Throughout history, activists have played a major role in inspiring change and fighting injustice across the globe. From challenging dictatorships to opposing racism to promoting equality for women, nearly every social and political change has come about due in large part to advocacy and civic engagement.
Best known for portraying Fara Sherazi on Homeland and for playing the female lead of Esther in the remake of Ben-Hur for MGM and Paramount Pictures, Nazanin Boniadi is an acclaimed Iranian actress who is also very much devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms. As an award-winning human rights activist, Boniadi has served as a spokesperson for Amnesty International USA from 2009 until 2015, and currently serves on the board of directors of The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. She was also selected as a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations in 2014.
I recently spoke with Nazanin about what drew her to a life of activism and the importance of youth activism following the outcome of Brexit and the U.S. presidential election.
What drew you to the activism work that you do?
I think activism is in my blood. I was born in Tehran in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution. My parents fled to London shortly thereafter because they didn't want to raise their daughter in a social, political and religious climate that was growing increasingly oppressive toward women and girls. I remember sitting on my father’s shoulders as a child in London while he marched in protests against the Iranian government’s oppressive treatment of dissidents and minorities. I also have memories of sitting in front of a TV set in London at the age of five and crying as I saw images of the Iran-Iraq war. I felt completely helpless but wanted so badly to stop the suffering. My parents wondered how I could feel this kind of empathy at such an early age. I still can’t explain it. It’s a visceral reaction I have every time I see someone get hurt or unjustly treated. I want to help them. I guess I attribute it to the sacrifices my parents have made to ensure my rights are protected. It compels me to protect the rights of others.
When did you begin to identify as an activist?
I started identifying as an activist in college because that’s when I really started to get involved in social betterment and community outreach activities.
What advice would you give to Millennials who also want to become actively engaged members of their community but don't know where to start?
The first step is to identify your passion. What is your cause? What change would you like to facilitate? Then do a little research and find an organization with a similar mission statement that you can partner with. Alternatively, reach out to your peers and to the community to find people with similar goals and form your own group. There really is strength in numbers, and the more organized and strategic your activism is the more people you can reach and the more change you can affect. Keep in mind that activism can be daunting and victories are often hard-won, which is why it is so important to have a support system or network to motivate you when you’re feeling defeated.
Once Millennials learn about an issue that resonates with them online, they are 23% more likely to research the issue further than other age groups are, and 17% more likely to make a donation. So much of activism today is driven by digital artifacts like a video or a photo. How important is digital activism and how has it impacted the work you do?
Social media has empowered citizen journalism. While the spread of misinformation has become problematic, there have also been plenty of instances where people have been able to document atrocities and rights violations on the ground using nothing more than their cell phone cameras, then uploading them to their social media accounts. This type of documentation is essential to the work of human rights organizations that have been denied access to certain countries. One powerful example of this is the video of Neda Agha-Soltan, a young woman brutally killed by plain-clothed militia in Tehran in the aftermath of Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election. This was captured by a bystander, uploaded to the internet and the video went viral, causing global outrage and eliciting responses from world leaders. As such, Neda became the face of Iran’s struggle for human rights, freedom, equality and justice.
Much has been made of the similarity between Trumpism and the British referendum. The Millennial generation, who will have to live the longest with the consequences are also the most against it, but didn't turn out in large numbers to cast their vote in either election. What do you believe is the solution?
I think it’s imperative that we stop feeling apathetic and start being more involved in the political process. We need to shape the future we want for ourselves rather than shift this responsibility onto our elders and then complain about their decisions. When I think of the U.K.’s Equal Franchise Act of 1928, and the Nineteenth Amendment of 1920 and The Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the U.S., I’m reminded of how precious our right to vote really is and that we should never take it for granted. While there appears to be a growing number of people who feel politically alienated, neglected and disenfranchised on both sides of the aisle, the silver lining is that this has created a more impassioned and engaged citizenry. This is exactly what we need for real, sustainable change, and my hope is that the lessons of 2016 will lead to a greater Millennial voter turnout in 2020.
To learn more about Nazanin Boniadi and her upcoming roles, please visit www.nazaninboniadi.com and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.