Firoozeh Dumas
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[edit] Biography
Firoozeh Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran. At an early age, she began to write and submit essays to obtain money to go toward college. Funny in Farsi, a memoir of being Iranian in the United States, reflects her witty humor and talent for writing,
At the age of seven, Dumas and her family moved to Whittier, California. She later moved back to Iran, lived in Tehran and Ahvaz. However, she once again immigrated to the United States; first to Whittier, then to Newport Beach, California. Kazem, her father, dominates much of her stories throughout the book. She takes pride in her Iranian heritage, but at the same time, mocks her dad's fascination with "freebies" at Costco and television shows like Bowling for Dollars. Growing up, Dumas struggled to mix with her American classmates, who knew nothing about Iran. She also retells firsthand experiences of prejudice and racism from being Iranian in America during the Iranian Revolution. However, throughout hardships, she emphasizes the significance of family strength and love in her life.
Despite her role as a wife and mother, Dumas often visits schools and churches to discuss her book and conduct book talks. As a result of Funny in Farsi-'s success, Firoozeh Dumas was nominated for the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. Not only was she the first Iranian author to be nominated, but was also the first Middle Eastern author to hold such an honor.
