The Shafé Family
Kian Shafé came to the United States in 1955 on a student visa from Tehran, Iran. Discussions with Kian and his family focus on their experiences as immigrants in the United States. Their conversations touch on topics such as the attainability of the American dream, expectations of immigrants and racism toward immigrants in the U.S.“Why did I come to this country? Simple. Every person I met in Iran when I was growing up said that the United States is a good country. They really loved this country.” In the video above, Kian Shafé tells the story of why he immigrated to the U.S.
“You go to California and you see all those workers out there. You don't see a single, American white young man working that field. There is no reason we can't let the immigrants come and work.” Kian Shafé and members of his family share their thoughts on immigration in the U.S.
“How often do we think about the station we were born into? If you don’t have the right parental support, I don’t think there’s any amount of desire that’s gonna get you there.” Kian's children share their thoughts on the attainability of the American Dream.
“Racism in society - it's not meant to be seen, but you can definitely feel it.” In the video above, Kian, his children, and his grandchildren share their thoughts on racism and prejudice in America.