Terminology
Persian vs. Iranian?
Prior to attending the
festival, I knew nothing about Persian culture except the notion that Persia
somehow had something do with Iran. I decided not to do any research
before the festival so that I could be a completely blank slate, and I instead
asked questions of the vendors and festival organizers throughout the
day. However, in reading about the festival online as I made my
preparations for the event, I noticed that the words “Persian” and “Iranian”
often appeared to be used interchangeably. The name of festival itself
contained the word “Persian,” but throughout the official festival website and
Facebook pages, the word “Iranian” was also used, and without any apparent
difference in meaning.
When I arrived at the festival and had a chance to read through
the official event guidebook, I saw the words “Persian” and “Iranian” used so
many times that I felt compelled to find out exactly the difference was between
the two. I asked a number of people and received a few different answers. Some
individuals told me that Persian and Iranian are both terms used to identify
someone from Iran and that there is no difference between the two
groups. Others told me that “Persian” and “Iranian” are
basically the same, but that in the United States, many people choose to use
“Persian.” I also learned that Persians are actually one of the biggest ethnic
groups living in Iran and that Persian, perhaps better known as Farsi, is the
official language spoken in Iran.
The most interesting
response I got to this question was that Iranians living in the United States
prefer to call themselves Persians because it is perceived as less threatening
by Americans than Iranian because many Americans do not even know exactly what
Persia is (S. Ahmadi, personal communication, April 1,
2018). Perhaps this is why the publically advertised festival, was
called the Atlanta Persian Festival rather than the
Atlanta Iranian Festival. I also thought this must
be the reason the Persian Cultural Center of Atlanta, Kanoon, does not
publically call itself the Iranian Cultural Center of
Atlanta. When I got home, I did some research to learn more.
In 2011, Daha interviewed a
group of 55 Iranian American adolescents about how they choose to self-identify
when asked about their ethnicity. Of this group, 82% of respondents
reported that they identify as Persian, while only 2% identify as Iranian
(Daha, 2011). When asked why they chose to identify as Persian, the
participants said that they did so because to them, the word “Persian” was
associated with the rich history of ancient Persia, while they associate word
“Iranian” as a connection to the Islamic regime currently in power in Iran
(Daha, 2011). Further, 68% of adolescents surveyed reported that the
negative light in which Iran is often portrayed on the news or in the media
played an important role in the way they chose to self-identify (Daha,
2011). Because of this negative view of Iran, 84% of participants
said they had encountered stereotypes and racism, and would only identify as
Iranian when meeting another Iranian, but when talking to Americans, would
identify as Persian (Daha, 2011). A final factor in the way that this group
chose to self-identify was ignorance on the part of many Americans they had
encountered. According to Daha (2011), some participants
reported frustration with classmates and teachers at school who did not know
where Iran was located, how to pronounce the country’s name, or how to respond
when corrected.
During my research, I came
across a video on YouTube from Iranian American standup comedian Maz Jobrani
that offers a more humorous twist on the topic:
“It’s not the best time to
be from the Middle East. Iranians, though, we’ve learned how to deal with it,
trick Americans. We say we’re Persian, have you heard that? It
sounds a lot nicer and friendlier and exotic and confusing, you know? […] We
say I’m not Iranian, no, no, no! I am Persian, like the cat. Meow!
I am the cat, meow! I am not Axis of Evil, no, no, no! I am
Persian, like the rug. Hello! I am soft; you can lie down on me. I am colorful
and hand-woven. I am Persian!”
Click here to view the full video.
It turns out that just as I
learned at the festival, “Persian” and “Iranian” essentially have the same
meaning, but that Iranians living in the United States feel more comfortable
for a variety of reasons to introduce themselves as
“Persian.” Although the reasons behind why an Iranian might choose
to self-identify a certain why are complex, the issue of Iranian vs. Persian is
fairly straightforward. Thus, I will be using the terms
interchangeably throughout the remainder of this project.