Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement

Written by Tarana Burke

Narrated by Tarana Burke

"Tarana Burke, I just finished Unbound. Searing. Powerful. Needed!! Thank you." —Oprah

“Sometimes a single story can change the world. Unbound is one of those stories. Tarana’s words are a testimony to liberation and love.” —Brené Brown

One of BookPage's 10 Best Audiobooks of 2021

This program is read by the author.

From the founder and activist behind one of the largest movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the "me too" movement, Tarana Burke debuts a powerful memoir about her own journey to saying those two simple yet infinitely powerful words—me too—and how she brought empathy back to an entire generation in one of the largest cultural events in American history.

Tarana didn’t always have the courage to say "me too." As a child, she reeled from her sexual assault, believing she was responsible. Unable to confess what she thought of as her own sins for fear of shattering her family, her soul split in two. One side was the bright, intellectually curious third generation Bronxite steeped in Black literature and power, and the other was the bad, shame ridden girl who thought of herself as a vile rule breaker, not as a victim. She tucked one away, hidden behind a wall of pain and anger, which seemed to work...until it didn’t.

Tarana fought to reunite her fractured self, through organizing, pursuing justice, and finding community. In her debut memoir she shares her extensive work supporting and empowering Black and brown girls, and the devastating realization that to truly help these girls she needed to help that scared, ashamed child still in her soul. She needed to stop running and confront what had happened to her, for Heaven and Diamond and the countless other young Black women for whom she cared. They gave her the courage to embrace her power. A power which in turn she shared with the entire world. Through these young Black and brown women, Tarana found that we can only offer empathy to others if we first offer it to ourselves.

Unbound is the story of an inimitable woman’s inner strength and perseverance, all in pursuit of bringing healing to her community and the world around her, but it is also a story of possibility, of empathy, of power, and of the leader we all have inside ourselves. In sharing her path toward healing and saying "me too," Tarana reaches out a hand to help us all on our own journeys.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Sep 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250818188

Tarana Burke

For more than 25 years, activist, advocate, and author Tarana Burke has worked at the intersection of sexual violence and racial justice. Fueled by commitments to interrupt sexual violence and other systemic inequalities disproportionately impacting marginalized people, particularly Black women and girls, Tarana has created and led various campaigns focused on increasing access to resources and support for impacted communities, including the ‘me too.’ Movement, which has galvanized millions of survivors and allies around the world, and the me too. International nonprofit organization, founded in 2018. Her New York Times bestselling books You Are Your Best Thing and Unbound have illuminated the power of healing, vulnerability, and storytelling in the movement to end sexual violence.

Reviews for Unbound

[Jessica Morris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you for sharing your story. This book is Life changing?

[Leah Michelle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a Thriver of Sexual Assault, I just want to say Thank you Tarana for give black girls like myself a voice. This book was absolutely amazing. Highly recommended

[Marion Jack · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bravo! Ms. Burke’s life journey is an emotional and powerful testimony. I feel honored to have been allowed into her reality. Her courage and passion to create a better world than she was born into is so inspiring! A must read for anyone who wants to be a more compassionate and empathetic human.

[Sharon Lenoir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing! Tarana shared her story with such honesty, love and passion. It was hard for me to take breaks from it. I know this book will help so many people. Thank you for writing it. I look forward to your future work.

[SIMONE PERRONE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

UNBOUND is absolutely phenomenal Ms. Burke. Thank you for give chocolate gals a voice and vehicle to heal

[Kylie Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an honor to hear her story. Thank you, Ms T. Heart wrenching and hopeful, my head is bowed in empathy and love. ME TOO.

[OG · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having Tarana narrate her own book was genius, she made me feel like we were talking. This story hits home for me and I found myself relating to so much of her story. While some of it didn’t happen to me, I was able to think of someone it did happen to. I wish I could hug Tarana and all the young ladies mentioned in this book that were violated in some way. I hope we all find peace and the love that we deserve. Great read.

[Linda Ivey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow this book was so good. The cover is gorgeous and so is Tarana Burke inside and out. To be a survivor of an act so violent and based on overpowering a vulnerable child who even though warned of the dangers didn’t have the cognitive understanding of the warnings. It is unfortunate that so many young woman and adolescents are placed in situations they are I’ll equipped to handle. Ms. Burke’s lifelong empathy for others before herself is commendable and unfortunate. Respect and love for her endeavors in the future as she continues to try to make safe havens for black and brown young women. There is someone looking out.

[Theresa Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tarana’s story was so heartbreaking, inspiring , courageous, uplifting and even funny in moments. I don’t read much non—fiction, but a well written and easy to read story will suck me right in. She did a fantastic job reading this and her voice was perfect. I started listening to this audiobook and didn’t stop until I was done 4:30am. I just couldn’t put it down….not ever for sleep on a weeknight. I highly recommend this book in audio.

[c Kops · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Powerful and moving. Tarana Burke eloquently narrates her memoir with strength, grace, humor and heart. Here on these pages she shares her childhood traumas that compelled her to be a guiding force for other young brown and black girls who couldn’t find their voice but held a pen to write #MeToo ?

[Brenda Shealey Steele · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Journal . Her Journal. The best part of this recorded journal was when she quote and read Iyanla Vanzant’s words

[Paulette Brown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved hearing her share her story. She was so open and I felt it.

[andrea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a truly amazing book. I loved every minute of it.