Arab in America

by Toufic El Rassi

Book Overview

The eye-opening story of the life of an average Arab-American struggling with his identity in an increasingly hostile nation. Using the graphic novel as his medium, Lebanon-born Toufic El Rassi chronicles his experience growing up Arab in America. Keen observations, clever insights and painful honesty make El Rassi's work shine as a critical 21st century memoir.
From childhood through adolescence, and as an adult, El Rassi illustrates the prejudice...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0867196734
• ISBN13: 9780867196733
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Last Gasp
• Length: 117 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.0" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Stunningly Well-Done

I've read the handful of books about contemporary experiences of American Arabs, Muslims, and Persians, but this one is especially poignant (and easily educational) because of its graphic novel format. Granted, I'm an Arabophile, love comics and graphic novels, and live in Chicago, where most of the book is set. But this is still an objective review because a book like this could have been done more easily, less thoroughly, and could have missed the mark. Clearly extensive thought went into the storytelling process, a factor not necessarily common in graphic novels. Told in a non-linear format, Toufic El Rassi carefully unpeels the experiences of an Arab-American in a way most people could not suspect or perhaps even endure. His self-effacing honesty is refreshing (i.e., instances in which in pretends to be Mexican-American to avoid conflict), and his reluctance to become politically active against injustices ring true. Being neither Muslim nor Iraqi nor Pakistani, he experiences a wide variety of slight and great prejudices because of his dark skin and hirsuteness. While the street remarks of "towelhead" and others I shan't mention here are hurled at him, it is useless for him to point out his Egyptian and Lebanese heritage or the fact that he came to Chicago as a baby. A full array of experiences unfold--from his trial of first-to-be-hairy in middle school, his uncle who barks at him because he can't speak Arabic, and his penchant for being the daredevil in college with his immature friends just to fit in. Subtly blended in is a quick, interesting lesson on exactly where Arabs come from (with a map: look closely, people), the nonexclusivity of Muslim/Arab, and the unjust influence via current government leaders and popular culture. In fact, a key point needs to be heard again and again: in our American society--supposedly filled with growing tolerance--it is still acceptable to some people to be openly prejudiced against Arab-appearing people. (My own experience: at a bar when a woman came up to my U.K.-born, Indian friend Satvinder and said, "We're at war with you people.") He even brings out the subtle yet important note of how so-called "liberals" can still foster misunderstanding and their own slight prejudice under a cloak of do-goodery. Sparks of humor abound; I especially liked when he revealed that one of his sisters is named after Nancy Reagan and another after Princess Diana. Whether this is used as an educational tool in schools or as just a fun book to read, it fulfills all the requirements of a great book.

A Story that's a Scathing Cultural Critique and an Understated Story

As an editor of a collection of creative nonfiction writing about the Middle East (Encounters with the Middle East, Solas House), I've read a lot of personal narratives set in or about the Middle East and its relation to the U.S. and Europe. Arab in America is among the best I've read. It could do for the cause of better awareness of Arab Americans in the U.S. what Persepolis has done in better explaining the Iranian revolution and its effects to the West. Toufic El Rassi lays out for us the pernicious and normative cultural prejudices facing Arabs, Muslims, and others in the U.S., in ways that make visible to readers common social practices and beliefs that may have seemed fairly harmless. And he tells a very good story while he's at it. I hope this book sells--would make a great text for high school and college courses about identity issues, politics, US foreign and domestic policy and cultural affairs, writing, art, Middle East studies. Looking forward to the sequel in Lebanon, another poorly misunderstood place.

What the "War on Terror" Has Made of Us

I'm glad that Arab in America is the first graphic novel I've read because it demonstrates what illustration can add to an absorbing text. The author's drawings make the reader experience what the immigrant experiences: that the product we Americans advertise--open arms and a welcoming smile--is not always what we deliver. As the writer tells us, Americans are so ill-informed about the geography, history, and religions of our neighbors across the sea that we don't even know whom we hate! This is a valuable book published just at the time when we need to read it. Besides which, it's a fascinating read.

"On the defensive" www.guardian.co.uk

The Guardian On the defensive Craig Taylor rounds up recent releases Saturday March 22, 2008 Arab in America: A True Story of Growing Up in America by Toufic El Rassi Those looking for lush artwork and nuance will do well to skip El Rassi's autobiographical tour of his troubled American existence, but Arab in America is more complex and rewarding upon closer examination. The scrawled black and white drawings track a journey from El Rassi's birth in Beirut to his struggles with and in America. He understands he's different after a childhood production of The Wizard of Oz places his face among his classmates - a "dark splotch" beside the white. From there he examines his family and his role in this eternal war against terror that seems to have shuffled him into the opposing camp. Why do they have to be referred to as "our troops", anyway, he asks. Not only does El Rassi feel the sting of racial slurs, but he often receives the wrong ones altogether: "Americans don't even know who they're supposed to hate." He explores the different degrees of Muslim activism through the reactions of the friends around him. Throughout El Rassi remains an inert figure, held in by the contraints of his personality and his culture. The struggle to find an identity is kickstarted finally by Rage Against the Machine and a reading list of revolutionaries. Even then El Rassi questions the best intentions of the liberals around him. He decides to become a US citizen to save himself from a possible one-way ticket out. The work is most powerful when El Rassi is recounting his own failures, his missed opportunities and outrages, petty or otherwise. The post-9/11 context he's gathered to illustrate his thesis seems to be snipped from newspapers. At its best, his personal history is enough to illustrate a life lived constantly on the defensive.

Great read about the Arab experience

I absolutely loved this book! My question is- where's the second part? The author does a great job of interweaving his personal life with historical events which serves to make the narrative an engaging and valuable read. The writing style and images work together seamlessley to deliver a story that wil stay with you long after you finish it. I recommend this book for educators, students, or just anyone who loves a good story (and doesn't mind learning a little bit on the way). Most importantly, the book is about Arab experience in the U.S. In this post-9-11 world, we need more of this kind of literature.