Tarana Burke & Brene BrownYou Are Your Best Thing Book

About

Tarana Burke and Dr. Brene Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organisers, artists, academics, and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.

Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more.

It started as a text between two friends. Tarana Burke, founder of the 'me too.' Movement, texted researcher and writer Brene Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brene assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. They had been trading home decorating inspiration boards in their last text conversation, so Brene started scrolling to find her latest Pinterest pictures when the phone rang.

But it was immediately clear to Brene that the conversation wasn't going to be about wallpaper.

Tarana's hello was serious, and she hesitated for a bit before saying, "Brene, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I've sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder."

Brene replied, "I'm so glad we're talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armour off in a country where you're not physically or emotionally safe?"