Americanized: Rebel without a Green Card

Americanized is written with an unusual structure: Peppered throughout the memoir, the author includes various Frequently Asked Questions entries pertaining to Persian history and culture. What is the overall effect of this structure? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question:

• What kinds of questions did Saedi choose to include in the FAQs?
• How did Saedi maintain flow in the memoir, even with this these FAQ asides?
• Who is the audience that Saedi addresses in the FAQs? Is there only one audience or are there multiple audiences?

Teaching Suggestion: The FAQs serve a multitude of functions in Americanized. For example, they aim to counter negative and harmful stereotypes; Saedi presents clear, straightforward answers on Iranian and/or Persian culture and history that demystify the culture for non-Iranian/Persian readers. Simultaneously, the FAQs also speak to immigrant audiences, providing useful information for anyone looking to immigrate to the United States. The FAQs also provide context for the chapters that follow, introducing relevant topics covered in those sections—for example, the FAQ #4 “What is the deal with Iranian weddings?” comes directly before a discussion about Saedi’s parents love and marriage in Chapter 10. Lastly, Saedi’s decision to have an FAQ in an intimate memoir enhances the overall comedic tone of the book.