You Don’t Know America Archives

News in Brief

Why Your Congressional Representative Isn’t So Representative of You

There are a lot of problems with our two-party system, and fixing them would require nothing less than a fundamental shift in the way politics work in this country. But there are better ways.

Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz

Social Justice

A Nation of Amateurs

America is a place where the majority of athletic competitions go unseen, and the majority of athletes uncelebrated. What does it say about us that we continue to compete anyway?

Eric Horowitz

Social Justice

The Great Depression turned the regular, ol’ PB&J into a staple of childhood, and the sandwich stuck. Today, there’s little else that so easily transcends both regional and socioeconomic divides. What’s more American than that?

Karina Martinez-Carter

Social Justice

How Our Television Reinforces Our Politics

Political stereotypes can be traced through America's television-viewing habits.

Paul Hiebert

Social Justice

Do You Have to Pee Standing Up to Be a Real Man?

This simple idea, encouraged by medical texts of the past that taught deviation from the norm would lead to confused sexuality and gender identity issues, has put a surprising number of babies under the knife.

Alice Dreger

Economics

When Commercial Fishermen Get Together to Recite Poetry

Ever year, hundreds of commercial fishermen gather in Astoria, Oregon, to present their poems and talk about an industry in flux.

Chris Collision

Social Justice

Forgiveness in the Abortion Clinic

Religion and abortion can and sometimes do mix.

Lori Freedman

News in Brief

You Don’t Know Abraham Lincoln

What happens when you and a Lincoln expert stand next to the Lincoln Memorial and ask questions of visiting tourists?

Aaron Gordon

Social Justice

You’re Missing Out on Great Literature

Only three percent of everything published in the U.S. each year is translated from another language—and the majority of that is computer manuals and other technical material. Why don’t Americans read beyond their borders?

Anna Clark

Social Justice

What Does a Rock ‘n’ Roll Musician Look Like Today?

Ezra Furman released two albums last year, both to critical acclaim, but he's still not totally sure how he makes his money.

Kevin Lincoln