Kawkab America
Encyclopedia
Kawkab America was an Arabic-language
weekly (later daily) newspaper published in New York City
, United States
. Kawkab America was the first Arabic-language newspaper in North America
; it was published by Arab Orthodox Christians, and its readership was almost exclusively Christian. Typeset by hand, Kawkab America was published between 1892 and 1908. It became a daily in 1898.
Politically, Kawkab America was highly supportive of Ottoman
rule (at least during its early years). Initially, the launching of the newspaper had been scheduled for the birthday of the Ottoman Sultan. However, it was delayed as the Arabic printing press had not arrived on time. The first issue came out on April 15, 1892, carrying a major article of praise of the Sultan. However, according to a 1898 article in the New York Times, Kawkab America represented the Young Turks Party
in the United States and condemned repression against Armenians
in the Ottoman empire.
There are different claims about who was the founder of the newspaper. Some historians claim the newspaper was founded by the brothers Najeeb and Ibrahim Arbeely (who belonged to a prominent Syria
n family), and that the founding editor was Najeeb M. Diab. Lilian George Shoucair claims that her father, Saed Shoucair, was the founding editor of Kawkab America and that the Arbeelys financed its publishing. She also stated that Saed Shoucair later bought the newspaper from the Arbeelys and that he had left it when he moved out of the city in 1907.
Kawkab America was the transliteration used at the time of publishing. However, the Library of Congress
used the more direct transliteration Kawkab Amirka. Only the issues of the first four years have been preserved.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
weekly (later daily) newspaper published in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Kawkab America was the first Arabic-language newspaper in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
; it was published by Arab Orthodox Christians, and its readership was almost exclusively Christian. Typeset by hand, Kawkab America was published between 1892 and 1908. It became a daily in 1898.
Politically, Kawkab America was highly supportive of Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule (at least during its early years). Initially, the launching of the newspaper had been scheduled for the birthday of the Ottoman Sultan. However, it was delayed as the Arabic printing press had not arrived on time. The first issue came out on April 15, 1892, carrying a major article of praise of the Sultan. However, according to a 1898 article in the New York Times, Kawkab America represented the Young Turks Party
Young Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
in the United States and condemned repression against Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
in the Ottoman empire.
There are different claims about who was the founder of the newspaper. Some historians claim the newspaper was founded by the brothers Najeeb and Ibrahim Arbeely (who belonged to a prominent Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n family), and that the founding editor was Najeeb M. Diab. Lilian George Shoucair claims that her father, Saed Shoucair, was the founding editor of Kawkab America and that the Arbeelys financed its publishing. She also stated that Saed Shoucair later bought the newspaper from the Arbeelys and that he had left it when he moved out of the city in 1907.
Kawkab America was the transliteration used at the time of publishing. However, the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
used the more direct transliteration Kawkab Amirka. Only the issues of the first four years have been preserved.