Consider This from NPR BONUS: The Lost Summer
Sep 19, 2021
Shereen Marisol Meraji, a renowned journalist and former co-host of NPR's Code Switch, shares her vibrant journey from a young reporter in Durban to teaching at UC Berkeley. She reflects on the pivotal UN Conference Against Racism and the activism of Puerto Rican youth. The fascinating intersection of hip-hop and journalism in South Africa reveals insights from the cultural movements of the time. Shereen also touches on the rise of Islamophobia post-9/11, connecting personal stories to broader societal changes.
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Summer of 2001
- Shireen recounts the summer of 2001, marked by low-rise jeans, Alicia Keys, and the Chandra Levy scandal.
- A significant, yet overlooked event was the World Conference Against Racism in Durban.
Shireen's Durban Experience
- Shireen covered the conference shortly after her 24th birthday as an independent journalist.
- Her report focused on young Puerto Ricans protesting the US Navy's occupation of Vieques.
Reunion with Jamil
- Shireen reconnects with Jamil Kolantandika Koubega, a filmmaker she met at the conference.
- In 2001, Jamil, then 22, joined the Indy Media Center to cover the conference.