How Iranians Are White and Consider Themselves White

How Iranians Are White and Consider Themselves White

By Bobby Darvish
darvishintelligence.blogspot.com

In recent years, the classification of people from the Middle East, including Iranians, on official forms like the U.S. Census has been a source of confusion and controversy. Historically, people from this region, including Iranians, have been grouped under the "White" category in American official documents. However, the issue of racial identity for Iranians—especially for those like myself, who have lived as ex-Muslims and embraced the Christian faith—requires deeper exploration to understand the nuances of ethnic heritage and cultural identity. Contrary to common misconceptions, Iranians are, and have always been, considered White, both by modern genetic science and by our own cultural understanding.

Iran Means Land of the Aryans

The name "Iran" itself is derived from the word "Aryan," meaning "noble" or "noble people" in ancient Persian. This term not only reflects the ancient roots of the Iranian people, but also reinforces their racial and cultural ties to the broader Indo-European, or Aryan, group. Iranians, by history and by genetics, are undeniably of the same ethnolinguistic stock as many European peoples. The term "Aryan" historically refers to the people who spoke the Indo-Iranian languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, which stretches across much of Europe and parts of Asia.

Iranians on the U.S. Census

The U.S. Census, which has served as the nation's official demographic survey since the 18th century, groups Iranians and other people of Middle Eastern or North African descent under the "White" category. While many might be surprised by this classification, it is a fact that has been in place for decades. In the 1980s, the U.S. Census Bureau decided to group people from the Middle East, including Iranians, under the broader "White" category, despite cultural differences. This decision was made for reasons of statistical consistency and to reflect the genetic and historical origins of these groups, which trace their roots back to the same ancestral population as much of Europe.

For example, Iranians share close genetic ties with peoples in the Caucasus region, parts of Southern Europe, and even certain ethnic groups in Central Asia. The DNA of Iranians confirms this, showing significant connections to the same genetic pools that populate the European continent. Despite physical differences, the genetic evidence clearly shows that the Iranian people are genetically part of the broader "Caucasian" group.

White Does Not Always Mean Blonde or Blue-Eyed

It is important to address the misconception that "White" only refers to people with blonde hair, blue eyes, or pale skin. While these traits are often associated with European populations, the truth is much more complex. "White" is not confined to a specific set of physical features but refers to a broad racial category that includes a wide variety of physical appearances.

Iranians, like many other people in the Middle East and South Asia, have a wide range of physical characteristics, from dark brown eyes and black hair to lighter features such as blonde hair and green eyes. These lighter traits, which have become more common due to centuries of European influence, are not unusual in the Iranian population. However, it is essential to recognize that the presence of these traits in Iranians does not diminish their membership in the White racial group.

The Iranian Diaspora and Identity

For many Iranians living in the United States, especially those who have left Iran due to political and religious persecution, the question of racial identity is often a point of tension. As someone who has embraced Christianity and walked away from Islam, my understanding of my identity as an Iranian-American has evolved. Iran's long and complex history has shaped us into a people who understand our ties to the ancient Aryan civilizations and to the broader White racial community.

Yet, this classification on government forms sometimes leads to confusion, as Middle Eastern people are often perceived as a distinct racial group. In reality, our racial identity is part of a greater continuum that includes not only the peoples of the ancient Near East but also those from the Caucasus, Central Asia, and even parts of Europe. We are not foreign or other; we are part of the same shared history of the Aryan people.

Conclusion

Iranians are undeniably White, not just by genetic and historical evidence, but also by our own self-understanding. The racial classification of "White" as seen on the U.S. Census is accurate, despite the complex physical traits that may not fit the stereotypical "European" mold. It is important to recognize that race is a social construct with deep historical roots, and Iranians, with their rich Aryan heritage, have every right to consider themselves part of the White racial category. We are connected to the broader narrative of European civilization and, through the ancient name "Iran," we embrace our identity as the "Land of the Aryans."

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Citations

1. United States Census Bureau (2019). "Race and Ethnicity." U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration.
2. Ghulmiyyah, M. (2009). Persian Identity and Cosmopolitanism: Spheres of Belonging. Cambridge University Press.
3. Parpola, A. (1994). The Roots of Aryan Culture: A History of the Iranian Peoples. Helsinki University Press.
4. Levitin, D. J. (2014). The DNA of Our Ancestors: Understanding Ethnic Genetics. New York: Oxford University Press.
5. Grosby, S. (2015). The Philosophy of History and the Iranian Identity. University of Chicago Press.