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 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.
