Diversity in Diaspora

Diversity in Diaspora

Hmong Americans in the Twenty-First Century

Edited by: Mark Edward Pfeifer, Monica Chiu and Kou Yang

University of Hawaii Press | 2013

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824837778

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About this book

This anthology wrestles with Hmong Americans’ inclusion into and contributions to Asian American studies, as well as to American history and culture and refugee, immigrant, and diasporic trajectories. It negotiates both Hmong American political and cultural citizenship, meticulously rewriting the established view of the Hmong as “new” Asian neighbors—an approach articulated, Hollywood style, in Clint Eastwood’s film Gran Torino. The collection boldly moves Hmong American studies away from its usual groove of refugee recapitulation that entrenches Hmong Americans points-of-origin and acculturation studies rather than propelling the field into other exciting academic avenues.

Following a summary of more than three decades’ of Hmong American experience and a demographic overview, chapters investigate the causes of and solutions to socioeconomic immobility in the Hmong American community and political and civic activism, including Hmong American electoral participation and its affects on policymaking. The influence of Hmong culture on young men is examined, followed by profiles of female Hmong leaders who discuss the challenges they face and interviews with aging Hmong Americans. A section on arts and literature looks at the continuing relevance of oral tradition to Hmong Americans’ successful navigation in the diaspora, similarities between rap and kwv txhiaj (unrehearsed, sung poetry), and Kao Kalia Yang’s memoir, The Latehomecomer. The final chapter addresses the lay of the land in Hmong American studies, constituting a comprehensive literature review.

Diversity in Diaspora showcases the desire to shape new contours of Hmong American studies as Hmong American scholars themselves address new issues. It represents an essential step in carving out space for Hmong Americans as primary actors in their own right and in placing Hmong American studies within the purview of Asian American studies.

Author information

PfeiferMark Edward:

Mark Edward Pfeifer is editor of the Hmong Studies Journal and a lecturer in anthropology at the State University of New York Institute of Technology.ChiuMonica:

Monica Chiu is associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire.YangKou:

Kou Yang is professor of Asian American studies and ethnic and gender studies at California State University, Stanislaus.

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
Contents Free access PDF PDF	v
Introduction Free access PDF PDF	vii
Notes Free access PDF PDF	xv
References Cited Free access PDF PDF	xvii
Part I. Hmong Social and Political Adaptation in the United States
1. The American Experience of The Hmong: A Historical Review Kou Yang Kou Yang Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	3
2. Hmong Americans: A Demographic Portrait Mark Edward Pfeifer Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	54
3. An Analysis of Poverty in Hmong American Communities Yang Sao Xiong Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	66
4. Civic Values and Political Engagement in Two Hmong American Communities Carolyn Wong Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	106
5. Electoral Participation in the Hmong American Community: an Initial Analysis Steven Doherty Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	131
Part II. Intersections of Hmong Identity With Gender and Age
6. Great Expectations: The Struggles of Hmong American High School Boys Bic Ngo and Pa Nhia Lor Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	151
7. Women in the Hmong Diaspora Dia Cha Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	165
8. Hmong Americans: The Conceptualization and Experience of Aging in the United States Linda A. Gerdner Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	188
Part III. Hmong Arts and Literature
9. The Double Diaspora: China and Laos in the Folklore of Hmong American Refugees Jeremy Hein Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	209
10. “Reharmonizing” the Generations: Rap, Poetry, and Hmong Oral Tradition Nicholas Poss Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	233
11. Haunting and Inhabitation in Yang’s Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir Monica Chiu Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	247
12. Hmong American Studies: A Bibliographic Essay Mark Edward Pfeifer Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	269
Contributors Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	287
Index Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	291

Diversity in Diaspora

Hmong Americans in the Twenty-First Century

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