The Wake Up

Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change

By: Michelle MiJung Kim

Narrated by: Michelle MiJung Kim

Waking up to our capacity to transform ourselves and the world

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 listeners 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 parts:

• Grounding: Begin by moving beyond good intentions to interrogating our deeper “why” for committing to social justice and uncovering our "hidden stories".
• Orienting: Establish a shared understanding around our historical and current context and issues we are trying to solve, starting with dismantling white supremacy.
• Showing Up: Learn critical principles to approach any situation with clarity and build our capacity to work through complexity, nuance, conflict, and imperfections.
• Moving Together: Remember the core of this work is about human lives, and commit to prioritizing humanity, healing, and community.

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.

©2021 Michelle MiJung Kim (P)2021 Hachette Go

Critic reviews

“A useful meditation on navigating the often-turbulent energies that flow through our moral compasses, our human hearts, our equally human organizations, and the urgent demands of social justice.” (Resmaa Menakem, author of My Grandmother's Hands)

“Kim shares valuable ways to elevate our practice in the work of creating equitable, just spaces around us - at work, interpersonally, and within ourselves. In The Wake Up, she deeply and humbly reflects on her own journey and how we can break cycles that perpetuate harm and use our means to build a just, inclusive community." (Candice M. Morgan, equity, diversity, and inclusion partner, GV)

“Michelle is a practitioner that truly walks the walk. The Wake Up is a vulnerable exploration of activism, as raw and reflective as she is. I recommend for anyone ready to be pushed from just talking towards responsible action.” (Y-Vonne Hutchinson, CEO of ReadySet)

A book for ALL ages!

Truly a WAKE UP for anyone that’s sleeping, awake, resistant to the realities of now and decades of history, AND SO MUCH MORE! The personal stories, specific events over the past decade and last few years coupled with the drive for active and purposeful change is accessible, inclusive, and inviting for ALL to make a new choice for our collective!

Life-changing and inspiring

I will recommend it over and over again!! Michelle Mijung Kim is an influential writer and activist. I am appreciative that her wisdom and empowering words were brought to me.

Must Read

Such an important read. For everyone who has been grappling with their identities and how to make a difference in our daily lives, Michelle’s words will bring new clarity and optimism.

Very important read for anyone trying to be a good person

Wow! This book is incredible. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of every page. I learned so much on the first read through and will continue to reference this book for many years!

Must read

I recommend this book to anyone looking for solidarity in their social context
Epic read

A must listen, learn, and act

Goodness, I learned so much. Reflected a great deal. Had a good number of gut checks. Still turning over my learning … many actionable steps to take from Michelle Mijung Kim on how to do better after learning better.

Mixed feelings

I totally understand and respect where the author is coming from. It’s very hard to include everyone who is subjugated to unfair treatment and discrimination.