Know My Name

Book summary

Chanel Miller is an artist and writer living in San Francisco. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with a degree in literature. The “victim statement” she wrote to explain the impact that Brock Turner’s sexual assault has had on her life was published by Buzzfeed and has been read over 18 million times. Know My Name is Miller’s first book.

Survivors of sexual assault are often pressured to recount their experiences as linear progressions from pain to recovery, but true healing doesn’t follow such a straightforward path. Chanel's recovery remains a slow and challenging journey. Luckily, she discovered multiple crucial sources of assistance. Perhaps the most significant element in her recuperation was the love of her family and her partner, Lucas. Her parents and sister provided unwavering warmth and encouragement, creating a safe haven for her to seek refuge whenever she felt overwhelmed by stress and trauma. Lucas assisted her in building a new life in Philadelphia. He demonstrated that his support was unwavering and helped distract her by taking her on a vacation to Indonesia, demonstrating that she had a life that was vastly different from the harsh realities of the trial. In addition to the support of her loved ones, Chanel also found great strength in exploring her abilities as an artist. Through leaving her job, Chanel realized that she needed to escape from Palo Alto while awaiting the trial. She enrolled in a printmaking course at the Rhode Island School of Design over the summer. Although it was an incredibly lonely and disorienting period, Chanel immersed herself in learning the new art form. By the end of the course, she had produced an impressive collection of prints that garnered praise from her instructor and peers. Reflecting on the artwork she had created even in the most challenging circumstances provided Chanel with a sense of her own resilience and talent. During her time in Philadelphia with Lucas, Chanel discovered another source of support in stand-up comedy. A friend of Lucas had established a comedy club on campus, and Chanel auditioned and secured a spot in the show. She realized that she possessed a knack for transforming her everyday frustrations into comedic material. In many aspects of her life, her voice was stifled and muted, but on stage, she was able to unleash a bold, irreverent version of herself. She found that her jokes resonated with the audience and that they found her hilariously funny. Embracing her comedy persona provided her with a rare glimpse of her true self during a period when she felt incredibly invisible. By receiving support from her family and holding onto the things that strengthened her, Chanel managed to persevere and continue on her path to healing.

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