Compass: United States
“The diversity of America is a strength of the country, and I don’t think that we use that. We don’t talk about our strengths. I mean, having so many diverse people in this country from all aspects of all over the world, and we don’t use that. I think we should talk about who we are – that melting pot that we’ve become.”
–Steve Stoute
The lyrics in the anthem America the Beautiful expresses it best–the United States of America really is beautiful.
O beautiful for spacious skies…For amber waves of grain…For purple mountain majesties…Above the fruited plain!…America! America!…God shed His grace on thee…And crown thy good with brotherhood…From sea to shining sea!
The United States really is a beautiful and wonderfully diverse country. When you travel to each of the 50 States and even within each State you will feel as if you’re traveling to another country.
The United States is a country built by immigrants and each corner of this country is influenced by a variety of cultural diasporas including former enslaved people from Africa and the West Indies. Even traces of Native American culture can be found despite earlier efforts to erase them from the narratives of American history.
The United States has not always been the land of the free but it has always been the home of the brave.
As Paul Tsongas said, “America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.”
Washington DC: An Exploration of a Thriving Poetry Scene
By Daniel BaldwinPoetry is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Washington DC. Despite its storied literary history, diverse music communities, and world-renowned museum system, visitors and residents alike have trouble seeing beyond the shadow of Capitol Hill. Read more
United States Literature & Music The Arts
Duckmaster: A Job That’s All It’s Quacked Up to Be
By Terri MarshallKenon Walker considered several career paths in his youth. Doctor and lawyer were on the list of possibilities. Duckmaster was not. Yet, if you pop into The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn Read more
United States
Military Women’s Memorial: A little known gem preserving HERstory
Phyllis Wilson, a retired Army veteran of 37 years and President of the Military Women’s Memorial Foundation, joins us to talk about the Memorial and two important campaigns to preserve history and honor a group of female veterans. Read more
United States History Preservation
Martha’s Vineyard: A Vacation Journey Through Black History and Black Film
By Laura K. WiseA friend invited me to share a house with her and a few other friends in Martha’s Vineyard over the Fourth of July weekend last year. Hearing stories of the Kennedys and the Obamas vacationing there, I assumed it would be a stuffy, pretentious community for the rich and famous. … Read more Read more
United States Events & Festivals History
Uncovering the Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood
Join us as author Fatima Shaik uncovers the rich hidden history of a free Black brotherhood that was almost lost forever. Read more
New Orleans History
Celebrating Black History Year-Round: 9 Sites in the U.S. to Visit
By Tonya FitzpatrickBlack History Month has been celebrated annually since the year 1926. First termed “Negro History Week,” Black History Month is honored each February. Read more
United States Experiences History
Exploring the Green Book trail and Rochester’s African-American Heritage
World Footprints will uncover the stories behind the story of the Green Book and we’ll explore Rochester, New York’s rich African-American heritage. In an era of segregation, the Green Book directed African-American travelers to safe havens as they traveled through inhospitable and outright dangerous places. Indeed, being a Black family … Read more Read more
United States Insights History
Life Under Eight Flags: Amelia Island
By Kathleen WallsAmelia Island is a blend of cultures that lived under eight flags. It was a haven for pirates, con men, and hardworking settlers from many countries. From the Timucuans who met the first French and later Spanish settlers, to the Jim Crow era and the founding of American Beach, where … Read more Read more
United States History
Discover Black History and Culture While Traveling the USA
By Terri MarshallAs a Southern-born white woman, incorporating Black history sites into my travel plans never crossed my mind… until I married a Black man. Read more
United States Family Travel History
Somalia in the States: Finding Immersive Cultural Experiences Close to Home
By Cara SieraCulture can be explored in many ways — through conversation, clothing, dance, music, and more. As a recipe creator and food photographer, I’m a firm believer that food is one of the most intimate ways to connect with another culture. Read more
United States Experiences Food & Drink
Preserving African American History
Many of the places where significant African American history occurred have been neglected and have gone unrecognized for the important role they hold in the fabric of American society. Read more
United States History Preservation
Greenpoint, Brooklyn: A Polish Neighborhood
By Alexandra FletcherOne December night, I walked up the subway steps in Brooklyn after a rough commute and an exhausting restaurant shift. When I stepped onto Manhattan Avenue and looked up, all my gripes dissipated under a simple string of holiday lights that read, “Welcome To Greenpoint.” Read more
United States Off the Beaten Path History
Revisiting the Little Rock Nine experience with Ernest Green
This event was the first experiment in school integration and came three years after the U.S, Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education landmark ruling… Read more
United States History Humanity
Responsible and Cultural Travel in Montana
By Tara TadlockWhitewater rafting in crystal clear waters. Horseback riding through the tall prairie grass. Purple mountains as the backdrop for local craft breweries. Sounds like a dream, but it’s actually Montana. Read more
United States Adventure Off the Beaten Path Social Responsibility
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Dreaming the DREAM
Enjoy the historic opening ceremonies surrounding the opening of the MLK Memorial in Washington, DC Read more
United States Events & Festivals History