Book Review Of Syrian Yankee By Samo Rizk

Reading and analyzing primary sources are one of the methods that provide a window into the past in order to determine the significant, reliability, and make a viable interpretation in the historical events. The book “Syrian Yankee” is considered one of the primary sources that provide a perspective to the story of an Arab immigrant from Syria at the beginning of 20th century. In this essay, a chapter from this book, “My Home My Native Land,” will be analyzed and critically put in its historical contexts.

The author of this book is Salom Rizk. He was an Arab American, who immigrated to the United States of America. In the read chapter, there is no indication for his parents nor for siblings. From the other chapters of the book, it is been

When he is on the train traveling to Sioux City, he sees “how health and big the [cows] looked”. Soon, he compares them to the terrible cows of Syria; however, as soon as he knows all these sleek and fat cows belong to one farmer, he imagines himself out of the poor and destitute life that he used to live, he states. “Now, now at last I shall be free from poverty forever, free from poverty in America.” (Rizk 121). For a moment, the struggle of the Syrian life is over for young Rizk. He thinks live will be simple and easy in America, happiness and money will be all around him. Yet, the shock is soon to come when he knows what his uncle works. At the beginning, Rizk thought his uncle owned a slaughterhouse; nevertheless, it turns to be that his uncle is skin cattle. Undeniably, the uncle has a normal life, and a livable wage, but Rizk never thought money in America is difficult to

This source, “My Home My Native Land” chapter, belongs to the period when Rizk Immigrated to the United States at 1927. However, from the read chapter, there is no significant clue about the immigration date. I would have not expected the date 1927 of the author’s immigration because of varies reasons. First, Rizk was unaware of the technology around him in America. Although the Radio was created at the end of 19th century, he did not know anything about it; the same thing applies to his poor knowledge about the telephone (Rizk 125-126). In addition, late 1920’s was the start of the great depression in the United States. Hence, I wouldn’t expect his uncle, who is skin cattle, to own a big house with this job in the great depression period. Also, immigration was not the greatest experience in America during that