I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir

As Gharib becomes a teenager and young adult, her increasing interest in punk culture becomes a symbol for her uniqueness and cultural hybridity. Even though Cerritos High mostly has students of color, Gharib says that “even amongst minorities, I was a minority” (79). Being “ethnically ambiguous and whitewashed, to boot” (80) makes it difficult for Gharib to hang out with the Filipino kids. Instead, she hangs out with “anyone who would have me,” which turns out to be “a motley crew of pink kids” (81). They do not share cultural backgrounds, but they do share an interest in punk culture.

Punk culture is characterized by a DIY aesthetic and defiance of social norms. Within a punk context, not fitting in with the mainstream culture or establishment is a preferred attribute. By nature, punk is an undefinable genre. Gharib has trouble defining her cultural identity throughout her teens and young adulthood; Therefore, punk aesthetics become an outlet for her own difficult-to-define cultural hybridity. Gharib finds a home in high school with the punk clique and eventually gets the yearbook superlative “Most Unique.” Her experience teaches her to have pride in herself.