Yvonne Brown

Crying Girl Yvonne Brown

In Pre-Revolution Iran, Nusrat Rahimi was A-typical to what many presumed were the classical roles for women. Born into the religious elite, Nusrat was well-educated, well-traveled, and well-versed in all things that were traditionally only allowed to men. Her progressive lifestyle led her to wed Curtis Brown, an American military contractor. Their union seemed magical until Nusrat visited the United States to give birth to her first child, Yvonne. Once the baby was born, the family returned to Iran to start their life as new parents in 1977. Then, the 1979 Revolution caused Nusrat, Curtis, and Yvonne to flee on the last plane out of Iran before Ayatollah Khomeini took over. Upon returning to the United States, Nusrat was thrown into the role of an immigrant at the center of Curtis' growing hatred and fits of rage. She turned this tragedy into triumph by becoming the first female Imam leading Zainabeyah of the Greater Washington Metropolitan area. Crying Girl, a tribute to a mother's sacrifice, is an "unsung voice" within the ongoing conversation about Iran, as well as providing a unique perspective on domestic violence, feminism, and racism.