By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary I can only pray. That’s all I know how to do. I am nobody. I am not particularly smart. I am not savvy when it comes to political discourse. I... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary Memphis, Tennessee. A cafe. The kind with vinyl booth cushions, all patched up with duct tape. I’m in town to make a speech. She is my waitress... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary Birmingham. I met the old woman for coffee. She was small and slight, with a mane of white. She spoke with a thick Latin accent. “I have a stor... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary We’ll call her April. But that’s not her name. She sent me a letter which arrived in my mailbox on April 1. Hence, the pseudonym. “I am 15 and... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary “HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY?!” shouts the talking head on TV. I’m at an American diner. The kind with fried food and waitresses who... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary A Catholic church. It was lunchtime. The chapel was empty when I wandered in. The janitor was Latino and spoke fractured English. He was elderl... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary People in Lebanon, Tennessee, are funny about their town name. “If you gon’ say it,” the bartender explains, “say it right. It’s pronounced ‘Le... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary It was our place. That’s what it was. I grew up in a little fishing village, nestled in the Florida Panhandle. This was long before the tattoo... Read more
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—I was trying to write a column about what’s doing in Alabama when a blind dog wandered into my office. This dog crawled into m... Read more
Sean of the South: Becca
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary Eleven-year-old Becca Butler arrived at the theater early. She was wearing her civilian clothes. Plaid shirt. Jeans. The band was doing a sound... Read more