Hmong and American : stories of transition to a strange land / Sue Murphy Mote.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mote, Sue Murphy, 1938-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hmong Americans--Cultural assimilation.

Hmong Americans.

Hmong Americans--Ethnic identity.

Hmong Americans--Biography.

Immigrants--United States--Biography.

Immigrants.

Hmong (Asian people).

History.

United States.

Hmong (Asian people)--History.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 306 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2004]

Summary:

The Hmong were driven out of Laos by the turmoil of the Vietnam War and settled in American in such large numbers that they are now the second largest Southeast Asian population in the United States. Twelve Hmong immigrants, including a female shaman, an ex-military officer, a reformed gang member, a doctor, and a woman who was snatched from her mountain village at the age of eight, deposited in Laos' French culture and finally returned to Laos years later, tell their stories of adapting to American life and culture while preserving the values of their own ancient culture. The author also considers the 5,000 years of Hmong history and its lasting influence.

Contents:

Introduction: "Will They Eat Me?" 9

Part I. Journeys

1. Leaving: Chamy Thor 21

2. What Makes the Hmong, Hmong 52

3. Keeper of the Past: Mai Xiong 57

4. Feast and Famine 73

5. Five Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Miles: The Hmong 88

Part II. Hmong World: That Was Then

6. Old Royalty: Ly Vong Lynaolu 115

7. An Argument with the Stone Age: Chamy Thor 129

Part III. New World: America the Difficult

8. A Death: Ly Vong Lynaolu 167

9. Ties That Bind: Hmongtown, U.S.A. 175

10. Kids Astray: Sai Sue Lor 196

Part IV. Middle World: Being Hmong in America

11. A Change of Mind: Lue Vang, Pang Foua Yang Rhodes 215

12. Choosing a Path: Mai Xia Cha 231

13. A Different Path: The Children of Long 242

14. Buried Treasure: Mai Xiong 260

15. Peb Hmoob, We Hmong: Chamy Thor 266

Appendix A Hmong Language and Names 283

Appendix B Child-Rearing Study 287.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 295-297) and index.

ISBN:

078641832X

OCLC:

54487469