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 The Hmong is a distinct group of people who claimed to have
originated in China.
According to Hmong history, during the eighteenth century many Hmong families
had migrated to Southeast Asia due to
constant warfare with the Chinese. Some of these families migrated to North Vietnam, Laos,
Thailand, Mayamar (Burma) and other nearby countries; however,
the majority of the Hmong remained in China. It is estimated that there
are eight millions or more Hmong live in China.
Because the Hmong people in Laos were recruited by the CIA to help protect
the interests of the US
during the Vietnam War, they were being persecuted when the war ended in
1975. Many of them fled to the refugee camps in Thailand.
From there, the majority of them were resettled into third countries like United States, France,
Canada, Australia, South America
and other countries.
The Hmong in Southeast Asia and those
in the United States
are divided into two subgroups - the Hmong Leng (Hmong Ndua) and White
Hmong. These two subgroups made up smaller groups who labeled
themselves as Black Hmong, Flower Hmong, Red Head Hmong, Stripe Hmong, White
Hmong and Hmong Leng, etc. All of the Hmong people in the United States
speak two dialects - they speak either Hmong Leng or White Hmong
dialect. The major differences between these groups are their
traditional costumes and the dialects. Traditionally, each group wears
a different costume. The White Hmong women wear completely white
dresses or shirt and pant like dresses, while the Hmong Leng women wear
blue/green or colorful dresses similar to the photo above. However,
both groups have always lived and worked together as one Hmong people
group. The Hmong people have their own unique culture and religion -
these are the two key ingredients which make them unique and different from
the rest. There are eighteen commonly known clans or last names among
the Hmong in Southeast Asia and in the United States.
They are Chang, Cheng, Chu, Fang, Hang or Tang, Her, Herr or Heu, Khang, Kong
or Xong, Kue, Lo, Lor, or Law, Ly or Lee, Moua or Zang, Pha, Thao, Vang or
Wang, Vue, Xiong or Song and Yang.
In the United States, the Hmong people
are spreaded across all of the States. However, there are higher
concentrations of them in California,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other
major cities of the Northwest region of the United States. The Hmong
population in the United
States is over 300,000 (Washington
Times) - about half of them were born in the US. The Hmong population
worldwide is estimated at 12,000,000 (Lao Human Rights).
The Hmong are family oriented
people. Families are important to them. They like to live close
to the same clan or people who they know so that they can help each other in
time of need. The majority of the Hmong people believe in
animism. They believe that a person has three spirits, and there are
three places for each of the spirits to go when the body dies: 1). One of the
spirit goes to the deceased ancestors, who live in a cold, dark, empty and
desert like place. 2). Another spirit will be reincarnated. 3).
And still another spirit will guard the burial tomb forever. This is
the core of the Hmong’s beliefs.
The majority of the Hmong in the United States believe in this
traditional religion. This religion involves the practice shamanism and
animal sacrifices. Approximately fifteen percent of the Hmong in the United States
are Christians. The majority of the Hmong Christians are members of the
Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. Less than one percent
is member of the Lutheran
Church – Missouri
Synod. Many of the members in the LutheranChurch – Misssouri Synod are
new converts to the Christian faith.
The Hmong are known for their
hospitality, friendliness, hard working and self-sufficient efforts.
Before coming to the United
States, the Hmong had never relied on
others for their livelihood. The majority of the Hmong people in the US are
working and able to speak the English language. Many of them own their
own homes, businesses and some are working in the local, state and federal
offices. Still others have become medical doctors, professors, teachers
and other professions. The Hmong are happy to be in this country.
They have become productive citizens in this melting-pot society. The
Hmong people love freedom and they will make every effort to live in peace
and harmony with their neighbors and people of all races.
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