The Case:
A contributor from Overland Park, KS has an unsigned oil portrait of his grandfather, Najib Musa Diab, that he believes was painted by the Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet.
His grandfather was a contemporary of Gibran, whose poetry was published by the Arabic-language newspaper that Diab founded in Brooklyn, New York.
Gibran and other Arab immigrants faced perplexing challenges as they balanced their new American identities with loyalties to their native lands when World War I changed the Middle East map and policy.
From this turmoil, Gibran found the unique blend of Eastern and Western philosophy that permeated his writing and art.
Did this period in Gibran's life also produce Diab's portrait? History Detectives finds out.
Season 6, Episode 9
Season 7, Episode 12
Detective:
Tukufu Zuberi
Location:Savannah, Georgia and New York City
Related Content
Feature:
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Howard Hughes Crash
Was this the instrument that chartered Howard Hughes' near fatal plunge into Beverly Hills?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
United Empire Loyalist
What can this family tree reveal about Americans who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War?
-
Also in Emerging Modern America: 1890-1930
Lauste Film Clip
How is this odd strip of film connected to the invention of talking movies?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Pop Lloyd Baseball Field
Why was this baseball field named after an African-American ballplayer in a time of racial tension?
-
Also in Emerging Modern America: 1890-1930
Pancho Villa Watch Fob
Did the owner of this watch fob witness the horrifying raid on Pancho Villa?
-
Also in Season 7
Boxcar Home
Why is a boxcar buried beneath this suburban kitchen?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.