It’s time for Norouz again and for the welcoming of spring and I wish you all good health, love, and happiness for the coming year!
I want to remind people that traditions, no matter how much you enjoyed them and the nostalgic value that it has to you now can still be wrong.
Haji Firouz is not an exception!
Some like to defend Haji Firouz with the argument that his face is black from soot because he is a symbol of the priests who used to maintain the fire in the fire temples long ago. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth as the priests couldn’t be seen with sooth on their faces as they were highly respectable in society.
Others try to argue that it can’t be racist because he is seen as a positive symbol or because black face is only a western thing and a problem due to slavery in USA.
Well, the truth is that there were slaves in Iran too - the abolition happened in 1929 (not even 100 years ago).
Haji Firouz is racist.
Basically, no argument can make Haji Firouz an acceptable figure as he is a racist depiction and should not be revived over and over again during a time were we are supposed to celebrate new beginnings.
We as iranians pride ourselves in being a multi-ethnical group, which is the reason for why our culture is so rich and vibrant - as well as different in every part of the country (and even around the world). However, our past is not as innocent as we may have been told by our elders. Thus, we all have a responsibility to inform our families and friends that the Haji Firouz should not have and should not be a part of Norouz.
I wish you all to have a wonderful Norouz, and that good things will come with the dance of spring. Take care of eachother!🌷
Informative articles:
https://csalateral.org/forum/cultural-constructions-race-racism-middle-east-north-africa-southwest-asia-mena-swana/myths-haji-firuz-racist-contours-iranian-minstrel-baghoolizadeh/
https://thetehrantimes.com/the-problem-with-haji-firooz/
