The Prophet - Professor Daoud Arab World Seminar 27...

Professor Daoud
Arab World Seminar
27 September 2009
Kahlil Gibran and The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran ( دعس نب ليئاکيم نب ناربج ليلخ ناربج ) was born on January 6th,
1883 in the town of Basharri, Ottoman Syria -- modern day Lebanon. He is perhaps one
of the most famous of poets and philosophers to come out of Lebanon. Gibran was a man
of humble beginings; he received no formal education, but was frequently visited by
preists who taught him about the bible as well as languages. In 1891, Kahlil’s father (of
the same name) was imprisoned on embezzlement charges, leaving the family with no
home or means of survival. Kamila Gibran – young Kahlil’s mother – decided to take her
young and move to the United States, where Kahlil would continue his spiritual journey.
Once they reached the United States, the Gibran family settled in the south side of
Boston. We can only imagine the effect this must have had on Kahlil; to have traveled
across the world from Ottoman Syria, and then settling in Boston. Khalil was registered
for middle school in 1895; officials placed him in a class for immigrants in order to learn
the English language. Not too long after that, he enrolled in an art program not too far
from his middle school. Through his art instructors Kahlil met a famed Boston artist,
photographer, and publisher: Fred Holland Day. Fred was the one who encouraged and
supported young Kahlil in regard to his creative pursuits. Wanting Kahlil to learn more