Meline Toumani

From An Armenian Community In New Jersey, To Confronting Armenian Taboos In Turkey

The Leonard Lopate Show | Dec 12, 2014

Meline Toumani left promising job at The New York Times and moved to Istanbul to try to understand Turkish life and culture. She grew up in a close-knit Armenian community in New Jersey where Turkish restaurants were shunned and products made in Turkey were boycotted. During the four years she spent in Turkey, she tried to talk about the Armenian genocide, finding her way into conversations that were taboo, and sometimes illegal. Her new book is There Was and There Was Not: A Journey Through Hate and Possibility in Turkey, Armenia, and Beyond.

There Was and There Was Not
There Was and There Was Not
(Courtesy of the publisher)

 

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Are Waymo robotaxis actually safer than NYC Uber and taxi drivers?

A new analysis concludes Waymos were involved in more serious crashes per mile than the city’s for-hire fleet.
Gothamist |

Rahm Emanuel Says Israel’s Path Is “Not Sustainable Politically.” Plus, the Critic Richard Brody on “The Odyssey”

A likely Democratic presidential candidate says the U.S. must end unconditional support for Israel. Emanuel explains his proposal for Middle East peace, and his position on trans rights.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

From Subpoenas to Cockroaches: Journalist Intimidation 101

Plus, a documentary about the eBay stalking scandal.
On the Media |

Join us for a live series on what it means to make New York more affordable

We’re holding community events across New York City, “In Conversation: The Affordability Series,” through the rest of the year to explore real solutions to issues affecting millions of New Yorkers.
Gothamist |
YOU ARE ONLINE