This is a painful and thought-provoking collection of essays by local writers on their personal experiences with race in Minnesota. A common theme that I sensed throughout the essays was that unlike the overt racism for which the southern U.S. is notorious, racism in Minnesota is present, expressed and revealed subtly, often in the form of microaggressions. Which is more harmful? We Minnesotans often pride ourselves on our progressiveness and "Minnesota Nice," so I read these with feelings of both shame and anger, as well as a kind of helplessness, wondering what kind of difference I personally can make to improve the experiences of Minnesota's POC. ( )