American Life
Zahira moved to the United States in 1975, when her husband was Afghanistan's envoy to the United Nations.
After the Communist coup in 1978 her brother was murdered, her father put under house arrest, and all her family's assets were seized.
Around the time of the Communist coup in Afghanistan she and her husband separated.
Zahira described working for Milton Pitts, President Ronald Reagan's barber, accompanying him to the White House to give the President a manicure while he got his hair cut, and being asked whether Reagan should authorize giving the Afghan resistance stinger missiles.
Zahira also started cutting George H. W. Bush's hair, as well as Barbara Bush, Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and other dignitaries. She described feeling hurt by the number of customers she lost following al Qaeda's attacks on September 11, 2001, and being brought to tears by George H.W. Bush's thoughtfulness. He contacted her personally, following the attacks, telling her:
| “ | "I hope you're OK and that no one thinks you have anything to do with this." | ” |
When he learned of the prejudice she was experiencing he sent her an autographed photo, and organized autographed photos from several other Presidents who knew her.
Read more about this topic: Zahira Zahir
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