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The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change
This informative guide helps allies who want to go beyond rigid Diversity and Inclusion best practices, with real tools to go from good intentions to making meaningful change in any situation or venue.
2022 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS GOLD WINNER
2022 NATIONAL ANTIRACIST BOOK FESTIVAL SELECTION
2021 PORCHLIGHT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & HUMAN BEHAVIOR BOOK OF THE YEAR
As we become more aware of various social injustices in the world, many of us want to be part of the movement toward positive change. But sometimes our best intentions cause unintended harm, and we fumble. We might feel afraid to say the wrong thing and feel guilt for not doing or knowing enough. Sometimes we might engage in performative allyship rather than thoughtful solidarity, leaving those already marginalized further burdened and exhausted. The feelings of fear, insecurity, inadequacy are all too common among a wide spectrum of changemakers, and they put many at a crossroads between feeling stuck and giving up, or staying grounded to keep going. So how can we go beyond performative allyship to creating real change in ourselves and in the world, together?
In The Wake Up , Michelle MiJung Kim shares foundational principles often missing in today’s mainstream conversations around “diversity and inclusion,” inviting readers to deep dive into the challenging and nuanced work of pursuing equity and justice, while exploring various complexities, contradictions, and conflicts inherent in our imperfect world. With a mix of in-the-trenches narrative and accessible unpacking of hot button issues—from inclusive language to representation to "cancel culture"—Michelle offers sustainable frameworks that guide us how to think, approach, and be in the journey as thoughtfully and powerfully as possible.
The Wake Up is divided into four key
The Wake Up is an urgent call for us to move together while seeing each other’s full and expansive humanity that is at the core of our movement toward justice, healing, and freedom.
2022 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS GOLD WINNER
2022 NATIONAL ANTIRACIST BOOK FESTIVAL SELECTION
2021 PORCHLIGHT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & HUMAN BEHAVIOR BOOK OF THE YEAR
As we become more aware of various social injustices in the world, many of us want to be part of the movement toward positive change. But sometimes our best intentions cause unintended harm, and we fumble. We might feel afraid to say the wrong thing and feel guilt for not doing or knowing enough. Sometimes we might engage in performative allyship rather than thoughtful solidarity, leaving those already marginalized further burdened and exhausted. The feelings of fear, insecurity, inadequacy are all too common among a wide spectrum of changemakers, and they put many at a crossroads between feeling stuck and giving up, or staying grounded to keep going. So how can we go beyond performative allyship to creating real change in ourselves and in the world, together?
In The Wake Up , Michelle MiJung Kim shares foundational principles often missing in today’s mainstream conversations around “diversity and inclusion,” inviting readers to deep dive into the challenging and nuanced work of pursuing equity and justice, while exploring various complexities, contradictions, and conflicts inherent in our imperfect world. With a mix of in-the-trenches narrative and accessible unpacking of hot button issues—from inclusive language to representation to "cancel culture"—Michelle offers sustainable frameworks that guide us how to think, approach, and be in the journey as thoughtfully and powerfully as possible.
The Wake Up is divided into four key
The Wake Up is an urgent call for us to move together while seeing each other’s full and expansive humanity that is at the core of our movement toward justice, healing, and freedom.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
184 people are currently reading
3881 people want to read
About the author
Michelle MiJung Kim
1 book48 followersMichelle MiJung Kim (she/her) is a queer immigrant Korean American woman writer, speaker, activist, and entrepreneur. She is the author of The Wake Up (Hachette, Fall 2021). She is CEO and co-founder of Awaken, a leading provider of interactive equity and inclusion education programs facilitated by majority BIPOC educators, where she has consulted hundreds of organizations and top executives from Fortune 500, tech giants, nonprofits, and government agencies to spark meaningful change. Michelle has been a lifelong social justice activist and has served on a variety of organizations such as the San Francisco LGBTQ Speakers Bureau, San Francisco Human Rights Commission’s Advisory Committee, LYRIC nonprofit’s Board of Directors, and Build Tech We Trust Coalition. Michelle currently serves on the board of Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). Her work has appeared on world-renowned platforms such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The New York Times, and NPR, and she has been named Medium’s Top Writer in Diversity three years in a row. She lives in Oakland, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
October 14, 2021
Everyone please buy, read, and support this phenomenal book!
Michelle MiJung Kim writes with so much wisdom and truth. She also thoughtfully provides content warnings throughout for subjects that are triggering to BIPOC and other marginalized communities. This book gave me so much to think about, yet it also validated and confirmed a lot of my own thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. I felt so much awe and support while reading it.
What I found unique about this book is that it gives a very in-depth analysis and reflection on how white supremacy and oppression is upheld in individuals. A lot of anti-racism books break down systemic racism very well, but they do not explain or deeply unpack the harm that is caused in everyday interpersonal interactions.
We all need to understand that we must hold ourselves accountable for harm that we cause, as well as systems of oppression. It’s easy to decry systemic forces of oppression, but too often harm is caused on the individual level between PEOPLE. And the usual response is denial, willful ignorance, and defensiveness.
It’s all intersectional; and the things that hurt us all—perfectionism, capitalism, inequity in wealth and resources, neocolonialism, gender roles and the gender binary—are products of white supremacy and tied to it as well. The liberation of BIPOC from white supremacy means liberation for us all, yet this fight is led mostly by BIPOC.
This is a must-read for everyone. Whether you are well into living an anti-racist life, or want to educate yourself but don’t know where to start. This book is not just a guidebook to social justice, it is also a healing book for self-compassion.
The chapters which were very thought-provoking and personal and meaningful to me are: The Double-Edged Sword of Representation, Hold Trauma with Care, and Find Joy in Community.
The Wake Up is such an apt and ideal name for this book. Michelle MiJung Kim reminds us to wake up to our privileges, wake up to the societal inequities faced by marginalized identities, and keep waking up to it.
This is one of the few books that provides many concrete steps and action items to live an actual anti-racist, anti-oppression life according to your values and in alignment of them. This is how you be the change in the fight for liberation. Read this book and wake up to your values and what you stand for, and then go out into the world and live them.
Personal reflection:
I grew up in a diverse area with many other Asians and POC around. It wasn’t until I started entering predominantly white spaces and was surrounded by mostly/exclusively white people that I began to notice and experience more racism, racist beliefs and prejudices, and white bias. What a wake up it was.
“Were you born here?” (Where are you REALLY from?)
“I don’t see you that way” (“That way” meaning me as an Asian person when I was discussing interracial relationships; a.k.a “I don’t see color”)
“She looks a lot like you!” (‘She’ being Lana Condor. Because it’s another Asian face [Asian rep is still so lacking that ppl will tokenize and think ‘All Asians look the same’] and not because I actually have much resemblance to her.)
Etc, etc, etc. It is so alienating to be asked “Where are you REALLY from” in different variations simply because you’re not white, as if you REALLY can’t be from here or a “real American” if you’re not white. It is so frustrating and demoralizing to repeatedly experience racism no matter what form it’s in; microaggressions are not “micro” at all.
The idealist in me was so disappointed and angry to find out that the way I see other people—as real, multidimensional human beings WHILE factoring in race—is not the same way certain people will see me.
As an Asian woman, others see and may perceive me only as a stereotype, a perpetual foreigner (even though I am an American-born citizen), a fetishized/exoticized sexual object, or associated with a virus or blamed for it because of my ethnicity. People of color are put into boxes and not always seen and respected with the full scope of their humanity by non-POC. Which is the result of centuries of racism, harm, exploitation, historical exclusion, and social conditioning.
And really, it’s much more often within our community (not through the white gaze) where we can feel truly seen in our humanity, existence, and struggles—as a real individual and full human person. And not just through a fetishized/fragile lens of racial bias.
And I’m talking about how even people who “see color” can have ignorance and say racist and harmful things. It’s even more aggravating when that ignorance is a stubborn choice of uncritical thinking, when one refuses to listen to a marginalized person pointing out the harm being caused to them.
And while white people perpetuate harm on POC, POC can also perpetuate harm when they uphold ideals and tools of white supremacy (like policing, the model minority myth, internalized racism, pitting POC communities against each other, or engaging in “Oppression Olympics” instead of cross-racial solidarity.)
I tabbed so many pages and important quotes, but here are just a few that really resonated with me:
“Herein lies the issue with only discussing certain types of racism (anti-Black racism or anti-Asian racism) in silos without naming the source. In failing to shed light on the shared root of white supremacy, we mistakenly believe our rallying for one group means turning our backs on others, and that efforts and resources are being taken away from our issues rather than being shared in a way that strengthens our collective fight… Understanding all the ways white supremacy manifests, not just as forces that hold us down but also as poison we’ve internalized and weaponized against others, is critical to building principled solidarity that is not artificial.”
“But the reason why so many fear polarization caused by the mere use of the most accurate words is precisely because for so long we’ve prioritized artificial harmony over honest tension, and comfortable euphemism over uncomfortable truth telling, constantly adding more layers to obscure these truths. Don’t be afraid to use words that may cause discomfort because of their directness. Directness and honesty are the point.”
“I write to you not from a ‘healed’ place but from a place of continuously fighting for my healing.”
Michelle MiJung Kim writes with so much wisdom and truth. She also thoughtfully provides content warnings throughout for subjects that are triggering to BIPOC and other marginalized communities. This book gave me so much to think about, yet it also validated and confirmed a lot of my own thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. I felt so much awe and support while reading it.
What I found unique about this book is that it gives a very in-depth analysis and reflection on how white supremacy and oppression is upheld in individuals. A lot of anti-racism books break down systemic racism very well, but they do not explain or deeply unpack the harm that is caused in everyday interpersonal interactions.
We all need to understand that we must hold ourselves accountable for harm that we cause, as well as systems of oppression. It’s easy to decry systemic forces of oppression, but too often harm is caused on the individual level between PEOPLE. And the usual response is denial, willful ignorance, and defensiveness.
It’s all intersectional; and the things that hurt us all—perfectionism, capitalism, inequity in wealth and resources, neocolonialism, gender roles and the gender binary—are products of white supremacy and tied to it as well. The liberation of BIPOC from white supremacy means liberation for us all, yet this fight is led mostly by BIPOC.
This is a must-read for everyone. Whether you are well into living an anti-racist life, or want to educate yourself but don’t know where to start. This book is not just a guidebook to social justice, it is also a healing book for self-compassion.
The chapters which were very thought-provoking and personal and meaningful to me are: The Double-Edged Sword of Representation, Hold Trauma with Care, and Find Joy in Community.
The Wake Up is such an apt and ideal name for this book. Michelle MiJung Kim reminds us to wake up to our privileges, wake up to the societal inequities faced by marginalized identities, and keep waking up to it.
This is one of the few books that provides many concrete steps and action items to live an actual anti-racist, anti-oppression life according to your values and in alignment of them. This is how you be the change in the fight for liberation. Read this book and wake up to your values and what you stand for, and then go out into the world and live them.
Personal reflection:
I grew up in a diverse area with many other Asians and POC around. It wasn’t until I started entering predominantly white spaces and was surrounded by mostly/exclusively white people that I began to notice and experience more racism, racist beliefs and prejudices, and white bias. What a wake up it was.
“Were you born here?” (Where are you REALLY from?)
“I don’t see you that way” (“That way” meaning me as an Asian person when I was discussing interracial relationships; a.k.a “I don’t see color”)
“She looks a lot like you!” (‘She’ being Lana Condor. Because it’s another Asian face [Asian rep is still so lacking that ppl will tokenize and think ‘All Asians look the same’] and not because I actually have much resemblance to her.)
Etc, etc, etc. It is so alienating to be asked “Where are you REALLY from” in different variations simply because you’re not white, as if you REALLY can’t be from here or a “real American” if you’re not white. It is so frustrating and demoralizing to repeatedly experience racism no matter what form it’s in; microaggressions are not “micro” at all.
The idealist in me was so disappointed and angry to find out that the way I see other people—as real, multidimensional human beings WHILE factoring in race—is not the same way certain people will see me.
As an Asian woman, others see and may perceive me only as a stereotype, a perpetual foreigner (even though I am an American-born citizen), a fetishized/exoticized sexual object, or associated with a virus or blamed for it because of my ethnicity. People of color are put into boxes and not always seen and respected with the full scope of their humanity by non-POC. Which is the result of centuries of racism, harm, exploitation, historical exclusion, and social conditioning.
And really, it’s much more often within our community (not through the white gaze) where we can feel truly seen in our humanity, existence, and struggles—as a real individual and full human person. And not just through a fetishized/fragile lens of racial bias.
And I’m talking about how even people who “see color” can have ignorance and say racist and harmful things. It’s even more aggravating when that ignorance is a stubborn choice of uncritical thinking, when one refuses to listen to a marginalized person pointing out the harm being caused to them.
And while white people perpetuate harm on POC, POC can also perpetuate harm when they uphold ideals and tools of white supremacy (like policing, the model minority myth, internalized racism, pitting POC communities against each other, or engaging in “Oppression Olympics” instead of cross-racial solidarity.)
I tabbed so many pages and important quotes, but here are just a few that really resonated with me:
“Herein lies the issue with only discussing certain types of racism (anti-Black racism or anti-Asian racism) in silos without naming the source. In failing to shed light on the shared root of white supremacy, we mistakenly believe our rallying for one group means turning our backs on others, and that efforts and resources are being taken away from our issues rather than being shared in a way that strengthens our collective fight… Understanding all the ways white supremacy manifests, not just as forces that hold us down but also as poison we’ve internalized and weaponized against others, is critical to building principled solidarity that is not artificial.”
“But the reason why so many fear polarization caused by the mere use of the most accurate words is precisely because for so long we’ve prioritized artificial harmony over honest tension, and comfortable euphemism over uncomfortable truth telling, constantly adding more layers to obscure these truths. Don’t be afraid to use words that may cause discomfort because of their directness. Directness and honesty are the point.”
“I write to you not from a ‘healed’ place but from a place of continuously fighting for my healing.”
September 28, 2021
Michelle's Kim's book is phenomenal! I could not stop myself from taking notes and being inspired. As a noted change agent and diversity expert myself it is hard for me to be in a place where I feel validated for my frustration and my excitement for making the world a better place. We both say "do the work" and this book gives you the tools you need to hold yourself accountable and to move towards shared accountability at home, at work and in society. It is incredibly important to have a queer immigrant Korean American woman's voice in the conversation about diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and anti-racism. Kim's continous learning, frustration, determination, accountablity and self love rooted in dismantling white supremacy for herself and others shines throughout. This book is right on time and will be highlighted for years to come!
September 24, 2021
Only few can hold space with courage and conviction with their actions AND words. This book and the author do just that. Every word, story, quote, and reference was intentional and paid recognition to the ancestors and activists she has and is learning from. Kim recounts the feelings and questions we all have as we navigate and embrace the hard work to build a more equitable and just world for all. Any human who wants and chooses to lead tomorrow and in the future more alive and awake should read this book to start or continue their journey. Kim does not hesitate to call it like it is, embrace the real talk and call out the elephants and the ants that we must allow ourselves to hear and see as we strive for universal belonging in the here and now. These words force (in the right ways) the reader to do their own deep reflection, search and discovery for their ‘why, reason, and rhythm.’ She is an example and shares examples for how we can be about the real action necessary to realize what diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice can and should be each day if we can lead with curiosity, grasp our courage, and see the context. Who would not want liberation for all? The book helps us see the lens and layers for why we must choose to wake up, stay awake, and help others find their alarm clocks every day!
Merged review:
Only few can hold space with courage and conviction with their actions AND words. This book and the author do just that. Every word, story, quote, and reference was intentional and paid recognition to the ancestors and activists she has and is learning from. Kim recounts the feelings and questions we all have as we navigate and embrace the hard work to build a more equitable and just world for all. Any human who wants and chooses to lead tomorrow and in the future more alive and awake should read this book to start or continue their journey. Kim does not hesitate to call it like it is, embrace the real talk and call out the elephants and the ants that we must allow ourselves to hear and see as we strive for universal belonging in the here and now. These words force (in the right ways) the reader to do their own deep reflection, search and discovery for their ‘why, reason, and rhythm.’ She is an example and shares examples for how we can be about the real action necessary to realize what diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice can and should be each day if we can lead with curiosity, grasp our courage, and see the context. Who would not want liberation for all? The book helps us see the lens and layers for why we must choose to wake up, stay awake, and help others find their alarm clocks every day!
Merged review:
Only few can hold space with courage and conviction with their actions AND words. This book and the author do just that. Every word, story, quote, and reference was intentional and paid recognition to the ancestors and activists she has and is learning from. Kim recounts the feelings and questions we all have as we navigate and embrace the hard work to build a more equitable and just world for all. Any human who wants and chooses to lead tomorrow and in the future more alive and awake should read this book to start or continue their journey. Kim does not hesitate to call it like it is, embrace the real talk and call out the elephants and the ants that we must allow ourselves to hear and see as we strive for universal belonging in the here and now. These words force (in the right ways) the reader to do their own deep reflection, search and discovery for their ‘why, reason, and rhythm.’ She is an example and shares examples for how we can be about the real action necessary to realize what diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice can and should be each day if we can lead with curiosity, grasp our courage, and see the context. Who would not want liberation for all? The book helps us see the lens and layers for why we must choose to wake up, stay awake, and help others find their alarm clocks every day!
January 17, 2022
Everyone should read this book, and that's all I kept thinking about.
December 31, 2021
This is, without a doubt, the most important book I own. Michelle MiJung Kim is a phenomenal writer. I am still blown away by her ability to talk about complex issues with such compassion, while also emphasizing the importance of being critical.
Many articles on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion are presented as checklists of things to do or things to avoid, so what I appreciate most about this book is the framework it provides to understand the nuances of different situations. It has also helped me build a better foundation so that I can create my own checklist of actions to take in my own spheres of influence.
I've had discussions with friends and family in the past that have left me frustrated because they would ask me questions I felt like I didn't answer satisfactorily (e.g. "Why does it matter if I use the word 'crazy'? It's such a small thing!"). However, Michelle's book has given me answers to these questions and more.
This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to help create a more just world.
Many articles on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion are presented as checklists of things to do or things to avoid, so what I appreciate most about this book is the framework it provides to understand the nuances of different situations. It has also helped me build a better foundation so that I can create my own checklist of actions to take in my own spheres of influence.
I've had discussions with friends and family in the past that have left me frustrated because they would ask me questions I felt like I didn't answer satisfactorily (e.g. "Why does it matter if I use the word 'crazy'? It's such a small thing!"). However, Michelle's book has given me answers to these questions and more.
This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to help create a more just world.
September 30, 2021
I was graciously given an ARC of this book - and it has been such an intimate experience reading this. This is not one to be binged and deserves to be savored, to sink deep and be processed. I have gotten to read many books along a similar vein, but this is the first where I have felt like my lived experiences have been given words.
I would often finish a chapter and go “Yes, me too” - and that speaks highly of how research was woven in with personal stories. I highlighted so many passages to come back to later. Feeling seen, feeling valued, feeling pieces of my own story gaining language.
“The temptation for people to throw their hands up and go about living their individual lives is substantial, not just for people with privileges to disengage but also for people who are exhausted by the continued cycles of harm and misalignment too. Our misalignment is costly, and our ability to connect with one another is in urgent need of inspection and serious repair. So, if simply denouncing injustice is not enough to connect you and me, what holds us together?”
(Un)learning. Compassion. Context. Shared humanity. Hope. Relationships. Collective joy.
Please pick this up when you get the chance!
I would often finish a chapter and go “Yes, me too” - and that speaks highly of how research was woven in with personal stories. I highlighted so many passages to come back to later. Feeling seen, feeling valued, feeling pieces of my own story gaining language.
“The temptation for people to throw their hands up and go about living their individual lives is substantial, not just for people with privileges to disengage but also for people who are exhausted by the continued cycles of harm and misalignment too. Our misalignment is costly, and our ability to connect with one another is in urgent need of inspection and serious repair. So, if simply denouncing injustice is not enough to connect you and me, what holds us together?”
(Un)learning. Compassion. Context. Shared humanity. Hope. Relationships. Collective joy.
Please pick this up when you get the chance!
December 29, 2021
I am a little torn. On the one hand, I feel affirmed and emboldened after having read this book, which the author began writing just before the pandemic, murder of George Floyd, and surge in anti-Asian violence further revealed systemic inequities and oppressions — and she very commendably incorporates these very recent complexities and challenges. And I want to share this book with others who are at a variety of places on their journey towards supporting DEAI values and social justice.
But on the other hand, the author frequently assumes that readers will understand and agree with the many references she includes in an offhand manner. As a very specific example: Readers who are less/not familiar might be thrown off by her referring to standardized tests as racist. With no background provided, this is presented as if it's common knowledge. There are many other policies, practices, and facets of everyday life that she names as examples of white supremacy, disenfranchisement, and marginalization — but with no or little context.
I get that this is not a history book, nor is it sociological. It does not set out to explain why and how so many aspects of our lives are guided by white supremacy, but rather to help bridge the gap to encourage readers to step beyond self-awareness towards action. But the book's lack of context alongside affirmative acknowledgements of the complexity and urgency of achieving justice amounts to the assumption that the reader already understands and agrees with basic foundational points of transformative justice — and if they are already at that place on their journey, then do they need this book? For whom is this book written?
This is important reading. It was valuable to read this from an Asian American woman's perspective. I want to share this book — but I don't know with whom.
But on the other hand, the author frequently assumes that readers will understand and agree with the many references she includes in an offhand manner. As a very specific example: Readers who are less/not familiar might be thrown off by her referring to standardized tests as racist. With no background provided, this is presented as if it's common knowledge. There are many other policies, practices, and facets of everyday life that she names as examples of white supremacy, disenfranchisement, and marginalization — but with no or little context.
I get that this is not a history book, nor is it sociological. It does not set out to explain why and how so many aspects of our lives are guided by white supremacy, but rather to help bridge the gap to encourage readers to step beyond self-awareness towards action. But the book's lack of context alongside affirmative acknowledgements of the complexity and urgency of achieving justice amounts to the assumption that the reader already understands and agrees with basic foundational points of transformative justice — and if they are already at that place on their journey, then do they need this book? For whom is this book written?
This is important reading. It was valuable to read this from an Asian American woman's perspective. I want to share this book — but I don't know with whom.
October 2, 2021
With care and clarity, Michelle MiJung Kim takes the reader from awareness to action with integrity, encouraging the reader to truly engage in the fight for our collective liberation. In The Wake Up, Kim weaves anecdotes from her personal experience, experience as a DEI professional, and extensive citations from other scholars together through four sections: Grounding, Orienting, Showing Up, and Moving Together. This book is helpful for anyone looking to really engage against the inequities caused in our society by white supremacy.
November 4, 2021
This is a beautifully clear and thoughtfully written work of nonfiction that addresses not just how to think about diversity, equity, and inclusion in a way that centers those who suffer from social injustice but also what you can do to continually work towards ensuring that your actions drive positive impacts. I'm keeping this book next to my desk so that I can always refer to it when I need a little guidance on how I can personally practice allyship on a regular basis.
April 9, 2022
An excellent book that should be getting more attention!
October 26, 2021
This week I got a hard check about my assumed beliefs/prejudices & the first thing I thought was “that was exactly what I read about in THE WAKE UP, did I not learn anything?” But here’s the thing, Michelle MiJung Kim talks about that very thought & feeling in the book. That becoming more aware & aligned with your values, beliefs is an ongoing process, one that involves many wake ups, hard checks, call outs & call ins but the important thing is to always be unlearning & learning.
This book is both a good starting point & a reminder for conversations around diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI). The fact that is well written, researched & relatable makes it a good tool for everyday use or specific DEI sessions.
One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was that “the only constant is context”. It was one of those moments where I thought YES. Context, it’s what frames our understanding of crucial moments, what we walk away from those situations learning or processing. It's context that’s often misused or ignored in the media when speaking on issues that affect minorities & the disadvantaged. It’s context that guides how we interpret our diverse realities & how we decide to go about change. Context is indeed constant.
What good is being a “good” person if we ignore the fact that good intentions don’t always have a good impact? What is good is learning if we don’t practice what we’ve learned? These & many other questions are raised in THE WAKE UP & that is why I’ve made it a point to reread chapters of this book a few more times because I’m sure there is always more there for me to think about & implement in my life. I recommend you read it too. Totally worth it.
This book is both a good starting point & a reminder for conversations around diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI). The fact that is well written, researched & relatable makes it a good tool for everyday use or specific DEI sessions.
One of the lessons that resonated with me the most was that “the only constant is context”. It was one of those moments where I thought YES. Context, it’s what frames our understanding of crucial moments, what we walk away from those situations learning or processing. It's context that’s often misused or ignored in the media when speaking on issues that affect minorities & the disadvantaged. It’s context that guides how we interpret our diverse realities & how we decide to go about change. Context is indeed constant.
What good is being a “good” person if we ignore the fact that good intentions don’t always have a good impact? What is good is learning if we don’t practice what we’ve learned? These & many other questions are raised in THE WAKE UP & that is why I’ve made it a point to reread chapters of this book a few more times because I’m sure there is always more there for me to think about & implement in my life. I recommend you read it too. Totally worth it.
January 5, 2022
Book Review: The Wake Up by Michelle MiJung Kim
“And in this world filled with incessant violence, hate, cynicism, and rage, I hope we remember that our joy is revolutionary.” These words fall late in The Wake Up, but I start here because of how they capture the spirit of this book. It felt like a unique love letter to some of my most beloved teachers in activism and life, and to those who struggle and stumble and find collective joy and love inspired by their words.
Kim’s writing is both specific to her experiences as a queer Korean immigrant, former youth organizer, and DEI trainer and deeply enriched by quotes from revolutionaries like adrienne maree brown, Prentiss Hempill, Mia Mingus, Grace Lee Boggs, and Angela Davis. While there’s tremendous relevance to organizational contexts and white leaders, Kim is intentional in NOT centering whiteness. She strikes a unique balance between challenging all readers to probe oppression in their lives and holding space for the pain, trauma, joy, and love of BIPOC readers specifically. Kim’s writing is accessible with many concrete suggestions for those looking to create inclusive spaces and unpack racism, but her vision is also refreshingly radical and unapologetic.
As most anti-racist books I’ve read are by white, Black, Native, or Latine authors, I found Kim’s perspective as a Korean woman a critical addition. She weaves in personal storytelling and challenges us not to narrow Asian womens’ experiences, and to include imperialism in our analysis of US racism alongside genocide and slavery. She speaks frankly of limits to pan-Asian coalitions and language, as well as challenges to interracial organizing. Her contextualization of the 2021 Atlanta murders, for example, melds the pain of the event and its racist aftermath with advocacy for sex workers’ rights AND a challenge to the racist conflation of Asian female labor with sex work, while criticizing punitive (anti-Black) takes on justice.
Ultimately, this book is about how we show up for each other, and couldn’t be more crucial as we’re co-creating an emerging future.
[ARC provided by Hachette Go through NetGalley]
“And in this world filled with incessant violence, hate, cynicism, and rage, I hope we remember that our joy is revolutionary.” These words fall late in The Wake Up, but I start here because of how they capture the spirit of this book. It felt like a unique love letter to some of my most beloved teachers in activism and life, and to those who struggle and stumble and find collective joy and love inspired by their words.
Kim’s writing is both specific to her experiences as a queer Korean immigrant, former youth organizer, and DEI trainer and deeply enriched by quotes from revolutionaries like adrienne maree brown, Prentiss Hempill, Mia Mingus, Grace Lee Boggs, and Angela Davis. While there’s tremendous relevance to organizational contexts and white leaders, Kim is intentional in NOT centering whiteness. She strikes a unique balance between challenging all readers to probe oppression in their lives and holding space for the pain, trauma, joy, and love of BIPOC readers specifically. Kim’s writing is accessible with many concrete suggestions for those looking to create inclusive spaces and unpack racism, but her vision is also refreshingly radical and unapologetic.
As most anti-racist books I’ve read are by white, Black, Native, or Latine authors, I found Kim’s perspective as a Korean woman a critical addition. She weaves in personal storytelling and challenges us not to narrow Asian womens’ experiences, and to include imperialism in our analysis of US racism alongside genocide and slavery. She speaks frankly of limits to pan-Asian coalitions and language, as well as challenges to interracial organizing. Her contextualization of the 2021 Atlanta murders, for example, melds the pain of the event and its racist aftermath with advocacy for sex workers’ rights AND a challenge to the racist conflation of Asian female labor with sex work, while criticizing punitive (anti-Black) takes on justice.
Ultimately, this book is about how we show up for each other, and couldn’t be more crucial as we’re co-creating an emerging future.
[ARC provided by Hachette Go through NetGalley]
September 28, 2021
Michelle MiJung Kim is a leader and practitioner I admire. In The Wake Up she skillfully weaves together the personal and the political and shares actionable steps we can all take to make our workplaces, communities and society more equitable. I appreciate how vulnerable and honest she is in sharing how she’s navigated situations--her humanity and humility model a useful way to move forward for me. I also appreciate the thread of embodiment that runs through this book. This book gave me a lot of feelings, but left me feeling extremely hopeful.
October 6, 2021
I can't wait for this book to be in everyone's hands and hearts who want to do impactful work in the world through actionable steps. Michelle eloquently illustrates her experiences through the lens of her own human experience so candidly and transparently. She transitions from explaining how her life experience carried her into a place of wanting to do more through social justice work into how she could bring those into the workplace and the world at large. Many books are out there that relate to implicit bias, racism education, and even "how to be antiracist." Still, many lack the mix of bringing everything full circle to spark true change and action in most humans - books read without action lead to deafening ideation. If you are someone who wants to understand how white supremacy impacts everyone who walks this world, and especially the United States, in an honestly heavy-hitting and simultaneously disarming way, this is the read to pick up and use as a conversation starter and motivator for everyone you know.
May 20, 2022
As part of the AAPI Heritage Month book club event at work, I was fortunate enough to read this book. I appreciated Michelle's insight to the Asian diaspora's fight against white supremacy, colonialism, and imperialism. I was shocked and glad that she didn't shy away from topics like anti-Blackness or the use of AAVE/BVE by non-Black individuals. One thing that will stick with me is what Michelle's kuya said: "I love you more than they hate us". ❤️ Her book will have a permanent place on my bookshelf. If Michelle goes on a book tour or has a speaking event in my area, I'm there.
December 21, 2021
An excellent wraparound work on AAPI trauma and healing, resisting racist systems, the complexity and necessity of intersecting with Black and Indigenous communities, and the current state of DEI in the workplace (particularly tech companies). Great tips on setting oneself up to learn, be accountable, and organize.
February 12, 2024
If you’re looking to go woke, this is the book for you, and I’m not necessarily saying that in a bad way. I’m somewhat torn on this book because I think Michelle MiJung Kim did a great job educating the reader as to why it’s important to be mindful of so many things like privilege, racism, sexism, ableism and many other things. This book is just about everything you need to know about social justice. My only issue is that it’s a lot.
This is purely my opinion, but this is the type of book that makes moderate people start leaning more to the right. It leaves very little grey area for how we talk and interact with others. What’s interesting is Michelle is very self-critical in this book about where she’s messed up, but she discusses how she’s pushed back against people calling her out. The downside is, she always admits fault.
For example, Michelle tells the story about how she used the word “crazy” and someone called her out on that and explained why it’s wrong to use that word due to people with mental illnesses. As I write this, I guess the language policing my only real issue with all of this. I’m a recovering drug addict and diagnosed with multiple mental health issues, and I don’t care what language people use. So, who do you listen to? Them or me?
I’m fairly in-tune with marginalized communities and keep up with the language. I do my best to use terms that are widely accepted, but they’re constantly changing. This is all we can do. I think the issue we run into is that there’s little grace offered from those who are trying to police the language. Many years ago, I was taught that it’s a lot easier to change how I respond to the world than it is to try to change everyone in it. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but we can’t let it ruin our day. And I’m not even getting into all of the nuances, which is much more than I care to put in a book review.
As far as everything else like the racism, sexism, inequality and many other issues Michelle brings up, she’s absolutely spot on. She offers some great advice about standing up for yourself and what workplaces can do to be better and how we can all do better as a whole. Despite my criticisms, Michelle’s heart is in the right place, and I’m glad she wrote this book. You can tell she thinks deeply about these issues. And although I don’t always agree with her conclusions, I respect that she’s putting in the work and doing some solid activism.
This is purely my opinion, but this is the type of book that makes moderate people start leaning more to the right. It leaves very little grey area for how we talk and interact with others. What’s interesting is Michelle is very self-critical in this book about where she’s messed up, but she discusses how she’s pushed back against people calling her out. The downside is, she always admits fault.
For example, Michelle tells the story about how she used the word “crazy” and someone called her out on that and explained why it’s wrong to use that word due to people with mental illnesses. As I write this, I guess the language policing my only real issue with all of this. I’m a recovering drug addict and diagnosed with multiple mental health issues, and I don’t care what language people use. So, who do you listen to? Them or me?
I’m fairly in-tune with marginalized communities and keep up with the language. I do my best to use terms that are widely accepted, but they’re constantly changing. This is all we can do. I think the issue we run into is that there’s little grace offered from those who are trying to police the language. Many years ago, I was taught that it’s a lot easier to change how I respond to the world than it is to try to change everyone in it. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but we can’t let it ruin our day. And I’m not even getting into all of the nuances, which is much more than I care to put in a book review.
As far as everything else like the racism, sexism, inequality and many other issues Michelle brings up, she’s absolutely spot on. She offers some great advice about standing up for yourself and what workplaces can do to be better and how we can all do better as a whole. Despite my criticisms, Michelle’s heart is in the right place, and I’m glad she wrote this book. You can tell she thinks deeply about these issues. And although I don’t always agree with her conclusions, I respect that she’s putting in the work and doing some solid activism.
July 30, 2022
This book took an exponential trajectory for me. Parts one and two were well written, but felt like very familiar territory covered by so many other books. Part three took a turn with practical and specific steps and actions. Part four made me cry for pretty much the entire thing.
What I appreciated most was (1) Kim’s constant attention to and ability to hold complexity and paradox. She never tried to say that anything was easy or simple or that there is a right answer. Instead she offered lenses for approaching the situation, and at the same time was able to make the ideas actionable. (2) The constant attention to relationships and humanity. I think that in social justice work, especially when we are trying to fight against systems that are bigger than any individual, it is easy to lose sight of relationships and humanity both within the movement and with those who are working against the movement. I was impressed by how Kim always centered relationships and humanity, which was an important and needed reminder for me.
I will now be buying this book so that I can reference it frequently.
What I appreciated most was (1) Kim’s constant attention to and ability to hold complexity and paradox. She never tried to say that anything was easy or simple or that there is a right answer. Instead she offered lenses for approaching the situation, and at the same time was able to make the ideas actionable. (2) The constant attention to relationships and humanity. I think that in social justice work, especially when we are trying to fight against systems that are bigger than any individual, it is easy to lose sight of relationships and humanity both within the movement and with those who are working against the movement. I was impressed by how Kim always centered relationships and humanity, which was an important and needed reminder for me.
I will now be buying this book so that I can reference it frequently.
September 30, 2021
“Many of us believe that denouncing the same evil puts us on the same team, but why doesn’t it feel like it?”
I’ve been following Michelle for a while now - many of her words and thoughts have helped me through the difficulties of the past year with covid, hate crimes against Asian Americans, and the general feeling of helplessness as the world appeared to crumble a little more every day. The Wake Up is a balm for much of this pain. When everything feels like a performance and even the most radical words can feel shallow, Michelle answers the biggest question to come out of 2020 - Now what?
This book digs deeper than the social media posts, news articles, and soapboxes we find ourselves doomscrolling past every day. Michelle offers a framework for productive change, for reconciliation, and for addressing the conflicting energies that surround issues that shouldn’t be controversial yet have become immediate points of argument for so many Americans. Hers are the words of a practitioner, and they should be read with the intention of actionable follow-up. I cannot recommend this book enough.
I’ve been following Michelle for a while now - many of her words and thoughts have helped me through the difficulties of the past year with covid, hate crimes against Asian Americans, and the general feeling of helplessness as the world appeared to crumble a little more every day. The Wake Up is a balm for much of this pain. When everything feels like a performance and even the most radical words can feel shallow, Michelle answers the biggest question to come out of 2020 - Now what?
This book digs deeper than the social media posts, news articles, and soapboxes we find ourselves doomscrolling past every day. Michelle offers a framework for productive change, for reconciliation, and for addressing the conflicting energies that surround issues that shouldn’t be controversial yet have become immediate points of argument for so many Americans. Hers are the words of a practitioner, and they should be read with the intention of actionable follow-up. I cannot recommend this book enough.
November 19, 2021
"Our actions won't always count toward good if we don't make good with our past first."
The Wake up is a must read for anyone who interesting in taking action and engaging in social justice work. Kim delivers a balance of stories, research and actionable steps. This book should be the Nonfiction book of 2021. This is a Critically Compelling book to deepen our commitment on Social justice work.
Grounding, orienting, Showing up and Moving Together are the four parts covered in the book.
The Wake up is a must read for anyone who interesting in taking action and engaging in social justice work. Kim delivers a balance of stories, research and actionable steps. This book should be the Nonfiction book of 2021. This is a Critically Compelling book to deepen our commitment on Social justice work.
Grounding, orienting, Showing up and Moving Together are the four parts covered in the book.
September 30, 2021
This book is wonderful! I learned so much from Michelle sharing her personal experience and her experience as a D&I practitioner. I love how she demonstrates her values in her writing; it offered a refreshing and inspiring learning experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of how to play a role in changing our systems for greater equity and inclusion.
September 23, 2021
Personal, honest, raw, and sometimes hard to read. But, this is a must-read book. Michelle peels back so many layers and shares her own experiences - admitting to some of her wrongs and how she learned from them. For those who want change, we have to begin with ourselves. This book is a great way to start. It opens up great conversations and gives examples to how we can elevate our understanding of good intentions and real change. As Michelle writes, "We wake up first to the external world, which offers us an opportunity to wake up to who we are in relation to it."
October 20, 2021
Michelle has this way of being so clear about complex issues without loosing the complexity. I am grateful that this book exists - it both validates my experience and pushes me. Thank you Michelle for this gift. Pre-read for committed DEI work anyone?! May this book be read far and wide, and when we forget that we are asleep, may we be inspired to wake up. Again and again and again!
October 11, 2021
Listened to this on audible. I appreciated the honesty and humbleness of this book. A few moment in the book I’ve caught myself saying yes I’ve done that and to have a book or author tell me how to pivot or make sure it doesn’t happen again is refreshing. For reference I’m an Asian American first generation so many things in this book resonates with me.
April 24, 2022
I think this is a book that will require a reread. The first read to soak in the information, and a second to really notice details and apply them. I found myself wanting to highlight every page, and I am not one who often has an urge to annotate books. When I finished the book, I immediately went over to BookClub.com to watch Kim and Arlan Hamilton discuss the book for the Keys to Success book club and I was utterly captivated.
Kim presents core principles of equity work and takes the reader through a process of evaluating their beliefs, actions, and ability to effect change both at work and in their personal lives. She shares personal stories of her experiences as a queer Korean American woman as a way of grounding the reader to the different types of privilege and oppression different groups face.
Perhaps most effectively, Kim shares personal stories about the times she has gotten things wrong in her equity work. She emphasizes that no matter how much you care, you will make mistakes. You will say or do something that hurts someone else. The important thing is to receive this feedback with grace and evaluate your actions. The goal is never perfection, but growth.
One of my favorite components was when Kim shares actionable steps that individuals can take at a variety of levels (personal, interpersonal, organizational, and systemic) to engage and promote inclusivity and equity. This is definitely a must read for anyone interested in expanding their impact in equity work.
Kim presents core principles of equity work and takes the reader through a process of evaluating their beliefs, actions, and ability to effect change both at work and in their personal lives. She shares personal stories of her experiences as a queer Korean American woman as a way of grounding the reader to the different types of privilege and oppression different groups face.
Perhaps most effectively, Kim shares personal stories about the times she has gotten things wrong in her equity work. She emphasizes that no matter how much you care, you will make mistakes. You will say or do something that hurts someone else. The important thing is to receive this feedback with grace and evaluate your actions. The goal is never perfection, but growth.
One of my favorite components was when Kim shares actionable steps that individuals can take at a variety of levels (personal, interpersonal, organizational, and systemic) to engage and promote inclusivity and equity. This is definitely a must read for anyone interested in expanding their impact in equity work.
April 3, 2022
An essential read not only for those involved in the social justice movement, but also for those who are discouraged that not enough is happening for Diversity & Inclusion within their organization. This is a pertinent and timely exploration of the equity and justice issues of our time. Michelle provides guidance to navigate this extraordinarily complex and challenging, yet meaningful and hopeful space. She courageously examines topics that are often left unaddressed such as how we all, the marginalized and the privileged, learn to perpetuate white supremacy unless we actively unlearn it. She asks the difficult questions that we must all ask of ourselves and others - "What are you willing to sacrifice?" and "Are you more worried about your discomfort over another person's safety?" and delivers it with compassion and conviction that allows us the opportunity to learn and grow.
I will be recommending this to everyone I know in this space!
I will be recommending this to everyone I know in this space!
July 31, 2021
An informative and compelling read. One of the best I've read in this category. The author not only did a fantastic job of illustrating the impact of discrimination, disproportionate power, and the need for white allies she provided actionable advice for allies of all backgrounds. I felt motivated, recommitted, and armed with useful information after finishing this book.
I recommend the read for those looking to better understand diversity dynamics in the U.S. in a truly three-dimensional way. It's both a compelling read for a beginner trying to understand a more nuanced perspective (e.g. I'm not a hood-wearing clans member so I'm not racist) and an educated ally who still realizes they have a lot to learn.
While the topic can be heavy and the self-reflection can be painful, the book is well written and the added anecdotes make for an enjoyable read.
I recommend the read for those looking to better understand diversity dynamics in the U.S. in a truly three-dimensional way. It's both a compelling read for a beginner trying to understand a more nuanced perspective (e.g. I'm not a hood-wearing clans member so I'm not racist) and an educated ally who still realizes they have a lot to learn.
While the topic can be heavy and the self-reflection can be painful, the book is well written and the added anecdotes make for an enjoyable read.
March 5, 2022
Echoing my friend @Sue-Jean, everyone should read this book! Actually, I specifically recommend the audiobook -- hearing the personal stories, the emotion, the wisdom in Michelle MiJung Kim's voice made the book all the more powerful. This book sticks out to me for a few reasons: Kim uses personal stories from her own life and from her DEI consulting practice to humanize the problem and create urgency. The stories bring an accessibility to the content that's often missing. Secondly, she provides practical and tangible tips throughout the book, that I plan to return to again and again. I literally felt like I was waking up over and over again as I read this book, and that's after reading lots of other things in this space. Highly recommend :D
October 7, 2021
This book is incredible, and I've only just finished chapter 4. The Wake Up is exactly what it's title implies: an awakening to things that we should already know, but broken down in ways that anyone can understand and learn from. Endlessly quotable with a lesson in every single sentence, Michelle Kim has delivered a foundational guidebook to help US "close the gap between good intentions and real change." As I continue to make my way through, I already know that I'm better off then I was when I received it a few days ago -- and the more people who take this up and immerse themselves in its lessons, the better off the world will be.
10/10 would recommend again and again.
10/10 would recommend again and again.
February 1, 2022
4.5 this is going to be my "go-to" rec and gift for people interested in DEI, anti-racism, racial identity development, etc.. I think Kim did a really good job.
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