The American B-Side

An illustration with the text "The AMERICAN B-Side" written across a blue sky. "AMERICAN" is written in blue bubble letters filled with stars on a banner carried by a bald eagle.

Do you feel that?

The cool breeze on your back. The sound of October ballparks cheering. The red-orange leaves resting against the sidewalk, the static-y radio broadcast political ads and the drunken parking lots of college football tailgates. That feeling, that floating red-white-and-blue ephemeral feeling, is the closest I have ever come to patriotism.

It’s hard to define in strict terms what America feels, acts or even looks like. But paradoxically, it’s not hard to see it. I see it every nighttime drive I take, with gas stations and billboards rising high into the cool night sky like our personal northern lights. I see it in the eyes of my local diner’s waitresses, in the wrinkles on the cheek of Iowa farmers, in the quickly-drying rivers of Nevada, in the hulking mountains of the Rockies and in the ancient ones of the Appalachians. 

It’s not hard to see America if you look closely enough. 

From sea to shining sea, in each state, country and city, there exist stories, anecdotes and folktales that pump Americana into the nation around us. It’s my hope that over the course of this B-Side — made up of 23 writers, 23 articles, 21 states and 2 territories — we can find America too.

Senior Arts Editor Rami Mahdi can be reached at rhmahdi@umich.edu.

Illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from Michigan." The background features a 2001 Honda Civic driving across the Mackinac Bridge. The lettering contains various state landmarks.
The Great American road trip exists entirely within Michigan
A vintage postcard reading "Greetings from VERMONT", with snowy mountains and a building from the Bennington College campus in the background. Each letter in the word "Vermont" has important items from the book The Secret History drawn in it, along with its author Donna Tartt in the 'M'.
Searching for genius in Bennington, Vermont: The secret history of Donna Tartt
A vintage postcard reading "Greetings from TEXAS / Remember the Alamo!", with a sunset in the background. Each letter in the word "Texas" contains significant aspects or moments in Texas culture in it. The illustration is drawn in a cartoonish style.
On waiting to die in southwest Texas
An illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from ALABAMA", with scenic buildings and nature from Alabama written in the letters as well as a picture of Nick Saban in the 'M'. In the foreground is an Alabama runningback, and in the background is the Bama football stadium.
Take me home, Bryant-Denny, to the place I belong: Alabama
Illustration of a postcard stating "Greetings from Washington DC." The Capitol Building is in the background and Washington DC is drawn in bubble letters, with dive bars depicted within the letters of DC.
The rich history of Washington, DC punk and go-go
Illustration of a postcard that reads "greetings from Wyoming" with a Wyoming imagery in the letters. In the background is a mountain range and cowboy.
The natural beauty and horror of Wyoming
An illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from Florida" with images of Florida wildlife and environments in the lettering. The background is a swamp and in the foreground is an alligator.
Looking back at Lauren Groff’s ‘Florida,’ a regional story collection like no other
"Illustration of a postcard that reads ""greetings from Oklahoma!"" with imagery of the state Oklahoma and the musical Oklahoma! in the lettering. The background is the backdrop to the musical Oklahoma! and in the foreground is a red car from the movie The Outsiders. "
The musicals of ‘Oklahoma!’
Illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from California" with landmarks and imagery of California in the lettering. In the background in the Hollywood sign.
California, the land of noir
An Illustration of a postcard that reads "greetings from Indiana" with landmarks of Indiana, Larry Bird, and the character Leslie Knope in the letters. In the background is a waterfall surrounded by fall trees and in the foreground, there is the character Li'l Sebastian, a miniature horse.
‘Parks and Recreation’ and Indiana’s Midwestern moral philosophy
A vintage postcard reading "Greetings from ILLINOIS", with Navy Pier in the background. Each letter in the word "Illinois" contains pop culture or a significant landmark from Chicago in it.
Illinois: The land of Chicago(ish)
An illustration of a postcard reading "Saludos de Puerto Rico" with Puerto Rican landscapes in the lettering. In the background is a beach and in the foreground is a woman lounging in a beach chair.
‘Yo te quiero, Puerto Rico’
Illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from Colorado" With a snowy Colorado skyline in the lettering. In the background is a mountain range with an elk in the foreground.
Colorado: Hollywood’s last frontier
An Illustration of a postcard that reads "Greetings from Maryland" with imagery of Maryland in the letters of 'Maryland.' In the background is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and in the foreground is a large Chesapeake blue crab.
Maryland and bridges; water and oil
An illustration of a postcard with the words "Greetings from Ohio", set in a moody scene of tall grass blowing in the wind. In the letters of "Ohio" is a dark forest and a house inspired by the book "Beloved" sits in the foreground overlapping it.
Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved:’ memory and tragedy crossing the Ohio River
Illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from New York" With New York symbolism in the letters, including the eyes from Great Gatsby and a rat in the trash. The background is the New York skyline with luggage in the foreground.
New York: The dreamer’s state
Illustration of a postcard stating "Greetings from Wisconsin" with landmarks and symbols of Wisconsin in the letters. In the background is a baseball diamond and standing in front is a Racine Belles baseball player.
Wisconsin’s Racine Belles know women’s sports deserve America’s heart
An illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from Massachusetts" with landmarks of Massachusetts in the letters. In front of the text is a gloomy-looking house.
Echoes of the witch through Massachusetts
Illustration of a postcard that reads "greetings from Missouri" with landmarks of Missouri in the lettering. Featured in the letter "I" is Chappell Roan and below the text is a pink cowboy hat.
Chappell Roan and being Queer in Missouri
Illustration of a postcard that reads "greetings from Pennsylvania" with Pennsylvania landmarks in the letters. In the background is the Pittsburgh skyline and under the letters is the Roger Clemente Bridge
My second life in Pennsylvania
Illustration of a postcard that reads "greetings from South Carolina" with foods associated with the state including oysters, iced tea, and crispy calamari in the letters. In the background is the Rainbow Road in Charleston
Must-visit restaurants in South Carolina: Dining in Charleston and Hilton Head Island
Illustration of a postcard reading "Greetings from Oregon." There is pioneer imagery inside the letters, and a frontier woman in the foreground.
The Oregon Trail and the female frontier
Illustration of a postcard with the words "Greetings from Washington" set in a background scene of Mount Rainier. Within the letters of "Washington", there are iconic symbols of Washington state are shown, like pine trees, the Space Needle, and coffee.
Discovering Washington: Finding a cultural hub of community and heritage