An American Immigrant (1979)

Abstract

Excuse me, dear reader, if I have to give you this piece of advice: before you immigrate to the Unites States you should learn how to dance. This advice does not mean that I am calling for debauchery or the loosening of your morals, or for you to be frivolous and waste your time in something other than making money. No. What I mean to say is that dancing in America is a language that you need to learn in the same manner you need to learn English. You learn dancing in order to become a modern man capable of living permanently in a new society. Besides, during your stay in the United States you may have to go out dancing in a disco with some of your American friends or you may get invited to a party where everyone will be dancing except you because you don’t know how. In this case you will end up alone in a corner while your girlfriend or your wife is dancing with people you don’t know. Dancing may also be the way you’ll get a fabulous job. Imagine for a moment this scenario: you are somewhere dancing with a young woman or a distinguished lady; you impress your dancing partner and she in turn introduces you to a VIP who in turn will give you a fabulous job. Or you may go to a disco and meet a wealthy lady who’ll like you and marry you and you will become a millionaire, as it has happened to some men. At any rate this is just my advice to you; take it or leave it.

Ahmad Mstafa is an Egyptian-American businessman who moved to the United States in 1967 and lived as an illegal alien in New York City for some years. In his An American Immigrant (1979), he recounts with fascinating details his life experiences from rags to riches. The cover of the book shows a man climbing the stripes of the American flag, which are made to look like steps, suggesting that in order to live and succeed in America one ought to work hard in order to climb the American ladder.