I Was Their American Dream

This graphic memoir by Malaka Gharib is a lovely autobiography covering the author's birth through her recent marriage. Gharib is a first generation American of Filipino Egyptian ancestry whose parents invested their lives in their children in pursuit of the American dream.

Growing up in Cerritos, California Gharib only knew other immigrant children. It was normal to ask her peers "what are you." Everyone talked about their heritage openly.  It was expected. Her family, however, were stuck in their country of origin, only serving ethnic foods at home and continued to follow the customs of the Philippines where Gharib's mother and siblings emigrated from. Her father was an Egyptian who returned there after divorcing Gharib's mother. Gharib then spent every summer in Egypt and picked up many of the attributes of the Egyptians.

When the author turned 16 she suddenly had a bunch of feelings about white people. She wanted to be white and have everything they had. Since she had not mentioned white people until the midway point, I was taken aback by her statements about them. Where did these ideas come from?  What made her think she had less? I did not think she had less. When it was time for college and a career she chose "white" schools and cities to live in. I was confused as most of the book heralded her ethnic origins. I heralded them along with her. I just didn't understand her choices when she became an adult. They contrasted with what I thought was a love of heritage.

The artwork style is primitive. It looks like a child created the drawings. The story is told well. The reader can feel Gharib's emotions as she tells each part of her life story. In addition, the way that she introduced her many family members was brilliant because it is difficult for readers to remember alot of characters. I had no problem getting to know every member of her extended family and remembering each person's idiosyncrasies. I enjoyed meeting her friends and classmates too.  All of these characters were memorable.

The author ended her book with a lifestyle that is more American than ethnic. I don't know what to think about that. Is it just the norm for first generation Americans to assimilate into society or is Gharib embarrassed by her ethnicity?

I loved this book. It is thought provoking concerning how to handle this thing called the American experience.  It should be required reading for all of us.