The State We're In (WBEZ)

Black Peter or Zwarte Piet: is it a beloved Dutch Christmas character or a racist throwback to the minstrel tradition? Quinsy Gario, a media expert from the Dutch Island St. Maarten, didn't think much of it until his mother was called “Zwarte Piet”. Then he launched a public campaign to end the tradition that led to a police beating, death threats and a national debate and led him to being, for a few months, the most hated man in The Netherlands. (Photo: Quinsy Gario)

In possibly the most hard-hitting TSWI ever, Jonathan speaks with Meron Estefanos, an Eritrean/Swedish journalist whose online radio show speaks with prisoners held hostage in Sinai torture camps. Thousands of Eritrean refugees have fled the military dictatorship at home to find a better life in Sudan and Israel. Many are kidnapped and ransomed by Bedouins. Meron tells Jonathan how she tries to help them by publishing their pleas for help. She also talks about her trip to Israel, the Sinai and how she almost got captured herself.

On this week's The State We're In from WBEZ: Changelings. Two stories about transformations from around the globe. We explore the revolutionary history of Yemen, and an exploration of Jewish roots in Poland.

On this week's The State We're In from WBEZ: Muhammad Ali and Me. The story of how Muhammad Ali tried to make one man into a rock and roll superstar... and how he literally lost it all. (Image: album artwork for Michel's album featuring Muhammad Ali and Michel)

This time on TSWI from WBEZ: A Close One. Three short stories of people who have had a brush with something terrible and walked away from it somehow changed, sometimes for the better. Comedian Yannis Pappas gets shot in the leg and has to learn how to find the funny again. Runner May el Khalil gets hit by a car and creates the Beirut marathon from her hospital bed. And Jonathan goes on a holiday to Africa and has a dangerous confrontation with desperation.

In Mexico, investigative journalism can be a life-threatening profession. Sergio Haro is a veteran reporter for the muckraking Mexican weekly, Zeta. One of the publication's founders was murdered in cold blood. Yet given the danger, Haro and his colleagues continue to defy powerful drug cartels and corrupt officials as the try to make a difference with their reporting. Plus, Sahand Sahebdivani was recently named Dutch storyteller of the year, and he shares one of his stories. (Photo: Sergio Haro in scene from the documentary 'Reportero')