I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir

Gharib’s memoir identifies her as a “first-generation American:” This means she is the first generation in her family to be an American citizen. This is different than a “first-generation immigrant,” who is someone born outside of the United States who then immigrated there. Gharib is a first-generation American and a second-generation immigrant—someone born in the United States whose parents emigrated from abroad.

The book shows how the first-generation American experience is individual and varies in nuanced ways depending on the people and cultures involved. For instance, Gharib’s parents are Egyptian and Filipino. While her social cues and expectations are influenced by both cultures, she is more influenced by Filipino culture due to the amount of time she spends around her Filipino family. How one is affected by their racial and ethnic identities is extremely individualized and is further affected by other intersections of identity such as gender, class, and sexuality.

Gharib’s memoir delves into topics related to the first-generation American experience, such as feelings of isolation, stress related to acculturation, and an increased pressure to achieve. First-generation Americans can feel as if they are not fully part of American culture or their parents’ cultures. Sometimes, they experience “cultural detachment” while attempting to assimilate, which can estrange them from cultural customs or languages (Ram, Smrithi.