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A review by bdklug
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
It’s safe to say this is not an easy read, but I also found myself unable to put it down. Chanel Miller is so many things — powerful, resilient, honest, open, and also, an incredible writer.
I followed her case closely from when it first hit the news. She was known only as Emily Doe from the Stanford rape case at the time, but in her story, I saw so many stories that I knew. In her story, I saw myself.
I remember reading her victim impact statement on Buzzfeed in 2016 and being awed by her power, her conviction in her words. I followed along in disgust as anonymous commenters, and later, Judge Aaron Persky himself, sympathized with her rapist Brock Turner. They mourned for his “promising future,” while ignoring the lifelong trauma that had been forced upon Chanel.
In this book, Chanel finally gets to do what she was never able to during the trial: control her own narrative. She gives us an intimate look into the pain and fear she experienced and will continue to live with for the rest of her life. We see how her assault ripples through not only her life, but the lives of her loved ones. How in 20 minutes, everything can be turned upside-down, and you’re forced to reckon with a new life you never asked for.
She takes aim at the systems that failed her, and have failed and continue to fail victims of sexual violence. She derides the justice system, which prioritizes and values perpetrators over victims — if the perpetrator happens to be white, and rich. She takes aim at college campuses, like Stanford, who continue to fail to protect their students, more interested in preserving their image than addressing harm. At our cultural norms, which blame victims and allow violence against femmes to remain commonplace. And at Brock Turner directly, for refusing to take responsibility for what he did, and his family, for defending a rapist.
Despite all this, Chanel’s message is one of hope. There are survivors, millions of us, all over the world. The same way that their letters and messages of support buoyed Chanel, her book exists as a beacon for others. I am so thankful that it exists.
TW: rape, racism, murder
I followed her case closely from when it first hit the news. She was known only as Emily Doe from the Stanford rape case at the time, but in her story, I saw so many stories that I knew. In her story, I saw myself.
I remember reading her victim impact statement on Buzzfeed in 2016 and being awed by her power, her conviction in her words. I followed along in disgust as anonymous commenters, and later, Judge Aaron Persky himself, sympathized with her rapist Brock Turner. They mourned for his “promising future,” while ignoring the lifelong trauma that had been forced upon Chanel.
In this book, Chanel finally gets to do what she was never able to during the trial: control her own narrative. She gives us an intimate look into the pain and fear she experienced and will continue to live with for the rest of her life. We see how her assault ripples through not only her life, but the lives of her loved ones. How in 20 minutes, everything can be turned upside-down, and you’re forced to reckon with a new life you never asked for.
She takes aim at the systems that failed her, and have failed and continue to fail victims of sexual violence. She derides the justice system, which prioritizes and values perpetrators over victims — if the perpetrator happens to be white, and rich. She takes aim at college campuses, like Stanford, who continue to fail to protect their students, more interested in preserving their image than addressing harm. At our cultural norms, which blame victims and allow violence against femmes to remain commonplace. And at Brock Turner directly, for refusing to take responsibility for what he did, and his family, for defending a rapist.
Despite all this, Chanel’s message is one of hope. There are survivors, millions of us, all over the world. The same way that their letters and messages of support buoyed Chanel, her book exists as a beacon for others. I am so thankful that it exists.
TW: rape, racism, murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Minor: Racism