Everything about Turkish American totally explained
Turkish Americans are people that have Turkish ancestry. who live in the
United States.
Definition
By Turkish, this could mean roots linking back to
Turkey,
Cyprus, the
Balkans,
Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan,
Iranian Azerbaijan,
Afghan Turkestan,
Chinese Turkestan,
Crimea, the
Northern Caucasus, or other communities of the
Turkic diaspora.
History
The presence of Turks in the Americas dates to the 17th century. However, there's little authoritative evidence for this claim other than archives dating from the
Ottoman Empire. The biggest migration from the Ottoman Empire to the new continent was driven after slavery became illegal. It is known that approximately 7,000 Turks mostly from the small Anatolian city of
Elazığ worked on the Ford Motor Company assembly line in
Detroit. The onset of World War I was a turning point for many Turks who had come to America. Several hundred Turks returned to
Turkey and joined the
Ottoman Army. Most Turks stayed in America and some Turks enlisted in the American military.
However, upon knowledge of the
allied occupation of Istanbul and
Greek occupation of Izmir, fights broke out between Turks and Greeks in factories and streets and about half of the Turkish community in the United States returned to Turkey to fight against the invading foreign forces in what is now known as the
Turkish War for Independence.
A second exodus of Turks occurred during the Great Depression. Turkish President
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sent Turkish ships to America, offering free passage home to any Turk who would leave, so many Turks took up the offer and returned to Turkey. The second wave of migration came right after World War II when the United States accepted the Alien Registration Act. After this date, especially elite Turkish academics migrated to the United States for better educational opportunities and resources. Along with the
brain drain immigrants, many working class Turks also settled in the United States. A brief history of the Turkish presence in the United States can be found at AmerikadakiTurk.
Early Turkish immigrants to the United States were predominantly from Turkey's rural community. They settled in large, industrial cities and found employment as unskilled laborers. The majority came to earn money so that they could improve their economic situation and that of their families in
Turkey. After the 1950s, a well-skilled and highly educated class immigrated to the United States, the majority being medical doctors, engineers, and scientists. Today, Turkish Americans are visible in virtually every field. The majority are
professionals and enjoy a
upper middle class lifestyle.
Demographics
Since the 1970s, the number of Turkish immigrants has risen to more than 2,000 per year. Members of this most recent immigrant group vary widely. Many opened small businesses in the United States and created Turkish American organizations, thus developing Turkish enclaves, particularly in
New York City. Still others came for educational purposes.
According to the
2000 US census, there are 117,575 Americans (and to 2005 American Community Survey there are 164,945) of full or partial Turkish descent. From the beginning of Turkish immigration to the
United States, many Turks have settled in or around large urban centers. The greatest number have settled in
Paterson,
Brooklyn,
New York,
California,
Boston,
Chicago,
Detroit,
Los Angeles,
San Francisco,
Florida and
Rochester. Other concentrations of Turkish Americans may be found along the East Coast in
New Jersey,
Connecticut,
Maryland, and
Virginia, and some have ventured into
Minnesota,
Indiana,
Texas, and
Alabama. Many of these communities are served by various local community associations. Membership totals are hard to obtain but range from 50 members to almost 500 members.
Little Arabia is a neighborhood in
Paterson,
New Jersey which is sometimes called
Little İstanbul because of its large number of Turks.
Paterson has always been home to immigrants looking to make a start in the new world. Today, the faces are largely of immigrants from the Islamic World.
South Paterson is bordered by
Madison Avenue to the north, Crooks Avenue to the south, Hazel Street to the west, and East Railway Avenue to the east.
The Turkish American community is becoming more close-knit as their social life is revolved around
coffee houses and benevolent societies. In
Peabody,
Massachusetts, coffee houses on
Walnut Street became a congregating place for the Turks living in the area. It was here the community members exchange news about their villages while sipping Turkish coffee and noshing on sweet pastry.
Individual and group contributions
Turkish Americans have made numerous contributions to
American society, particularly in the fields of education, medicine, and science. Others, including
Tunç Yalman, artistic director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and
Osmar Karakas, who was awarded the 1991 National Press Award for the best news photograph, have contributed significantly to the arts.
Music industry
Perhaps the most successful Turkish name associated with music outside of Turkey and in the United States is
Atlantic Records' founder,
Ahmet Ertegün. His promotion of some of the most famous
R&B and
soul artists in North America and contribution to the American music industry has earned him a place in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together with his brother
Nesuhi Ertegün.
Arif Mardin is another major popular music producer and arranger in America. His clients included
Aretha Franklin, the
Bee Gees,
Carly Simon,
Roberta Flack, and
Bette Midler. After briefly meeting
Ahmet Ertegün at the Newport Jazz Festival, he joined
Atlantic Records and served as their Vice President until his death.
Science and mathematics
Feza Gursey (1921-1993) was the J. Willard Gibbs Professor Emeritus of Physics at Yale University. He contributed major studies on the group structure of elementary particles and the symmetries of interactions. Professor Gursoy helped bridge the gap between physicists and mathematicians at Yale. He was the winner of the prestigious Oppenheimer Prize and Wigner Medal.
Media
Turkish Radio and TV Broadcasts in the U.S.A.
- Ebru TV- It is a 24/7 satellite TV.The mission of Ebru Television is to continually educate, inspire and entertain viewers of all ages through original first-rate programming in the sciences, sporting events, fine arts and every aspect of culture.They strive to foster understanding among all people through intercultural dialogue and mutual respect, thus promoting peace and diversity with our neighbors here and throughout the world.
- The Young Turks- Is the first ever Internet TV news show. The video of the show is streamed daily on their website, and available for podcast.
- Turkish Hour TV Show - Entirety of the USA. Monday through Sunday.
- Voice of Anatolia TV - WNYE Channel 25, Sundays at 3:30 PM to 4PM (Can be received off the air in the NYC metropolitan area, also everyday from 7:30 to 8 PM on cable Channel 57 in some NYC boroughs.)
- ATV News - SCOLA channel cable TV, Monday-Friday 11 to 12 AM EDT, Saturdays 7 to 8 PM EDT (taped). For more info call Savas Suzal (703) 425-3846 or (703) 764-1443, or fax to (703) 425-3453.
- Turkish Hour - Cultural Cable Channel, Ch. 50 on Cox Cable in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mondays 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sundays 9:30 - 10:30 p.m. An ITVFC Program.
- Turkish Hour - Channels 7 & 10 on Warner Cable System, Cincinnati, OH. Mondays 8:30 pm (Ch. 7) Thursdays 2:00 pm (Ch. 10) Sundays 11:00 am (Ch. 10) Sponsored by Tri-State Turkish American Association.
- Voice of Turkey - ICAT Channel 15 (Cable) in Rochester, NY Wednesdays & Saturdays 8 pm -10 pm by Ahmet Turgut.
Turkish Newspapers and Periodicals in the U.S.A.
The Turkish Times- a weekly newspaper of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations which covers Turkish American issues with news articles, editorials, and business information.
Turk of America- first Turkish American bi-monthly business magazine
Turkish Daily News- Turkey's English-language newspaper
TurkishSoccer.com
Zaman Newspaper- a daily newspaper which covers Turkish American issues with news articles,editorials, and business information.
Organisations and associations
Istanbul University Alumni Association of USA (IUMEZUSA) is a non-political, non-profit organization founded in April, 2005 to promote better understanding between the American and Turkish peoples through social, educational, and cultural activities.
Turkish Cultural Center (TCC) The Turkish Cultural Center is located in the heart of New York City. The Center is an institution committed to community involvement. The organization hopes to be a forum of international cultural exchange while promoting Turkish Cultural Heritage. www.turkishculturalcenter.com
American Turkish Friendship Council (ATFC)- is devoted to increasing understanding of commercial, defense, and cultural issues involving the United States and Turkey.
American Turkish Society (ATS) was founded in 1949, and has a membership of 400 American and Turkish diplomats, banks, corporations, businessmen, and educators. It promotes economic and commercial relations as well as cultural understanding between the people of the United States and Turkey.
Assembly of Turkish American Associations was founded in 1979, and has approximately 10,500 members and coordinates activities of regional associations for the purpose of presenting an objective view of Turkey and Turkish Americans and enhancing understanding between these two groups.
Federation of Turkish-American Associations (FTAA) was founded in 1956 and composed of about 30 local organizations of Turkish Americans, it works to advance educational interests and to maintain and preserve knowledge of Turkey's cultural heritage.
Turkish American Association (TAA) was founded in 1965, and has approximately 15,000 members and promotes cultural relations between the United States and Turkey.
Turkish Women's League of America (TWLA)was founded in 1958, and comprises Americans of Turkish origin united to promote equality and justice for women.
Turkish American Cultural Alliance (TACA) founded in 1968
Turkish-American Scientists and Scholars Association (TASSA) was formally established on June 5th, 2004
Famous Turkish Americans
Image:Anastasia M Ashman writer.JPG|Anastasia M. Ashman
Image:Bronson1973.jpgCharles Bronson
Image:Tantek Çelik.jpg|Tantek Çelik
Image:Nasuhi Ertegün by David Shankbone.jpg|Nesuhi Ertegün
Image:John Gidding for Designed to Sell Atlanta.jpg|John Gidding
Image:Jennifer Eaton Gokmen writer1.JPG|Jennifer Eaton Gokmen
Image:Bette Midler-Arif Mardin.jpg|Arif Mardin
Image:Mehmo.jpg|Mehmet Okur
Image:Mehmetoz.jpg|Mehmet Oz
Image:WIKI NEIL SEDAKA.jpg|Neil Sedaka
Image:Tiffaniamber.jpg|Tiffani Thiessen
Image:Victoria chalkphoto.jpg |Lisa Marie Varon
Further Information
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