Story by Lara Diaz
Produced and recorded by Claire Malon
Our pilot episode of The B-Side is a story from contributing writer Lara Diaz. Published in the fall of 2021, “Next Stop, Van Buren,” is a powerful narrative essay about community, identity and belonging.
Diaz, who was born and raised on the Southeast Side of Chicago, describes how she was forced to grapple with her identity as a Mexican American while attending predominantly white schools on the North Side. Using her commute on the Metra Electric train as a metaphor, Diaz seeks to show how the deeply rooted love and understanding of where we come acts as a guide to interpreting the world around us and our place in it.
The B-Side: Next Stop, Van Buren