YARA SHAHIDI
Mixed Race (African American, Choctaw, Iranian)
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Yara Shahidi — heritage & background
Quick answer: Yara Shahidi is of mixed ethnicity — her mother, Keri Shahidi, is of African American and Choctaw heritage, and her father, Afshin Shahidi, is Iranian. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and holds American nationality. Yara has described herself as "half-black, half-Iranian" and is best known for Black-ish and Grown-ish.
Is Yara Shahidi Mixed Race? Is She Biracial?
Yes, Yara Shahidi is mixed race. She is the daughter of an Iranian father and an African American mother with Choctaw heritage, making her biracial with roots spanning the Middle East, Africa, and Indigenous America. This dual heritage has been one of the defining aspects of her public identity and has deeply influenced both her career and her activism.
Growing up as a mixed-race child gave Yara a unique perspective on identity. She has spoken openly about the complexities of being both Black and Iranian, describing the feeling of navigating a meter of identity — questioning how Black she is and how Iranian she is. She has said that it can be difficult, when you are both, to feel as though you can coexist as both and be fully both. This internal negotiation became a theme she explored through her breakthrough role in Black-ish, a show whose very title resonated with her own experience of being "blackish."
What Is Yara Shahidi's Ethnicity?
Yara Shahidi's ethnicity is a blend of African American, Choctaw, and Iranian heritage. She was born Yara Sayeh Shahidi on February 10, 2000, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her first name "Yara" has roots in multiple languages — in Persian it can mean "strength" or "courage," while in Arabic and other languages it carries additional meanings.
Her parents met in Minneapolis in 1992 at a local lounge. Her father, Afshin Shahidi, is Iranian and was raised in Minneapolis from the age of eight. Her mother, Keri Shahidi (born Keri Jamelda Salter), is of African American and Choctaw descent. Together, they created a household that celebrated both Iranian and African American cultures.
Yara grew up immersed in both traditions. She learned to speak Farsi alongside English, maintaining a linguistic connection to her Iranian heritage. She has frequently referred to her proud Iranian heritage in interviews while equally celebrating her Black identity. Her family's emphasis on cultural education meant that Yara developed a deep appreciation for both sides of her heritage from an early age.
Father's Side: Iranian Roots
Yara Shahidi's father, Afshin Shahidi, is Iranian. He was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from the age of eight, after his family emigrated from Iran. Afshin became a prominent photographer, most notably serving as one of the principal photographers for the legendary musician Prince.
Afshin's journey into photography began in his youth when he was an aspiring videographer. He exaggerated his level of experience in order to secure work on one of Prince's music videos in 1993, and that initial connection blossomed into a long professional relationship. Prince kept a signed photo of Yara in his editing suite at Paisley Park, a testament to the close bond between the two families.
The Shahidi surname is distinctly Persian in origin, and the family's Iranian heritage connects Yara to one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. Iran's rich cultural heritage encompasses thousands of years of art, literature, poetry, and tradition, and Afshin has worked to ensure his children maintain a connection to this ancestry.
Mother's Side: African American & Choctaw Roots
Yara Shahidi's mother, Keri Shahidi (born Keri Jamelda Salter), is of African American and Choctaw heritage. When she met Afshin in 1992, she was a graduate student in Minneapolis. Keri has been instrumental in shaping Yara's career and activism, working as a producer and manager for her daughter.
Keri's African American heritage connects Yara to the long and complex history of Black Americans, from the struggle for civil rights to the flourishing of Black culture in arts, music, and literature. Her Choctaw heritage adds an Indigenous American dimension to the family's ancestry. The Choctaw Nation is one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States, with a rich history that predates European colonization of the Americas. Originally from the southeastern United States, the Choctaw people were among those forcibly relocated during the Trail of Tears in the 1830s.
Notably, Keri's family connection extends to one of hip-hop's most celebrated figures. Yara is a first cousin, once removed, of rapper Nas (Nasir Jones). Yara's maternal great-grandparents, Ella Mae and Charles Rufus Jones, were Nas's maternal grandparents, creating a direct family link between these two prominent figures in entertainment.
Grandparents: A Complete Picture
While the specific names of all of Yara Shahidi's grandparents are not fully documented in public sources, we know key details about her family tree.
On her paternal side, her grandparents were Iranian immigrants who moved to the United States and settled in Minneapolis, where they raised Afshin from the age of eight. Their decision to emigrate from Iran to America placed the Shahidi family in the context of the broader Iranian diaspora in the United States.
On her maternal side, her great-grandparents Ella Mae and Charles Rufus Jones are documented as important figures in the extended family. These are the same great-grandparents who were rapper Nas's maternal grandparents. Keri's own parents — Yara's maternal grandparents — carried the African American and Choctaw heritage that Keri passed on to her children.
Yara Shahidi (Mixed Race — African American, Choctaw, Iranian)
Afshin Shahidi (Iranian)
[Paternal Grandfather] (Iranian) [Name not publicly known] · [Paternal Grandmother] (Iranian) [Name not publicly known]
Keri Shahidi / Keri Jamelda Salter (African American, Choctaw)
[Maternal Grandfather] (African American/Choctaw) [Name not publicly known] · [Maternal Grandmother] (African American/Choctaw) [Name not publicly known]
DNA & Genetic Ancestry
Yara Shahidi has not publicly shared DNA test results from services like 23andMe or AncestryDNA as of 2026. She has also not appeared on genealogy shows such as "Finding Your Roots" with Henry Louis Gates Jr. or "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Based on documented family history — an Iranian father and an African American mother with Choctaw heritage — Yara's ancestry is approximately half Iranian (Persian) and half African American with Native American roots. Given the complex genetic history of both African Americans (who often carry a mix of West African, European, and Indigenous American DNA) and Iranians (who carry a mix of ancient Persian, Turkic, and other Middle Eastern lineages), a DNA test would likely reveal a rich and diverse genetic profile. Without a confirmed DNA test, this assessment is based on documented genealogy rather than genetic testing.
Nationality vs. Ethnicity
Yara Shahidi's nationality is American — she was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has lived in the United States her entire life. Her ethnicity, however, is a rich blend of African American, Choctaw, and Iranian heritage.
This distinction has been particularly significant in Yara's life because her mixed heritage places her at the intersection of multiple cultural identities. As a Black woman with Iranian roots, she occupies a unique space in American culture. She has used her platform to bridge cultural divides and celebrate the richness of multicultural identity.
Her role in Black-ish was particularly meaningful in this context. The show's title itself — "Black-ish" — resonated deeply with Yara's own experience of being biracial. She has said that the show helped her embrace being mixed race by giving her a term and a framework to describe the experience of being proudly both Black and Iranian.
Yara Shahidi in Her Own Words
Yara Shahidi has been remarkably articulate about her mixed-race identity throughout her career. On the NPR podcast "Code Switch," she described her heritage as "half-black, half-Iranian" and also shared the meaning of her name, Yara Sayeh, which carries significance in both Persian and other traditions.
In a 2017 interview with Teen Vogue, Shahidi discussed how Black-ish helped her embrace being biracial. She explained that being "blackish" was the perfect word because it described both the fact that she can be biracial and proud of her heritage on both sides.
In a 2018 interview with Harper's Bazaar Arabia, she spoke about celebrating her Iranian heritage alongside her Black identity. She has consistently emphasized that she does not see her dual heritage as a contradiction but rather as a source of richness and strength.
Relationships and Children
As of 2026, Yara Shahidi is not married and does not have any children. She is 26 years old and focused on her acting career and activism.
Yara has two younger brothers, Sayeed and Ehsan Shahidi. Like Yara, both brothers share the same mixed Iranian and African American heritage. The three siblings grew up in a household that celebrated both cultures, and their parents have been open about the importance of raising culturally aware children.
Yara graduated from Harvard University in 2022, where she studied Social Studies and African American Studies — a choice that reflects her deep engagement with questions of identity, race, and culture. Her academic pursuits have complemented her acting career and informed her activism on issues of social justice and representation.
Is Yara Shahidi Alive?
Yes, Yara Shahidi is alive and active as of 2026. She is 26 years old. She continues to work in the entertainment industry, having starred as Zoey Johnson in ABC's Black-ish (2014-2022) and its spin-off Grown-ish (2018-2024). She also played Tinker Bell in Disney's Peter Pan & Wendy (2023). Beyond acting, she is known as an activist and was notably recommended by Michelle Obama for college. She graduated from Harvard University in 2022.
Visual Family Tree
Yara Shahidi — Yara Sayeh Shahidi (Mixed Race — African American, Choctaw, Iranian)
Afshin Shahidi (Iranian)
[Paternal Grandfather] (Iranian) [Name not publicly known] · [Paternal Grandmother] (Iranian) [Name not publicly known]
Keri Shahidi / Keri Jamelda Salter (African American, Choctaw)
[Maternal Grandfather] (African American/Choctaw) [Name not publicly known] · [Maternal Grandmother] (African American/Choctaw) [Name not publicly known]
Sources
- Yara Shahidi - Wikipedia
- Yara Shahidi Says 'Black-ish' Helped Her Embrace Being Mixed Race - HuffPost
- Black-ish Star Yara Shahidi, An Unofficial Ambassador For Gen Z - NPR Code Switch
- Yara Shahidi On Her Family And Multicultural Upbringing - Harper's Bazaar Arabia
- Yara Shahidi, Parents Keri and Afshin Shahidi Talk Family - TIME
- Yara Shahidi - Biography - IMDb
- Yara Shahidi ethnicity - Sportskeeda
EthniCelebrity Research Team
Ethnicity & Heritage Writers
Our team specialises in researching and documenting the ethnic backgrounds, nationality, and ancestry of public figures — drawing on genealogical records, interviews, and verified biographical sources.