability occurs when she is leading a youth camp and forms a strong bond with one of the campers. The camper confides in her that she has been sexually violated, and rather than empathize or immediately offer help to the camper, Burke freezes like a deer in headlights and directs the camper to a different leader. Even though she is invested in supporting the women around her and creating a safe space, she is unable to help in that moment because it resonated so deeply with her own neglected traumas. By showing her moments of vulnerability alongside her triumphs, Burke provides readers with a diverse range of emotions that enable us to reflect on the complexity of her experiences and feel a closer connection with her writing. 

Burke comes across as a very relatable person in her book through her tone of voice and style of writing. She immediately draws the reader in through her recollection of the day #MeToo unexpectedly went viral on social media. She describes her anxiety in a way that makes me remember a few anxiety scares of my own. All of her thoughts and actions throughout her emotional spiral resonate deeply with me and create a sense of second-hand anxiety. The highlight of this chapter comes when we see her ascend from this emotional abyss. After speaking to people in her support system and engaging in some serious self-reflection, she reminds us of the importance of self-healing and the difficulties entailed in the process. The honesty in her writing is refreshing and creates an environment where readers want to immerse themselves in their own vulnerabilities because it feels celebrated and accepted. 

Unbound by Tarana Burke is nothing short of a five-star masterpiece. Though it is a memoir, the book is not just a personal account. It is a testimony of Burke’s resilience and dedication to social justice, exploring the sexual violence and trauma that Black women (and all women) face every day. This book seamlessly blends elements of haunting trauma, wit, hope, and emotional depth into a powerful and memorable read. I wholeheartedly recommend Unbound to any reader looking for an educational and thought-provoking experience.  Unbound pushes readers to confront their truths, making it a challenging but beautiful read. For survivors of sexual abuse and assault whose stories resonate with Burke’s, this book offers opportunity. It invites readers to immerse themselves in Burke’s journey and find perspective and reflection on their own experiences. It also encourages us to remember Tarana’s moving words, “Unkindness is a serial killer”. Let us allow this book to inspire positive change within us as it has throughout the world. Unbound is not merely a book; it is an incentive for empowerment. 

Quotes from Unbound

“The story of how empathy for others- without which the work of ‘me too’ doesn’t exist- starts with empathy for that dark place of shame where we keep our stories, and where I kept mine.” (Burke, 2021, p.13).

“I began to put away the memory of what the boy had done to me because of what I thought it said about me.” (Burke, 2021, p.28).

"Never let anyone touch your private parts, they'd say. But I wasn't told why I had to protect my private parts, just that it was imperative that I did. Because of this, when I thought of my experience, I didn't hold my abusers accountable- I held myself to blame. In my mind, they didn't abuse me. I broke the rules. I was the one who did something wrong." (Burke, 2021, p.34).

“It was this thinking that also kept me from ever identifying as a survivor. I didn’t even identify as a victim.” (Burke, 2021, p.35).

“We danced like no one else was there… It was the first time in my life that I got to safely explore my sexuality with no demands on my body.” (Burke, 2021, p.129).

“We are socialized to respond to the vulnerability of white women in this country.” (Burke, 2021, p.246.

“In some ways the backlash was also resentment that a light was being shone on an issue that we have been trained to be silent about.” (Burke, 2021, p.246).

“I am the woman who organized and fought and taught, the woman who despite all odds and in the face of trauma, kept traveling until she found her healing and her worth. I am her. She is me. And we are free.” (Burke, 2021, p.249).

About the Author, Tarana Burke

Among other accolades, Tarana Burke is known as an activist, a writer and a founder. Burke created the #MeToo movement that allowed women a space to share their experiences with sexual harassment, abuse and assault. In a world where rape culture has been overlooked and neglected, she assembled a space for survivors to be supported and heard. She has also yielded an incredibly impressive resume working in the nonprofit sector and organizing for her communities throughout her life. Her passion in social justice has been unbreaking since her start in Selma, where she worked for 21st Century and began her journey in supporting survivors of sexual abuse. With personal experiences of sexual assault and violence, she identifies with this movement and all of the women sharing their truths. Burke now serves her community on a global scale and has been named and  celebrated as a “Silence Breaker”.