White backlash against Racial equity work has gotten BIG. I refuse to believe that all of us white people think it's acceptable. Still, our silence speaks volumes. I believe we avoid talking about it because it's so BIG, that we don't know how to counteract it, so big it's swinging elections and fueling book banning. And it's so TINY, in acts of microaggression that happen in a moment but carry deep significance. How do we get all that nuance right? Dana Smith, my cousin by marriage, has been kind enough help me understand her perspective as a Black Minnesotan. Maya Angelou told us to "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." I believe one path forward to doing better has to be sharing microstories, little moments that help us see what we didn't see before. I'm grateful to Dana for sharing hers.

Dana Smith is a mother, content creator + entrepreneur. You can follow her at instagram.com/dana23smith.

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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