Losing my culture
Losing my culture to what?
At the benefit to whom?
Is it equal rights vs. culture?
Thirty year what do we have to show?
What did we learn?
How has it changed?
Was it worth it?
Holding onto my language by the tip of my tongue, which explains the accent I have in my native tongue. In the hopes to be accepted then just maybe tolerated by whites. Trading in my identity to survive long enough to see the hope of thriving in a system that oppresses through transparent policies, practices and structures.
Some cultures were based upon community, inclusive of others beyond the self. It contained a role for every member, where playing the role was the privilege in itself. This is what was equal not out of power but of kinship and membership to each other. Through processes and practices inequity was born. With the understanding that culture is not innately unequal.
The proof is in the pudding, we all chose to swim in. The manifestation of internalized racism: the idea that American dream applies to us. Our color-blinded self moves to the suburbs buys American made cars, goes clubbing, divorce, drinking, and gambling. Refusing to abide by the roles that once led a tribe over generations of war, triumph, and colonization. We go hunting for a glimmer of connection to escape it all. We have Hmong women going to college, working full-time while being a full-time student, mother, daughter and family member. Some single Hmong women seeking Hmong men. Broken families. We have children dealing with men who can't seem to understand one woman is enough. We live in a culture now where children not only are disrespectful to elders but they have no respect.
The lessons learned may not fully surface until we have completely lost what resemblance of culture remains.When its too late, the elders have reincarnated into their destiny, the tones no longer sound different from each other. Shall we wait until the day the smell of freshly steamed rice, boiled greens, and boiled chicken in herbs is replaced with a Big Mac, deep fried mac and cheese, and chicken nuggets. We move from urban schools to suburban schools instead of fighting the injustice no amount of red lining can erase. We shifted from teaching our descendants the importance skills of community to the extreme "model-minority" embracing whiteness like its a pill we can take. We now coat our leadership ways with aligning to the perpetuation of our own and accepting the fear, there isn't " enough" to go around or shared. Instead of mentees and learners the opportunity to teach and learn is, missed. The result leaving the next generation to know no other way, but color-blind, culture less, and bound to repeat history.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Thursday, September 6, 2012
New Word
I am going to claim coining a new word before any white person looking to make a big buck or two is.
The word is " Minority Minion", which means POC doing white person's dirty work. There it is now published and no one can steal it. - Kia Moua
The word is " Minority Minion", which means POC doing white person's dirty work. There it is now published and no one can steal it. - Kia Moua
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wishing Race Away
Your " I don't see color" comment won't eliminate racism.
Your avoidance and non acceptance of even talking about your own white privilege won't end racism.
Your declaring of not being racist still makes you a beneficiary of racism.
Your " my best friend or some of your friends are black" doesn't put you in the same category. It only makes me feel bad for your " friend".
Your avoidance and non acceptance of even talking about your own white privilege won't end racism.
Your declaring of not being racist still makes you a beneficiary of racism.
Your " my best friend or some of your friends are black" doesn't put you in the same category. It only makes me feel bad for your " friend".
Friday, September 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Chicken and Rice
What does it mean to be a Hmong woman?
We give up, sacrifice, forget and even unwillingly assimilate just to survive in a white privileged country.
My white friends and family members do not understand or more like fathom the idea of only eating boiled chicken, freshly steamed rice and hot water for 30 days. This traditional act is not just about food or giving up anything at all.In fact this is beyond anything a modern day white "American" can swallow. I do not expect them to by any means considering how much they value their very own Catholic practice of "fasting" during Lent. In a world where immediate gratification is of prime value, we have gone so far away from what the words of tradition and culture truly means. Though individualism is all fine and dandy for the short-term, I can't say the same long-term. In other words consciously or not, the sacrifice of one's culture and traditions deny our future generations from learning who they really are.
I just have to find a way to express to them that being a Hmong woman and mother I am not willing to give up this very traditional and blessed practice. This is a value of mine.There are no words in English language that can express the level of respect needed to comprehend when they have given up there own culture to be white and gain all of the privileges that come with it.
This kind of gain is not worth any amount of what whiteness brings no matter how much I would have to give up as a Hmong woman.
We give up, sacrifice, forget and even unwillingly assimilate just to survive in a white privileged country.
My white friends and family members do not understand or more like fathom the idea of only eating boiled chicken, freshly steamed rice and hot water for 30 days. This traditional act is not just about food or giving up anything at all.In fact this is beyond anything a modern day white "American" can swallow. I do not expect them to by any means considering how much they value their very own Catholic practice of "fasting" during Lent. In a world where immediate gratification is of prime value, we have gone so far away from what the words of tradition and culture truly means. Though individualism is all fine and dandy for the short-term, I can't say the same long-term. In other words consciously or not, the sacrifice of one's culture and traditions deny our future generations from learning who they really are.
I just have to find a way to express to them that being a Hmong woman and mother I am not willing to give up this very traditional and blessed practice. This is a value of mine.There are no words in English language that can express the level of respect needed to comprehend when they have given up there own culture to be white and gain all of the privileges that come with it.
This kind of gain is not worth any amount of what whiteness brings no matter how much I would have to give up as a Hmong woman.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Power of Two Minutes
Media portrayal of the Hmong community
First off, I should not be surprised or disappointed. This will only show how I have internalized racism and in doing so is allowing the perpetuation of white supremacy and white privilege without doing anything about it. It should not take an incident like this for me to remember what whites are born knowing of their place in this world over non-whites and the fear of losing that position is a daily decision made to maintain it to be so, while at the same time convincing everyone think it should be this way, therefore will never change, and setting up very complex systems to ensure the existence for over 250 years. This leads a many years and dedication, and collaborative effort to dismantle this web that has and is so intertwined into our lives both white and People of Color. May I never forget that racism is the biggest pillar that upholds colonization.
Secondly, Freedom of Speech is a guiding principal on this land that has not been practiced from the start. Had it been, the Indigenous People of this land, we call our rightful home, would not have been stolen, colonized, raped, acts of genocide, and "taking the Indian out of them" from the rightful owners. But when it comes to the "right" to dehumanize and define who Hmong people are, this act is protected only for the benefit of white people or who don't look like Hmong people. The slavery of Africans stolen and made to work this stolen land while white owners stood on their backs would also not have occurred had Freedom of Speech been practiced. even though this 2 minute parody was small in comparison but we can not exclude the small yet impactfull actions and inactions which helps to maintain this system that took over 250 years to start, maintain, and still exist very well to this day.
To all the Hmong individuals who thought it was funny or not racist: Please remember this when you don't get that job, get denied by a home loan, get denied for a school loan or scholarship,wonder why your insurance is higher and why "diversity" training gets lowered to a check- off box for professional training and didn't change anything at your work environment or institution or if you get maltreatment at a health facility, or when a teacher thinks having high expectations means getting a "D" when referring to a student of color. I can go on.... Racism isn't about one statement or act. Racism needs all of those little comments to maintain and sustain itself.
When we live in a country that " values children" while having the greatest achievement gap between white children and kids of color and when freedom and equal justice means justice for all, we have a lot to do yet.
First off, I should not be surprised or disappointed. This will only show how I have internalized racism and in doing so is allowing the perpetuation of white supremacy and white privilege without doing anything about it. It should not take an incident like this for me to remember what whites are born knowing of their place in this world over non-whites and the fear of losing that position is a daily decision made to maintain it to be so, while at the same time convincing everyone think it should be this way, therefore will never change, and setting up very complex systems to ensure the existence for over 250 years. This leads a many years and dedication, and collaborative effort to dismantle this web that has and is so intertwined into our lives both white and People of Color. May I never forget that racism is the biggest pillar that upholds colonization.
Secondly, Freedom of Speech is a guiding principal on this land that has not been practiced from the start. Had it been, the Indigenous People of this land, we call our rightful home, would not have been stolen, colonized, raped, acts of genocide, and "taking the Indian out of them" from the rightful owners. But when it comes to the "right" to dehumanize and define who Hmong people are, this act is protected only for the benefit of white people or who don't look like Hmong people. The slavery of Africans stolen and made to work this stolen land while white owners stood on their backs would also not have occurred had Freedom of Speech been practiced. even though this 2 minute parody was small in comparison but we can not exclude the small yet impactfull actions and inactions which helps to maintain this system that took over 250 years to start, maintain, and still exist very well to this day.
To all the Hmong individuals who thought it was funny or not racist: Please remember this when you don't get that job, get denied by a home loan, get denied for a school loan or scholarship,wonder why your insurance is higher and why "diversity" training gets lowered to a check- off box for professional training and didn't change anything at your work environment or institution or if you get maltreatment at a health facility, or when a teacher thinks having high expectations means getting a "D" when referring to a student of color. I can go on.... Racism isn't about one statement or act. Racism needs all of those little comments to maintain and sustain itself.
When we live in a country that " values children" while having the greatest achievement gap between white children and kids of color and when freedom and equal justice means justice for all, we have a lot to do yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)