Still Hmong, Always Hmong
By Malachi Xiong
Photo courtesy of Malachi Xiong.
After 50 years since the Secret War, many Southeast Asian refugees have struggled with language barriers, economics, and cultural turning points throughout their lives. During the Secret War, many Hmong and other Southeast Asian veterans experienced slavery, genocide, bombing, and much more, particularly Hmong veterans.
Many Hmong people crossed the Mekong River to survive the war– parents carried their children on top of their heads to prevent drowning, while others swam for their lives. Hmong soldiers fought their way from Laos to Thailand and were then resettled across the world into many countries including Australia, France, Canada, Germany, the United States, and more. Especially within the United States, many Hmong refugees restarted their lives in the states of Wisconsin, California, and Minnesota.
My yawm txiv (mother's father) and niam tais (mother's mother) were living in Laos with their children during the Secret War. My grandpa was one of many Hmong soldiers involved in the conflict. He safely guided his family across the Mekong River toward Thailand, where my mother was born. After the war, my mother and her family boarded a plane to the United States. After they settled in California, my mother and her family moved to Minnesota; however, my aunt stayed in California to continue her start.
Meanwhile, my yawg (father’s father) and pog (father's mother) were both in Laos during the war and crossed the Mekong River for safety. After the war, they were sent on a plane to Minnesota, where they rebuilt their lives and started a family, resulting in my father being born in Minnesota. After my parents grew up in America, they came together and started their own family in Minnesota. I was born in Minnesota, being the oldest and first child of my parents.
Growing up, I was very different from other Hmong kids since there were many Hmong families in Minnesota. I was what you might call "white-washed," or in our culture, "Hmoob Mekas," a term referring to people who have become Americanized. Although it felt strange being the only Hmong kid who never spoke Hmong in school, I was lucky enough to find friends who liked me for who I am. Friends from elementary school to middle school, through high school, and still now in post-high school. My friends and I were long-distance during high school because they all went to the same school, while I attended a different school . It was hard, especially since I had to start anew with a bunch of random people. Luckily, after my first semester, I met many great friends who were also Hmong. My high school had a large Asian student body, most of whom were Hmong. My high school represented a lot of diversity through the student body, language classes, clubs, and much more.
I felt like a newcomer to my culture, and I didn't know much about it until I signed up for a class called "Hmong 1." It was a beginner language class where Hmong students could learn more about the culture, traditions, language, and more. Some took it because it was easy for them, while others took it to learn new things, like me. After a few classes, I learned much of the language, culture, and traditions. My Hmong pronunciation wasn't great, but I was still learning.
In my sophomore year, I was promoted to "Hmong 2 ," a class that continued to teach the language but, more importantly, provide information about superstitions and traditions. After completing two years in my language classes, I was given the opportunity to either advance to the next Hmong level or skip it. I felt challenged and registered for "Hmong 3," which covered more events and culture. Finally, in my senior year, I felt I had enough of Hmong classes and could manage with what I remembered.
Although I didn't spend much time in my Hmong classes, I was able to participate in the Hmong Club at school. One of my teachers highly recommended that I join, so I took her advice and did. When I first joined, they needed new officers. Although I felt that I wasn't that good at Hmong, I seized the opportunity for some leadership experience and was accepted as an officer. Throughout my years, it was enjoyable to see new members, help them out, be resilient, and host the school’s Annual Hmong New Year, an event that most, if not all, students enjoyed. I started in my sophomore year and concluded in my senior year as a graduated alumnus of the Hmong Club Officers.
After 18 years of trying to figure out my identity, through hate, discrimination, love, and more, I finally know who and what I am: a Hmong person who has been resilient and strong throughout hardships and experiences of injustice and prejudice. Although the new generation of Hmong people may lose their language, they will never lose their culture.
Malachi Xiong is a current Crew Lead in the Market Garden Progam at Urban Roots MN. Urban Roots creates an economic and educational opportunities for under-resourced, majority BIPOC youth, preparing them for academic and professional success while addressing immediate community needs around fresh food access, the environment, and wellbeing. We currently accomplish this important work by operating three main programs: Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation.