Michelle Duster has a unique brand of fortitude and cares deeply about how women and African Americans are portrayed (or not) in texts, various types of media, and public history pieces. She writes articles and books, creates programs, and advocates for projects that tell the stories and preserve the history of people who have historically been negatively stereotyped, marginalized, and underrepresented.  She is focused on creating truth-telling work that contributes to racial and gender equity.