Syl Jones Traces the Beginnings of the Phrase "Minnesota Nice."

Grants | NHPRC | Special Collections | Minnesota Books and Authors | Types | Commentary |
Listen: Syl Jones commentary on Jante, MN
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Minnesotans know it's not nice to call someone "Minnesota nice..." It's a synonym for phoniness and passive aggression. And Minnesota playwright Syl Jones says he's uncovered the roots of Minnesota nice. He traces it all back to the Scandinavian immigrants who settled here more than a century ago. Jones argues his discovery goes a long way toward explaining all kinds of strange Minnesota phenomena.

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