The Ethnic Press and Lowell
By Richard P. Howe Jr.
The Khmer Post USA is part of a great tradition of the ethnic press in Lowell and throughout the United States. Also known as the foreign language press, the ethnic press describes newspapers published for specific audiences based on language, nationality or religion. The ethnic press in America began at the time of the American Revolution when German and Irish immigrant communities joined countless others who were publishing newspapers at that time.
Lowell was not founded until 1826 but from the beginning the city had many newspapers. However, it was only after the Civil War when tens of thousands of immigrants arrived that the ethnic press fully emerged in Lowell. In 1878, a local printer named John Harrington felt that the existing Lowell newspapers were too focused on long-time city residents and the Republican policies they favored, so he started a newspaper that represented the views of his fellow Irish immigrants and the Democratic Party they embraced. He called his newspaper the Lowell Sun.
While every immigrant group that came to Lowell in the late 19th century had its own newspaper, it was the French-Canadians who were the most active publishers. The oldest and longest lasting of the French papers was L’Etoile which means “star” in French. It began in 1886 and continued until 1957. An advertisement in the 1931 Lowell city directory claimed that with 4,500 copies printed daily, L’Etoile was “the best way to reach the 35,000 French-Americans of Lowell and vicinity in their own language.”
The mission of the ethnic press in America has not changed. The Khmer Post USA fulfills the same function for the Cambodian people that L’Etoile did for the French. Newcomers to our community are always interested in news about their former country, news that is often overlooked by the mainstream media. Newspapers like the Khmer Post USA also help preserve the language, culture and customs of its readers. Perhaps the most important mission of an ethnic newspaper is to help its readers understand and become involved in their new community, especially its politics.
Many immigrants come to America from places where criticizing political leaders leads to imprisonment or death. This was certainly true for those who survived the Killing Fields so it is understandable that people from Cambodia would avoid involvement in politics. But that is not how America works. The essence of our democracy is the clash of ideas. When everyone speaks up, the policies that are best for all will result. Unfortunately even here political involvement comes with a price. Those who hold power are human beings and can be sensitive to criticism. A few try to punish their critics (or even innocent family members of their critics) but no one is arrested or executed. Fortunately most political leaders understand that criticism is part of the democratic process and take it in stride which is good because we are a much better city when all voices are heard. By helping the Cambodian people of Lowell make their voices heard by city government, the Khmer Post USA is performing a great service to the entire community.
