Arab Quote by Cherien Dabis
“I discovered myself in the back-and-forth and in the hyphenated Arab-American way, and one of the things that I discovered was that I really didn't fit in anywhere. So in the US, I was considered an Arab - because I grew up in small-town Ohio - and in the Middle East, I was considered the American.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Arab American Experience, 2020
The speaker describes feeling caught between two cultures, never fully belonging to either, highlighting the challenges of hybrid identity.
In simple terms: Feeling out of place in both cultures.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and define your own identity.
Themes
identity
culture
belonging
diaspora
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
personal narrative
cultural commentary
When to use this quote
- immigrant families
- college campuses
- workplace diversity
- community events
Key Concepts
hybrid identity
cultural negotiation
self‑acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better support hybrid identities?
- What personal strategies help navigate cultural liminality?
A Different Perspective
Identity can be fluid and self‑defined, not fixed by external labels.
