New York has unveiled a monument dedicated to Khalil Gibran and Little Syria. The sculpture, titled Al Qalam: Poets in the Park, is the first commemorative artwork revealed under Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Artist Sara Ouhaddou designed the bright yellow sculpture, which stands 7ft tall and is made of painted stainless steel. The work honors the Pen League.
Dr Linda Jacobs stated, "Thousands of people are going to see Arabic every day of their lives, and it’s in perpetuity. It’s for ever." Lebanese officials have claimed the city erased Gibran’s identity, with Henri Zoghaib describing the monument as "wrong in time."
The Gibran National Committee issued a formal objection to the installation. Youssef Rajji announced he directed his ambassador and consul general to contact authorities to correct the text.
Beirut views Gibran and the other honorees as Lebanese rather than Syrian, despite claims that Gibran called himself Syrian. Historical records show Gibran landed at Ellis Island in 1895 as "Jubran Rhamé" with Syrian nationality.
He was recorded as "Gibran K Gibran" with Syrian nationality in 1902 and as "Kahlel Gebian" with "Turkey, Syrian" nationality in 1910. Mount Lebanon functioned as an autonomous Ottoman district from 1861 until it lost that status in 1915.
Lebanon was assembled on 1 September 1920. Approximately 95,000 Arabic-speaking immigrants arrived in the United States between 1880 and 1924.
Najib and Ibrahim Arbeely established Kawkab America on 1 April 1892. Antoine Zraick was executed by Ottoman officials in 1915.
A ballroom at the Hotel McAlpin in York hosted 200 guests on 1 January 1929 to celebrate 25 years of Gibran’s work. An Israeli airstrike destroyed the shrine of Shamoun al-Safa at Shamaa in Tyre two weeks before the monument's unveiling.
