Loading ...Salom Rizk’s Syrian Yankee: A Misfit in Arab American Literature?
By: Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer
Salom Rizk’s Syrian Yankee (1943) has largely been avoided in Arab American literary discussions, not only due to its assimilationist rhetoric but also because of its promotion of problematic views, such as anti-Arab racism and Islamophobic tropes. However, understanding Rizk’s personal history and the historical context in which he wrote reveals the complexities of his narrative.
Rizk’s Early Life and Journey to America
Born in 1908 in Ottoman Syria (now Lebanon), Rizk was orphaned at birth and raised by his grandmother until her death when he was twelve. After discovering that his late mother held American citizenship, he embarked on a long journey to the U.S., hoping to claim his own citizenship and build a new life. These early experiences of displacement and survival deeply influenced his narrative, pushing him to embrace the U.S. as his homeland even before arriving.
Assimilation and Identity Conflict
Rizk’s immigration to the U.S. in 1927 was marked by hardship. Despite being a U.S. citizen, he faced hostility and was labeled a “foreigner.” This alienation spurred his desire to assimilate, improve his English, and strive to be seen as an “Americanized American.” His autobiography reflects this struggle as he navigates his identity between his Syrian roots and his ambition to fully integrate into mainstream American society.
Rizk’s success as a public speaker, sponsored by Reader’s Digest, is a testament to his adaptability, yet it also illustrates his internal conflict. His outlook was heavily shaped by significant global events, such as World War I, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, French colonial rule in Syria, and the rise of fascism in Europe. These experiences led Rizk to believe in American exceptionalism, framing the U.S. as a land of freedom and opportunity. He frequently employed binaries like Old World versus New World and Orient versus Occident to position himself as a model immigrant.
Evolution of Arab American Identity Post-1967
When we consider the evolution of Arab American identity, it becomes clearer why scholars have distanced themselves from Rizk’s narrative. In the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, progressive Arab Americans set aside religious and national differences to unite under a pan-Arab American identity. This shift was solidified by the formation of the Association of Arab American University Graduates (AAUG). The emerging collective identity focused on solidarity and activism, pushing back against anti-Arab racism and promoting political engagement. Over time, the Arab American label became synonymous with resistance, a sharp contrast to Rizk’s assimilationist, apolitical stance.
Reevaluating Syrian Yankee Through a Historical Lens
Rizk’s autobiography presents a starkly different vision of Arab American identity—one that clashes with the values the label came to represent in the post-1967 era. His embrace of American exceptionalism, coupled with his alignment with anti-Arab and orientalist views, makes Syrian Yankee a troubling text for contemporary readers. However, to dismiss it outright would be to overlook the historical circumstances that shaped Rizk’s self-portrayal.
Although Rizk’s narrative does not align with modern interpretations of Arab American identity, it still offers valuable insights into the pressures and struggles faced by early Arab immigrants. While problematic, Rizk’s portrayal of assimilation reflects the harsh realities of navigating mid-20th-century American society as an immigrant. Avoiding presentist readings allows us to engage critically with Syrian Yankee as a product of its time, recognizing the historical forces that shaped Rizk’s outlook. His autobiography provides a rare, first-hand account of the Arab immigrant experience, illustrating the complex process of identity formation in a world where assimilation was often seen as the key to survival and success.
In this sense, Syrian Yankee occupies a complicated yet important space in Arab American literature. While it does not reflect the resistance-oriented Arab American identity that emerged in the 1960s and beyond, it serves as a window into the experiences of earlier immigrants, whose stories were shaped by different historical pressures. By considering Rizk’s narrative alongside the evolution of Arab American identity, we gain a fuller picture of the diversity within Arab American literature, one that includes both voices of assimilation and resistance.
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