Iran Archives - The Race Card Project

Go back to your own country!

July 20, 2020 CA, Go back to your own country, Iran, Irvine, Melisa Azimi, Persian

Melisa Azimi,
Irvine, CA

The first thing that comes into peoples’ minds when I tell them I am Persian, is their hatred for my country. Iran and the US have a lot of tension between them and are often against each other. I think what people fail to realize is that the problem is the Iranian government, not the Iranian people.

Do you wear Burka in Iran?

September 11, 2019September 20, 2020 Arab, Burka, Iran, Iraq, Kshatriyas, stereotype, University

Ziba
USA

When people find out I am from Iran, they ask me questions such as do you wear Burka in Iran? Or did you have an arranged marriage? When I explain to them that 60% of university students are women and we do not wear Burka, they give me a puzzled look. Many times I have to explain to them that Iran is not the same country as Iraq, Iranians are not Arabs and They are not responsible for September 11.

I often call myself Persian to avoid conflict or difficult questions.

Really? Are both your parents Indian?

March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 Ann Arbor, ethnic groups, India, Indian, Indian Zoroastrians, Iran, MI, parents, Really, Shevon Desai, Texas

Shevon Desai
Ann Arbor, MI

My parents emigrated from India to the US over 50 years ago. In terms of ethnicity, I think of myself as South Asian – but in terms of race, we are officially Caucasian (my family are Parsis – Indian Zoroastrians whose ancestors originally came from Iran).

Race and ethnicity for me are often a moving target. I have fair skin and dark hair, so I can “pass” for all sorts of ethnic groups. The comment above happens occasionally, since I don’t fit the expectation of what someone from India should look like. I’m not offended; I appreciate others’ curiosity and their desire to learn more about “where” I’m from.

And incidentally, when I’m asked where I’m from, my first answer is usually “Texas” (I was born and mostly raised in TX.)

My actions aren’t different from yours.

February 19, 2016February 19, 2016 actions, different, Hyattsville, Iran, MD, Navid Mehrabkhani, terrorist

Navid Mehrabkhani,
Hyattsville, MD.

The purpose of choosing these words involves how my race impact and influence the ways others see me. People assume that’s because of my race, because I’m from Iran, people assume I’m a terrorist. I believe my race should not influence the way others interpret my life or my actions.

“I am chocolate Mama is ice-cream”

July 15, 2014July 15, 2014 adopted, Central Africa, chocolate, Color, Compton, daughter, Ethiopia, ice cream, Iran, judge, mama, Naghmeh Moshtael, OR, Portland, Seattle

Naghmeh Moshtael
Portland, OR

These are my daughter’s words. We live in a world of different race, culture and heritage. My husband in African American, born in Seattle and raised in Compton, CA. I am originally from Iran, raised in Cameroon (Central Africa) and now living in the US. My daughter is adopted from Ethiopia. She is my beautiful, smart and insightful child. So this is how she views her family: she is chocolate, so is Daddy but Mama is ice-cream (i.e. vanilla ice-cream)! I wish that the world was just that simple. Maybe then none of us would be judged by the color of our skin – but the different ingredients of delicious food.! Don’t you want to join my child’s world? I do. Everyday. In between time, the challenge remains to continue to raise her as a world citizen, one who prefers the wellbeing of others over hers.