Changing Face of Iranian American Racism

Laila Ansari — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:12:07 +0000

Maz Jobrani is an Iranian-American comedian. He begins every show with the same introduction.“Hello, my name is Maz Jobrani and I’m Iranian.” He says it because it is part of the act. He knows the response and he works it into a joke. The audience unfailingly responds the same way, with silence, exclamations of sympathy and even booing. Maz does a very clever thing then. He knows the reaction and responds, “I know, I know. Jealous huh?” Good joke. Everybody laughs then. But all Iranians know underneath it isn’t funny.

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Changing Face of Iranian American Racism