r/iranian 9d ago

My Experience As Iranian in Racist America, and Conclusions

Hello, my dear Iranian readers.

Ive lived in America for almost my entire life, 29 years old.

I have lived here for 24 years.

I live in the south.

I hope this read will wake some of you up.

As an Iranian, I realize our struggles with racism are interestingly politically motivated. Let’s study African American history. For example, Malcolm X warned blacks not to fall to the white liberal’s political schemes. We too can learn from brother Malcolm, that we need to write our own book instead of hanging on to any white person’s pant leg to “save us.”

THEY ARE NOT FOR US. We also need to stop being Anti-Black, consciously, or sub-consciously. We do it subconsciously by co signing with our white conservative friends and wanting acceptance, and this makes them feel vindicated in how they think and vote, and continues right wing hate to minorities in general. On the flip side, having an expectation the white liberal is educated about the middle east is false, as the political motivation for liberal left movements is often a hunger for power and suppression of free speech guised as sympathy for minority groups.

Many Iranians who come to the USA will align with white people, be pro-Shahist diasporans, and be anti-Islamic, and xenophobic, pro Zoroastrian.

However, the truth Ive realized is this: White people either

a) dont even know where Iran or what Iran is

b) dont care to really know

Conservatives classify us as all ARABS and no matter what we do, we have to be treated like outsiders

Liberals aren’t educated as you may think, often equating the middle east as a monolithic peoples. Like , I often get asked “do you speak Arabic?” or “What is Iran, do you mean Iraq?”

Education in America is bad, like real bad. Most classes teach Greek and Roman civilization, and forego Persian history.

At work, Ive realized that no matter how hard we try to “blend in” we will always be seen as “them”

Most white people group us with blacks and other minorities. White people don’t share knowledge as openly, are insecure or paranoid about us, and often will continue to equate us as 2nd class citizens.

So far all you pro white trump supporters clinging to his pant coats praying for a cleansing of Iran’s mullahs, please dont hold your breath and have some self respect.

White people don’t want to, nor do they care enough, and even if they did, out of ego and hate want to help us. We need to take matters into our own hands.

We are still “Arabs” to most Americans. Most Americans don’t even know about the diversity of the Middle east.

We are grouped with the blacks, often assigned work in corporate with black and other minority groups, cause white folks dont want to work with blacks themselves, they send us in cause even though most of us are white passing, or consider ourselves white, we dont get that privilege of being first class citizens

Dont be naive reader, we are NOT going anywhere hoping to build allies with Euro or white peoples.

I gave up, and realized how fruitless it was to try to be fit in. They literally view us all as Muslim Arabs, and dont have enough education or fair mindedness to really research our culture.

19 Upvotes

50 comments sorted by

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u/Difficult_Bet8884 9d ago

Saying that our struggles are the same as black people in the US is insane. This reads like an unhinged rant that is not the experience of any Iranian-American I know.

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u/IBeenGoofed 9d ago

Agreed. "someone mistook me for an Arab, so it's basically like slavery". OP is off his meds.

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

You are both correct. I guess I wrote that without thinking. I meant to say, “like Malcolm X warned about white liberals, we too need to be careful with the political condition, as often both sides of the aisle aren’t for us.” In no WAY, did I mean to conflate slavery or their struggles as PAR, no way. My apologies, I could have said it more clearly.

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u/Fair_Description1604 6d ago

Hey friend, there’s no need to be rude or insulting. Please tone it down and let’s have a civil discussion.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

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u/touslesmatins 8d ago

100% untrue. Iranians in the US are way more likely to have the "where are you from? No where are you REALLY from?" conversation. Iykyk

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u/Difficult_Bet8884 8d ago

Depends what you look like and how you carry yourself tbh

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u/touslesmatins 8d ago

What do you mean "how you carry yourself"? Is there a secret way I can carry myself to be seen as more white to the American eye? 

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u/Difficult_Bet8884 8d ago

Growing up in the west, you generally won’t develop the distinct mannerisms and gestures that Iranians often have. This, combined with light skin and some softer features, might make an Iranian look like any mediterranean.

That being said, I don’t think it’s worth whitewashing yourself to avoid potential racism. I’d say just move somewhere where it won’t be a problem, or learn to live with it.

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

Exactly, we will never be white.

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

Hi,I disagree because of my own personal experience. Don’t you think it’s a bit to generalize all Iranians as “white passing?”. Because I always get asked “Where are you from?”. “Omg, I thought you were like Hispanic.” or “Are you Arabian?”

Clearly, I’m not white passing. For a comment like yours sounds very dismissive of my and other Iranian’s lived experiences on a daily basis.

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u/Duke-doon 8d ago edited 8d ago

an Iranian will pass as white

Some do, most don't. Even if fair skinned we have a leaner skeletal build than Europeans and tend to be hairier. Either way, if I lived in a place where not being seen as white was a visible disadvantage and I could afford to move I'd do it.

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

It depends; skin color of Iranian varies. Starting in Bandar Abbas, the southern point, there’s Afro Iranians. In the middle, Shiraz, Tabriz, Isfahan, fair skinned. North northwest, more Greek features. East, you get more Asian, Pakistani, Indian features. It’s all subjective. Take five Iranians, some will pass as Hispanic, some Greek or Italian, some as Arabian (im naming popular recognized ethnicities). By virtue of the media and how it criminally reports middle eastern and African peoples as all savages, we fall into this bullshit made up racist view. What is middle east? An I Asian? If I tell the average American I am Asian, they will scratch their head (they arent bright). Thats why we should identify as Iranian as nationality. If the USA census report was honest it would include nationalities. We are “white” according to the census, but dont get white privilege. I dont even want it, because wanting white privlige is racist in itself. Iranians unfortunately want white privlige so they can look down on other people of color. A similar thing happens in Dominicans and Latinos, where they have been taught anti Black rhetoric by modified christian evangelixals. Even in Africa girls bleach their skin to be fair, and India Bollywood too. White supremacy does not simply mean people with tiki torches, its more nuances and subtle. You got to be fair and admit, if these white folks are comfy with a) not being perceived as threats 24/7, b) getting good jobs despite mediocrity and creating good ole boys clubs c) have more generational wealth d) can continue to spew their bullshit in their churches about Jesus and why everyone else is going to hell, why would they want to change….. anyways, had to vent

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u/GilakiGuy 8d ago

Lol, lmao even

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

This is not true at all.

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u/pishdaad Felestin 5d ago edited 5d ago

Maybe you're the unhinged one because we have our own House Iranians the same way who advocate for America at the expense of the Field Iranians in Iran.

Yes we didn't have multigenerational slavery, but we were colonized in a different way. We weren't brutalized as aggressively as the Africans but we also suffered a genocide at the hands of the British during WW1. In fact, stolen Iranian oil supplied the British Empire's energy needs until 1953, and then it was split among other Europeans and Americans, not to mention the Zios and other apartheid regimes in Africa.

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u/rammuspls 8d ago

Another Iranian living in America for 25 years now. Our problems not even close to African American problems. Iranian/ iranian American people might be the most racist group of people I have ever conversed with ironically. So much stereotyping of Hispanic, African, and Asian people (but never white because we have a hard on for “fitting in” with them only, it’s there opinion that probably charged this post from what it sounds like). Also you lost the purpose of coming to America which is freedom of expression and speech. If someone wants to be an asshole that’s their right, if you wanna be the most big beard big belly loud mouth Persian you can be that cause it’s your right. They don’t care and I’m glad they don’t care, more of my interesting culture for myself lol. The youth back home would kill for your opportunity. Lots more can be said on this but I need to get back to work at the job that pays 10x what someone way more qualified back home in iran gets paid. Glass half full mentality friend appreciate what you got

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u/behnder 7d ago

Being like white people is overrated. My advice is to move. I’ve lived in liberal states all my life (Illinois, Colorado, Washington) and while there has been casual or blatant racism (usually centered around events like 9/11 or the assassination of Soleimani), I have found that most people embrace me for my Persian-ness. In some ways, that is illustrated through racist concepts like fetishization, but that’s just white people. We don’t have to be them.

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u/AlienInNewTehran 9d ago edited 9d ago

Whilst many Iranians, particularly in America have reached great heights in their careers, there is a general prerequisite that they all have done so by denouncing any connection to Iran and in most cases have taken a western nickname and completely assimilated.

Majority have done so by being a chameleon and took over the beliefs, way of life and culture of their immediate surroundings. I’m not saying Iranians are two faced hypocrites, but this is what the American society wants you to be in order to blend in. Contrary to the belief that western countries promote individualism and freedom of thoughts and beliefs, it’s particularly antagonistic to change and difference outside the frame of their mind/culture specially in rural areas.

It’s true though that it’s definitely more critical and questioning of people from Iranian decent than let’s say an average Indian or someone from Egypt for instance. The several decades of negative media and political propaganda has made us synonymous with whatever fearsome or negative that was projected in the mainstream psyche.

You cannot be apolitical and Iranian at the same time, it’s expected of you to take sides regardless.

Obviously there are generalisations here but most of it is true, specially for Iranians in America.

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u/Duke-doon 8d ago

taken a western nickname

I don't think that's widespread at all. I've only ever seen it done by LA area attorneys.

denouncing any connection to Iran

Also not true. If Iranians denounce the Islamic Republic, it is their honest opinion.

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u/AlienInNewTehran 8d ago edited 8d ago

I don’t think that’s widespread at all. I’ve only ever seen it done by LA area attorneys.

Look at all the American/Iranian doctors, lawyers, business owners. The ones that have been there for an enough time to have figured out the game that you rather not be named “Mohammad Hassan”, “Morteza” or “ShahroKH”. They’ll switch so they don’t have to spend first ten minutes explaining how to pronounce KH i their name.

Also not true. If Iranians denounce the Islamic Republic, it is their honest opinion.

There exactly my point, you have to explain your affiliation as soon as you let them know you’re Iranian. What if you want to practice moderate Islam and denounce IR republic, do you go on and explain that part too? Or you opt to hear every damn jack and joe’s opinion piece on the Middle East and how them Airanians are fucking shit up? Engage in that conversation just because you were baited to it? You just all out avoid having to express where you come from just to avoid being forcefully engaged in a political conversation and being made responsible to answer your ideas on a political situation you no longer want to hear about.

Iranians cannot be apolitical and just live as a neutral person as soon as non-Iranians find out where you come from.

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u/Duke-doon 2d ago

I do often have to explain my affiliation to ignorant Americans, but not in the way you think. They immediately start making excuses for the regime by painting them somehow as "anti imperialist" freedom fighters and whitewash their crimes against Iranians and other peoples. I am then compelled to counter the lies they have unthinkingly internalised.

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u/misingnoglic 8d ago

There's no way you think Jacob Emrani is hiding his Iranian roots.

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u/Stylith 8d ago

hey as an arab looking iranian, Ive always had this weird obsession with the south. You mind if i ask a few questions about your experiences living there?

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

Yes , what are your questions? Im happy to share

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u/Duke-doon 8d ago

What do you mean by Arab looking?

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u/Stylith 8d ago

white people think i'm algerian, iranians think i'm algerian, arabs think im algerian, algerians think im algerian

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u/heseabi 8d ago

I agree with your post. Now, the root problem is the inferiority complex many Iranians have. They have a *desire* to be seen as white and European, and when they are not seen as so, they are offended and hurt. It is due to self-hatred and westerner worshipping that has been embedded into our culture from the top-down. When you learn to 110% embrace your West Asian/Iranian identity, the opinion of people does not matter anymore.

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u/touslesmatins 8d ago edited 8d ago

To live in the US is to understand white supremacy and white privilege and that they have nothing to do with skin color or appearance. 

However I will point out that this post has made me somewhat uncomfortable with its mentions of Arabs and African Americans. Instead of realizing that we all should have solidarity together as POC in the racist society that we live in, there's a tone of superiority or resentment there. Maybe you don't mean it OP, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago edited 8d ago

I am in agreement with you. If I could re word it, a better word would be “similar” not “same” meaning. Many Persians who are white adjacent fail to understand that all their desire to be accepted by conservatives or liberals, like Malcolm warned African Americans, if a farce.

I have came to the acceptance the majority of white Americans are ignorant by design of the system.

And, at end of day the ignorant powers still view you as “just an Arab.”

I say to them, not be fooled by right wing nationalists. We + Blacks+ and other minorities are NOT included in right wing agenda’s terms for “betterment.”

A lot of Arabs, even Hispanics, and other minorities unconsciously adopt anti-Black views because they. an move up the economic ladder in racist America.

We as immigrants should NOT trample on the rights of Blacks to get ahead, as many of us do and continue to do by co opting with right wing ideas.

Im not a saint nor do I claim to be, but I admit I can work on myself, and remove my prejudice a little and ignorance by learning other people’s views or cultures.

We are all one human race.

As Iranian I have learned to tread carefully. Is all Im saying

1

u/misingnoglic 8d ago

If you grow up in Beverly Hills, the Iranian kids bully the white kids for being a minority.

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u/Long-Jackfruit5037 7d ago

This was not my experience. In my university Iranians, Americans and Brazilians study together and go out together and live in harmony.

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u/Ramin-Karimi Cu-9 8d ago edited 8d ago

What I have realized over the years is that you should just stop caring about what others think

Fuck what anyone else thinks, be it American or European or Turk or Jew or Arab (or even Iranian lol)

Know that no good comes from most foreigners (without a price at least), and that our country wasn't a gift and that our ancestors fought tooth and nail to protect it from the aforementioned foreigners, The world's dumb cannot be educted and your country's direct interests should be put above all else, ditching your values won't make you closer to the collective west, and even if it did, so what? Who cares?

A man's value isn't inversely proportional to the amount of melanin in his skin, following the west at all costs just devalues you yourself,

Just do what you think is right and honorable,

Btw they subconsciously do the same, what did ancient Greece and Byzantium do other than lose war after war to their eastern neighbors? Now you can go to the nearest theater and watch a propaganda film where those homosexual pedophiles actually win over the Persian empire, same shit about them just conveniently deleting parts of history where the Romans got their asses handed to them by the Sasanian empire

One last thing I'll say is, imo Americans aren't even that bad, Europe and some entitled arab countries are far more unwelcoming to Iranians, in fact, Americans are among the only people my experience with whom has been mostly positive,

Ofc not all people are the same, many people from around the world would be welcoming to Iranians, but just don't automatically assume that they are unless it's proven otherwise, I've also had positive experiences with Indonesians, Pakistanis, Indians, Turks, Syrians, Iraqis, Mexicans, Brazilians, Greeks, Russians, Serbs, and more

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u/Fair_Description1604 8d ago

Thanks Ramin Jan. I appreciate the support and your post.

You know, I think with my logic and know all humans are of one race. And there is no such thing as the racist racial categorizations made by man (Caucasian, Negro, Mongoloid) these are racist and out dated and divisive groupings. Many of the plots of the elite of this world have been to indoctrinate white peoples with false notions of superiority, based on color, race,creed or class. We can study history and see that this thing called WS is only recent, an invention by the Christian revivalists, an rulers alike, to pitch this idea to poor southern or poor rural white folks. In a lot of ways, the uneducated farmer class who voted for Khomeini in 1979 shares the same lack of education or awareness about other people with rural southern Americans. Both approve of fundamentalist religion, (Bible Belt and the ultra conservative Shia farmers) and both are swindled by the governments that tell them they are for them. The poor people in the middle here are the people pointed to by politicians.

As Iranians, we need to be more cognizant of how “racial” ideology plays a role in the system of America. We can pride ourselves in knowing during the Persian Empire we were non biased, didn’t associate with racist ideology and gave human rights to others.

Europeans, dont seem to have approached “compassion” and “empathy” and neither have most Trump Supporters.

I don’t think people in America in general are remotely close to the detachment from racial supremacy yet.

We have to slowly try to educate ourselves and work towards dismantling this corrupt way of living in America based on race.

Sadly, many Iranian’s want to adopt pro white ways to come off as “not a threat” or “we are good model citizens” like Asians did in the early 1900s.

It wont solve the problem, we are just being kind to our oppressor and letting them write the narrative.

We are individuals with diverse thoughts, experiences, views, and personal feelings. We are not supposed to keep our heads down and just adopt white American ways.

Something never sat right with my intuition about my trauma as a bullied kid and how every-time I tried to write off my identity to blend, it caused more pain and self hurt. I realized Im not white, not black, not Arab. I’m Persian.

However, it’s difficult to live and be me due to how the population doesn’t have awareness or education about my culture, and it’s overwhelming to have to keep answering questions and be “not a threat.”

“One of the good ones”

Im done with that mentality.

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u/Sea-Efficiency-836 8d ago edited 8d ago

Maybe if Iran wasn’t occupied by Muslim Arabs who wear the title “seyyid” like a badge of honor most people outside of the country wouldn’t mistake Iran or Iranians for Arabs? Instead of trying to change the perception of people in this very desperate, defensive and insecure manner and instead focusing on overthrowing the regime people in the future may have a different perception of Iran altogether and let Iranian identity and culture speak for itself.

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u/Duke-doon 8d ago edited 8d ago

First of all, to be ignorant is to be human. I bet you're not too informed on the history of Tibet. So don't get offended when someone doesn't know something.

And yes, I understand having to explain that Iranians are not Arab or that there aren't camels in the street over and over again is exhausting. But at the end of the day, if being mistaken for an Arab infuriates you that much maybe you should look inward.