As we wrap up our celebration of Asian
American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,
we want to take a closer look at who
exactly is considered Asian American people
who come from this region of the globe,
which includes Iran,
Iraq and Israel are from West Asia
geographically, but as CBS's.
Net Iran Power explains,
there is still much debate.
The confusion over who
is celebrated during API
month. The country of Iran
is on the Asian continent,
but no one here would ever say we're Asian.
I've never said that both my parents
are from Iran, So what are we?
We came to the Iranian school
of San Diego to look into this.
Language keeps people connected by
learning to read, write and speak Farsi.
Many of these kids can stay in touch
with their relatives. In Iran,
it's like a great language also
being together at the
Iranian school of San Diego
gives them a sense of community.
The fun part is the recess
as these kids test their reading skills.
What does that mean? Look good
job. They test mine too. Donnish moose.
So a student, right? That's all
of these students are,
as we'd say in Farsi, donnish, Almaza.
When several hours every Sunday
morning at Mount Carmel high,
about 200 students ages 5 and up
have been to Iran.
You've been doing well. Nikon
tells me he's been to
around 11 times.
I've never been to tell me
their food is really good.
These kids were beaming with pride
talking about a country thousands of
miles away that they really connect with.
It's a great country. It's really
fun, and there's a lot of culture.
There's a lot of art.
What do you love about?
Which then leads me to the question,
what did they say when people
ask where are you from?
I tell people I'm from Iran.
Some people don't necessarily
know where you're on is or don't.
I understand what you're
even though.
Iran is on the Asian continent.
No one says they're Asian,
but if they must be labeled by region,
there's been a push to be considered
Southwest Asian or North African.
Some would say those would be
more geographically correct
modern descriptions compared
to being called Middle Eastern.
So is is is colonial because as
you still what, we're still what
Middle East of where you know
the principal here.
Ali Sage is also the founder of
Peak Magazine, researching and
writing about Iranians in America
during the Iranian Revolution.
Many families left their home in
the late 1970s, including mine,
and that's when on forms like the census,
the government would recognize
people from Iran and other
surrounding countries as white.
If I go somewhere and say I'm White,
then they're going to laugh
at me like if I go and say.
Tall, they're gonna laugh and probably
I'm tall in Iran but but here I'm
not considered at all. We were
all lumped into the so called white
majority, but if you ask anyone from
that region most will say they didn't
feel like part of the majority.
Convincing people to say are
there and that Iranian American.
But as sad points out by
marking other on the census,
we still won't really know how
many Iranians or others from
that region are here in America.
But the ones who are here are
working hard to assimilate.
While also cherishing their culture.
We get to show off our culture all
the different regions that Iran has.
For me it's a very emotional because
I started learning it there and
started performing it in Iran. Sharing
this form of art in the US Now is a privilege
for the last almost 30 years living
in United States. I've been so
happy that we have this privilege.
Because while many hope to
be counted in this country,
that certainly won't stop them
from proudly leaving their
Marks and on a personal note,
I did struggle with a bit of an
identity crisis growing up who I was
in school was different than at home.
As I got older, I learned to appreciate
the many layers of my identity.
I look back so grateful for the
hours spent with my family having
tea or Chai being reminded to
speak only Farsi in the house and
dancing at every party we went to.
I enjoyed the best home cooked
meals and celebrated.
All of our holidays and traditions
and I hope to share the same
customs with the next generation.
Are we gonna be on TV?
I think you will be.
Kids when they see themselves
or they see their parents or
they they see their relatives
on TV that can motivates them.
Yeah, there's nothing wrong with me.
I can be part of,
you know in this group and and
creating this strong Community and
then having a strong Community
is really good for for the kids
that gives them that sense of
belonging and sense of identity.
So I appreciate your help.
Why is it important to be here?
Because my parents said so,
I have no idea why.
For CBS eight, I'm Netta Iran poor.