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I am proud to be a bamboo among the oaks, elms and pine trees, meaning I am proud to be Hmong in Minnesota. The Hmong are like bamboo — strong, swaying with the wind, and flourishing wherever we go.
Since our arrival in Minnesota nearly five decades ago, Hmong people have undergone a significant transformation, shaped by the challenges and opportunities of American life. In 1975, following the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of Hmong refugees arrived in the U.S. after fleeing persecution in Laos for their support of U.S. forces. Today, there are about 95,000 Hmong people living in Minnesota. The most famous Hmong American is Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, whose success is a shining example of some of the significant benefits being in the U.S. has afforded Hmong women.
At the same time, as Hmong people have become increasingly Americanized, there have also been drawbacks for our community, the worst of which is on display near downtown St. Paul — a largely Hmong tent city for the unsheltered near downtown St. Paul that I was shocked to hear about and recently saw for myself. Here’s a deeper look at some of the good, the bad and the ugly of Hmong experiences in Minnesota.
The good: Progress for Hmong women
One of the most positive outcomes of Hmong Americanization has been the expansion of rights and opportunities for Hmong women. In traditional Hmong culture, women were largely expected to fulfill specific roles as wives, mothers and caretakers. Our relationships to our families, clans and larger communities were through our fathers and husbands. We had little say in decisions affecting our own lives as the patriarchy within the clan system dictated much of our existence. However, in the U.S., many of these limitations have eroded, giving rise to a new generation of empowered Hmong women.
Women are now more visible in leadership roles, serving as elected officials, business leaders, and public figures. Those that are mothers and wives choose to be in those roles, and do not have others make that choice for them.