Each of the 50 states in the USA has its own motto. The motto might be found on the state seal, or the state flag; more often than not, it might be in Latin, or Spanish, or Chinook; it might be a phrase or a single word. And if you think you know what yours is, check that it is not in fact an advertising slogan.
PRX staff reveal their state mottos - or what they thought were their state mottos, until this episode ruined it for them - and how those words have shaped their perception of their state and their selves.
READ MORE:
State mottos are not state slogans.
Pretty: a designer from each state illustrated their state’s motto.
Also pretty: state sandwiches.
28 of the states have an official state beverage. SPOILER: it's usually milk.
Parsing 'Sic semper tyrannis'.
Earlier this year, Rhode Island attempted a new state slogan. It wasn't a hit like 'Don't mess with Texas'.
There's a transcript of this episode at theallusionist.org/transcripts/state-mottos
RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
levant
CREDITS:
We heard from PRX staffers, in order of appearance: Julie Shapiro, executive producer of Radiotopia (Ohio); Josh Swartz, producer and curator of PRX Remix (Massachusetts); Kathleen Unwin, sponsorship director (Missouri); Andrew Kuklewicz, chief technology officer (Texas); Kali Navé, manager of advertising operations (North Carolina); Maggie Taylor, director of marketing (New Hampshire); Audrey Mardavich, director of special projects (Connecticut); Genevieve Sponsler, content coordinator (Virginia); Gina James, manager of development and operations (New Jersey); Kerri Hoffman, CEO (Vermont).
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with Devon Taylor. The music is by Martin Austwick.
