Who are the Hmong People?

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The Hmong people are an ethnic group originating from the mountainous areas in the south of China. Their name comes from the dialect they speak. There are significant Hmong populations in Southeast Asia and the United States in addition to their Chinese homeland. The Hmong are severely persecuted today in Laos because of their anti-Communist role in the Vietnam War, and the American government's reluctance to help them met with much controversy beginning in the 1990s. Luckily, this led to the repatriation of many Laotian Hmong to the United States and other countries, but genocide against the Hmong continues in Laos to the present day.

The Hmong have lived in southern China for at least 2,000 years according to linguistic and genetic evidence. References to the Miao, the larger ethnic group to which they belong, can be found in Chinese literature dating from the first century CE. Miao is considered derogatory by many non-Chinese Hmong, though it is still in common use in China, as the syllable Hmong does not exist in standard Chinese. Controversy also exists over the use of Hmong itself, as one of the largest subgroups does not use voiceless nasals (the "hm" sound) and is therefore more properly called Mong. Some believe that the use of Hmong as a blanket term marginalizes the Mong, while others feel that the distinction is unnecessarily divisive.

In the 18th century, large numbers of Hmong migrated to Southeast Asia in response to the oppressive Qing Dynasty ruling in China. Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand still have some of the largest Hmong populations after China. During the Vietnam War, beginning in 1960, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited Laotian Hmong to defend against Communist forces. In 1975, US forces withdrew and Communists gained control over Laos. The Hmong were heavily persecuted, tortured, and killed, and many fled to the mountains of Laos or to Thailand.

The situation of the Hmong in Southeast Asia became a hot issue in the 1990s, when large numbers of Hmong were forcibly relocated from Thailand to Laos with the support of the United Nations and the Clinton Administration. The repatriated Hmong suffered renewed persecution, and many were relocated to safer countries, including the United States, as a result of the ensuing controversy. Today, many Hmong live in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, as well as in France and French Guiana. Sadly, Hmong in Laos and Thailand continue to suffer persecution.

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17
i am hmong. and will always be hmong. But why do these damn bastards have to do this to us? Why are the hmong people suffering from these people?
- anon52093
16
many things happen but nothing is getting through. many of our people die every minute. People look at all the pictures and stories on this subject, Hmong people. Kids are getting poisoned, killed, and some are just waiting for their time to go. These people don't deserve to end up like this. Is there someone out there in the upper government position that can help what the American did in the war that ended in 1975 and left what they promised to do if they lost the war? Looks like everything is forgotten and everything is for themselves. This war is a punishment for the hmong do to what? Helping the Americans with a drug war? -- Nomwin
- anon47909
15
Many would wonder how come the hmong people suffer so much and the main question is what did the hmong people do to the chinese in particular that cause them to make the hmong suffer? well as a hmong you have to understand that asian people are overly obsessive of fame and ruling. it is the greed of ownership and selfishness that cause the hmong to be in vain.
- anon43113
14
It's so sad that Hmong people are still being abused by the Laos and Thai government. What I want to know is what did the Hmong people do to the Chinese, Laotian and Thai people that they hate us so much? God has already given the Hmong a chance to be educated and to be free so we can fight for those who can't fight and defend themselves. Young Hmong people stay in school and study hard. The more educated Hmong people are, the more we can learn to work together, getting along and educate other ethnicities about the Hmong. So they don't have to look down upon us. It is not about being better than other ethnicities, but being true and good human beings of accepting and forgiving those who hurt the Hmong due to ignorance and fear.
- anon41449
13
I am one of the original Hmong whose father have helped the CIA to stop the Ho Chi Min Trail from 1965 to 1975. My family suffered so and almost got persecuted by the communist pathet laos. Good thing my father escaped and went to Thailand and came to United States safe. otherwise I wouldn't be here today. I think the Laos government should stop presecuting the Hmong because God will curse those presecuted the hmong. God loves the Hmong. Someday he will bless the Hmong and they will be free as the world...
- anon37355
12
I was a soldier during Viet Nam, and after the war, 73-74. I saw many Hmong as soldiers. I took care of wounded Hmong. I put many in body bags. I was a sad soldier after the war.

I saw many Hmong, just today at our Farmer's Market in "Bentonville, Arkansas." I talked with them. Many of the men were soldiers then. My blood mixed with theirs many years ago. They continue to be my people.........HN Rogers, AR

- anon37293
11
=) I am not Hmong, but I am Cambodian and I enjoy studying all types of history. Indeed, I strongly feel that persecution and cruelty should end and instead, the teaching of love and an open mind should be inculcated into everyone's mind. I wish my power of persuasion work in an instant, it's unfortunate.
- anon35667
9
I think the Hmong people arrived in America, Guiana, and France by plane. For more information on the Hmong people you can check out this book: (it's in French) "Quitter son pays" by Mari-Christine Helgerson. It describes a fictional family's travel including obstacles. I'm sure you could find it in English. We're reading it for school now. It's so sad and I just found out that the abuse is still going on. Can't believe it! I wish it would stop! Why are people so cruel?!
- anon30400
8
i am hmong myself too, and i feel that our race of hmong people is looked at no differently on how we ought to do something for the others that are left over in Thailand and laos. it saddens me a lot when i do projects of the hmong and do research and find more than i expected of the hmong. i love hmong people. they mean a lot to me. :]
- anon28923
7
Well, I think that everyone including the Hmong People should do something to help these people back in Laos and Thailand because as every minute goes by there are more and more Hmong People that are getting killed by either the Thai or Laos government.

I hope that one day My Hmong People Would have our own country like the rest of the people in the world.

- anon28077
5
im making a project about hmongs. i think its terrible what happened to them.
- anon23262
4
I'am Hmong and I'm 10 years old. I am doing a research about hmong for school and came upon this history of my people. I was sad reading this because many of the Hmong are still in Laos and Thailand getting killed, tortured, and poisoned. I went to the Hmong New Year at Cal Expo (November) and saw many things I didn't expect to see. Innocent kids get torture and kill like animals. I wish that I can do something to help. All I wish for is that everyone will love each other and not killing one another. I really want the president to make a speech about loving and no more killing and or war.
- anon22693
2
i think more websites should state how the hmong people got to the US. You hear about Europeans getting here through Ellis island and what not. did the hmong just get here by plane? the hmong people are quite a mystery. I'm hmong and i ask my parents but they don't remember. if they can't pass on any information to us then our history ends when they die.
- anon12766
1
I'm hmong myself, and it's devastating to hear that our people, the hmong, are still having to suffer to this very day. Over 18 years and it's still going on, after I left Laos, when I was little. *sighs. Can't believe this.
- anon1681

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Written by Niki Foster
Last Modified: 11 November 2009

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