Hmong Refugees in the New World: Culture, Community and Opportunity

by Christopher Thao Vang

Overview

Almost no one in the West had heard of the Hmong before National Geographic ran a cover story on the Southeast Asian ethnic group that had allied with the United States in the Vietnam War, and few knew of them before their arrival in the U.S. and other Western nations in 1975. Originating in China centuries ago, they have been known by various names--Miao, Meo, Miaozi, Meng or San Miao--some of them derogatory. The Hmong in the West are war-displaced refugees from China and Laos, though they have been misidentified as belonging to other ethnic groups. This mislabeling has caused confusion about the Hmong and their history. This book details the history of the Hmong and their journey from Eastern to Western countries, providing a clear understanding of an immigrant culture little understood by the American public.

Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476662169
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/03/2016
Pages:	476
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Christopher Thao Vang is a professor of teacher education at California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, California. He lives in Fresno.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Foreword Gregory S. Goodman 1

Preface 3

Part I History of the Hmong People

1 Brief History of the Hmong 9

Introduction 9

Hmong Origins 9

The Hmong and the Miao 12

The Hmong Prior to the Imperial Xia 13

The Hmong and ChiYou 14

The Hmong and the San Miao 15

The Hmong and Chinese Dynasties 16

Hmong Settlement in Indochina 27

The Hmong and French Colonial Policy 30

The Hmong and the Japanese War 36

The Hmong and the French War 36

The Hmong and the American Secret War 38

Summing Up 43

2 The Hmong Refugees in Diaspora 45

Introduction 45

The Final Rescue 45

Staying Under the Communist Regime 47

Fleeing the Communist Regime 50

Crossing the Mekong River 52

Childhood Memories 54

Two Case Studies of Hmong Families 60

The Refugee Camps 64

Coming to the West 66

Second Migration in the West 70

Summing Up 73

3 The Hmong Today 75

Introduction 75

Identifying Today's Hmong 75

Impact of Wars on the Hmong 79

Hmong in Western Nations 80

Hmong in Eastern Countries 83

Hmong Adjustment to Resettlement 86

Hmong Today and Beyond 91

Summing Up 101

Part II Hmong Culture and Traditions in the West

4 Hmong Family Structure 103

Introduction 103

Family Composition 103

Hmong Marriage 105

Family Roles 107

Socioeconomic Status 109

Hmong Parents and Their Children 110

Motherhood, Fatherhood and Childhood 116

Hmong Social Norms 121

Family Religions 129

Summing Up 131

5 Hmong Cultural Values and Customs 132

Introduction 132

Values, Norms, and Customs 132

The Patriarchal System 133

Family Ancestral Origins 135

Hmong Clans 138

Hmong Ecological System 140

Respecting Parents and Elders 140

Hmong Social Behaviors 141

Hmong Humility and Proper Manners 143

Hmong Kinship and Relatives 144

Hmong Social Greetings 146

Hmong Hospitality 147

Hmong Courtship and Dating in the U.S. 149

Roles of Daughters-in-Law 150

Roles of Sons-in-Law 151

Hmong Dining Etiquette 151

Hmong Social Drinking 153

Hmong Cultural Maintenance 155

Summing Up 156

6 Hmong Traditions and Religious Practices 157

Introduction 157

Belief Systems 157

Traditional New Year's Celebrations 160

New Year Kowtowing Tradition 163

Hmong New Year in the West 164

Traditional Religious Practices 165

Seldom-Used Rituals and Antiquated Practices 177

Old Rituals and Practices 177

New Crop Rituals 179

Name Changing Ritual 180

Household Spirits 183

Home Restriction Ritual 184

Maternity and Postpartum Practices 185

Superstitions and Taboos 186

Summing Up 189

7 Hmong Marriage and Wedding Practices 190

Introduction 190

Origins 190

Variations in Marital Practices 191

Marital Restrictions and Taboos 192

Honoring Traditions Honors Families 193

The Right Time for Marriage 194

Types of Marriages 195

Types of Weddings 198

Marital Notification 200

Bride Price and Dowry 201

Marital Kowtowing Customs 203

Marital Food Basket 205

Marital Umbrella 206

Wedding Songs 206

Marital Manners and Conduct 208

Common Marital Penalties 209

Marital Crews 209

Drinking Formalities 211

Wedding Progression 212

Polygamy Ls Not a Hmong Tradition 219

Summing Up 220

8 Hmong Funeral Services and Practices 221

Introduction 221

Origins of Funeral Practices 221

Birth and Predestination 223

Concepts of Heaven and Hell 225

Hmong Response to Death 226

Funeral Service Expenses 227

Funeral Service Preparation 229

Sacrificial Animals 232

Death Chants and Songs 234

Funeral Instruments 235

The Days of the Funeral Service 237

Soul Release Ritual 248

Summing Up 250

Part III Hmong Oral Traditions and Written Languages

9 Hmong Oral Traditions 251

Introduction 251

Hmong Languages in Colors 251

History of Hmong Oral Languages 252

Hmong Language Learning 253

Hmong Oral Tradition 254

Hidden Stories in Pa Ndau 268

History of Wars 271

Emphasis on Oral Language Skills 281

Oral Language Competency 282

Summing Up 285

10 Hmong Linguistics and Writing Systems 286

Introduction 286

Origin of Hmong Languages 286

Roots of Hmong Written Language 288

Hmong Written Languages Today 291

Changing Usage and Unified Language 294

Hmong Grammar and Subsystems 297

Summing Up 312

Part IV Hmong Challenges, Opportunities and Successes

11 Hmong in Public Education 315

Introduction 315

Hmong Perceptions of U.S. Education 316

U.S. Educators' Perceptions of Hmong Students 317

Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Academic Performance 321

School Practices and Academic Performance 322

Hmong Parents and Children's Academic Performance 324

Gender and Educational Opportunity 326

Parental Support and Academic Performance 327

Socioeconomic Status and Academic Performance 329

Place of Birth and Academic Performance 330

Hmong Primary Language-Issues 332

Age and English Language Learning 334

Residency and Academic Achievement 335

Hmong Academic Progress in the U.S. 336

Hmong School Dropout 343

Future Trends 344

Suggestions for Future Studies on Hmong Students 346

Summing Up 348

12 The State of the Hmong Community 349

Introduction 349

Hmong Community Structure Prior to Living in the West 349

Western Hmong Community Establishment 352

Hmong Community Social Structure 354

The U.S. Hmong Population 361

Hmong Citizenship and Naturalization 363

Ages of Hmong Americans 363

Hmong Refugees with Disabilities 366

Hmong Healthcare 369

Hmong Employment and Occupations 371

Hmong Family Income 374

Hmong Refugees Living in Poverty 375

Hmong Home Ownership 375

Hmong Household and Marital Status 377

Hmong Social Media 379

Summing Up 380

Part V Hmong Leadership and the Journey Forward

13 Hmong Leaders and Leadership 383

Introduction 383

Hmong Leaders in China 383

Hmong Leaders in Laos 386

Lo Blia Yao 394

Touby Lyfong 396

General Vang Pao 397

Hmong Leaders in the West 402

Why No Successor Named 407

Hmong Need New Leaders 408

Educated and Elected Hmong Individuals 415

The Next Hmong Leaders 416

Summing Up 418

14 The Hmong Journey Forward 419

Introduction 419

Hmong and Their Community 420

Hmong and Their Cultural Heritage 435

Hmong and Their Children's Education 444

Hmong and Their Physical and Spiritual Health 446

Hmong and Their Transnational Politics 449

Hmong and Their Formidable Future 451

Summing Up 453

Bibliography 455

Index 459