Standing in the Shadow of No Towers

A Hyperallergic essay recounts a first-person experience of September 11, 2001, and argues that the post-9/11 struggle for immigrant rights shaped a generation of South Asian art and activism in the United States. The author describes being near the World Trade Center area, witnessing the day’s unfolding events, and participating in early relief efforts based on the initial belief that survivors might still be rescued. The narrative includes details such as the author working at HBO at the time, encountering Bangladeshi fruitseller Amin Miah describing the attacks in Bangla, and calling Zahed Amanullah of Altmuslim, who was traveling in Cuba when he learned of the catastrophe. The piece emphasizes the atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and community mobilization that followed 9/11, framing it as a defining context for cultural and political organizing.

Read the full article at Hyperallergic