Gabrielle Union has been showing a beautiful display of strength in vulnerability, having recently opened up about her painful infertility issues. The actress and now author of We're Going To Need More Wine, also stepped up to champion those involved in the #MeToo movement and reiterated her own rape survivor story.
"For 20 years now, I've been trying to tell my story as honestly as possible and basically with the goal of never having to hear, 'Me too' ever again," Union said on Good Morning America, per ABC News. "And I talk about that in my book so it was so wild the other night to see #MeToo trending."
Union has previously spoken about the time she was raped at gunpoint when she was 19 years old. "I saw #MeToo and my arm went numb," said Union. "I thought it was all about me and when I realized literally hundreds of thousands of people, men and women, [were] talking about being a part of this unfortunate club…it just rips your heart out."
Union stressed that her book is an effort to show others that they're not alone. "I will continue to keep talking about it, I will continue to try to keep educating," Union noted. "You see so much now with victim blaming and victim shaming and really trying to put the onus on the victim and trying to say that there's some right way to deal with trauma. And I just have to keep speaking out to dispel as many misconceptions as possible about sexual violence."
Additionally, Union appeared on The View to discuss the harsh reality in raising black sons in today's society with her husband, Dwyane Wade.
Dubbed the "black truth bomb," Union instilled lessons in her stepsons while they were living in Chicago. "Their very presence to a lot of our neighbors felt threatening. That's all you have to say to get away with killing black people," she noted.
"Your very blackness, from birth, has been demonized and weaponized and is considered inherently threatening and less than," she continued.
Overall, given all of the traumas that victims have to endure whether it's based on their race, sexuality or both, Union wants to embrace the idea of self-worth and she's started with herself. "You were fly, dope and amazing from birth … you were worthwhile and valid. And I'm sorry you had to wait so long to learn that for yourself," she said.