The US Explained

Mississippi - The US Explained

Famed author William Faulkner said of his home state, “to understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” As I take you on this journey through every part of the United States, it would be a mistake to ignore the story of the Magnolia State. The challenges it deals with, such as high poverty, low development and quality of life, and an economy that’s struggled to diversify have brought severe economic difficulties to a state with among the worst histories of racism in the United States. In pretty much any statistic generally related to quality of life in a state, Mississippi typically ranks at or near either the bottom or the top, whichever would be worse in that particular instance. Because of this, it’s a state that’s often looked down upon by outsiders. I don’t want to fall into that trap. In this video, like all my videos in this series, I’ll try to present a fair and non judgemental view of the state, sharing the aspects of Mississippi that make it a unique and special place while still not shying away from a frank discussion of the challenges it deals with. After all, Mississippi has a lot to offer - from friendly people, great music, and delicious food, to beautiful beaches on the Gulf Coast, vast pine and oak forests, and the wide and muddy lower reaches of its namesake, one of the largest and most important rivers in the world. This is Episode 21 - Mississippi.

Indiana - The US Explained

It’s spanned by vast fields of corn and soybeans, making it one of the most agriculturally productive states in the country. Stunning sand dunes, one of the only national parks in the Midwest, stand hundreds of feet tall over the shore of Lake Michigan, and beautiful forests, hills, and river valleys cover much of the state’s southern half. A former industrial powerhouse, whose limestone and steel built some of the country’s most famous buildings, it's home to a major city, a number of smaller ones, as well as the suburbs of one of the largest metropolises in the world. This is Episode 20 - Indiana.

Louisiana - The US Explained

Among the swamps and bayous, marshes and forests, that sit at the mouth of one of the largest river systems on earth, sits a state unlike any other. It’s a cultural melting pot, sitting in the Deep South, home to one of the largest Black populations in the country, and more culturally connected to and shaped by France than any other state in the US. Its culture, history, geography, and society is vastly different from anywhere else in the country, and a world away from even its neighbors, it occupies an outsized role in the American imagination. This is Episode 19 - Louisiana.

Ohio - The US Explained

Ohio. It sits between the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley, where the Midwest, with its flat expanses of farmland meets Appalachia, home to rolling hills, forests, and valleys. One of the largest Amish populations in the country sits in a state famed for its industrial prowess, manufacturing, and business. Major cities sit not far from farms, forests, lakes, and islands. It's home to a huge population and has played an important role in the US throughout history and today. This is Episode 18 - Ohio.

Tennessee - The US Explained

Tennessee. There, black bears roam in the high peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, paddle wheel steamboats chug up the wide, muddy, winding Mississippi, and in between sit small southern towns and a number of major cities, some growing incredibly quickly, that have had a major influence on American music. It's home to beautiful natural scenery, exciting cities, and played an important role in the country’s history. This is Episode 17 - Tennessee.

Kentucky - The US Explained

It’s part Appalachian, part Southern, and has Midwestern influences. Farms and pastures where some of the world’s top racehorses are trained sit in the same state as bustling port cities on the Ohio River and Appalachian coal mining towns that are among the most impoverished parts of the country. It’s the birthplace of bluegrass and bourbon, and stretches for hundreds of miles from the mountains to the Mississippi. This is Episode 16 - Kentucky

Vermont - The US Explained

It’s one of the most rural and least populated parts of the country. Covered in forests and mountains, filled with lakes and islands, Vermont is renowned for its scenery and splendor. It’s a land of small farms and towns, tucked into tiny valleys and along the shores of Lake Champlain, a place where covered bridges cross small creeks and rivers, and syrup is harvested from maple trees. Its history, politics, and culture stand out starkly from much of the US and it’s one of just a few states to have been an independent country before joining the union. This is Episode 15 - Vermont.

District of Columbia - The US Explained

Within this small chunk of the United States, a piece of land that could fit inside Rhode Island 17 times over, live nearly 700,000 people, more than the entire populations of Vermont or Wyoming. The history of the country has been shaped inside its halls and buildings, and on its streets and parks, and from this tiny district, decisions have been made that have impacted people across the globe. This is Episode 14 - DC.

Rhode Island - The US Explained

If there’s one thing you know about Rhode Island, it’s probably that it is very, very small. In fact, 622 different counties, nearly one fifth of all the counties in the United States, take up more land than Rhode Island. The state at its length is 48 miles. That’s barely more than the average American commute to work. Despite this, the state packs a large punch. It’s the second most densely populated state in the country, has hundreds of miles of coastline, and is home to more people than seven other states, including Alaska, a state with an area 400 times the size of it. Revolving around the 39th largest urban area in the country, which takes up nearly half of its land area, it’s one the closest things the US has, other than the District of Columbia, to a city-state. And on top of that all, it’s played a crucial role in the formation and history of the United States. This is Episode 13 - Rhode Island.

North Carolina - The US Explained

It’s hard to characterize North Carolina. It’s a southern state, home to regional barbecue sauces, a bluegrass and country blues tradition, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. At the same time, it contains vast regional differences, stretching from the mountains in the west to the swamps and islands in the east, with millions of people living in between. It’s home to beautiful scenery, a diverse population, and is a center of banking, education and research that brings in people from around the country and the world. With its spectacular geography, important history and culture, and the major role it plays in the modern United States, this is Episode 12 - North Carolina.