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.
