Implication of Displacement, Loss of Identity, and Sense of Belonging

Iran is the last area of the once mighty Persian Empire; as such its people were the keepers of the Persian culture. However, in the 1970s Iran underwent a revolution in which the non-secular ruler was overthrown by an Islamic dictatorship. Members of the Christian, Jewish, Baha’i, Zoroastrian, and other faiths became marginalized, with many being persecuted. Many of these non-Muslim citizens became refuges in foreign lands. Like other immigrant groups, displaced Persians tried to retain their culture, traditions, originality, and attachment to their roots outside of their land. In the United States there are clusters of Persian people who share a religious faith, but are attached to their Persian identity first. This attachment has led many Persians to settle in areas of the American Southwest which has many attributes like those found in Iran. For example, Albuquerque, New Mexico’s eastern mountain range has many similarities to the Alborz mountain range north of Tehran. Westwood in Santa Monica, California has many similarities with landscape commonly seen around the Caspian Sea. This area has attracted an assortment of Persian businesses that include: art galleries, bookstores, jewelry stores, pastry shops, and restaurants. Two to three generations removed from the revolution, the diaspora has seen significant shifts in beliefs and attachments. The older folks hold on to the language, customs, and artefacts. These help to anchor his or her place in the world. The younger generations tend to view these artefacts with disdain. They serve as symbols of an oppressive Islamic regime. While the artefacts continue to hold meaning, these meanings are in flux.