Colored Water: Dixie Through Egyptian Eyes, by Ashraf El-Bayoumi

“Colored Water: Dixie Through Egyptian Eyes” is a series of insightful, humorous and profound experiences of the author, then a bright-eyed, curious and intelligent Egyptian graduate student in chemistry, during the 1950s just prior to his departure from Alexandria, Egypt and after his arrival to Tallahassee, Florida for post-graduate studies.

The memoir offers uncommon and thought provoking cross-cultural observations on segregation, the "American Dream", race, identity, science, sexuality, love, academia, religion, tradition, personal freedom, social status and class during the 1950s.

While written from the perspective of an Egyptian living in America for the first time, anyone who has found themselves immersed in an entirely new and different culture can identify with the contrast in pre-conceived notions, actual experiences and impressions one has away from the 'motherland' and into the "unfamiliar".

JACK SHAHEEN REVIEW

In the memoir, Colored Water: Dixie Through Egyptian Eyes, Ashraf El-Bayoumi weaves a thought provoking, personal serial of his experiences in immigrating to America in the 1950s. Those interested in a perspective of segregation in the South through a unique Egyptian 'outsider' lens should read this compelling and witty memoir. -- Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, Author, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People.