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Hmong Gangs in America
| Article
# : |
22744 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
12 / 2002 |
407 Words |
| Author
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James Emery
James Emery is an anthropologist and journalist. Information
for this article was obtained through interviews and research
conducted in North America, West Asia, and the Middle East.
The names of some of the Palestinians interviewed were changed
to protect their identities. |
Criminal gangs in immigrant communities are an American tradition, from the Irish, Italian, and Jewish gangs of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the Russian and Vietnamese gangs of more recent years. Though gangs can provide excitement, income, and a sense of belonging, the proliferation of Hmong gangs is an ominous sign of the continued erosion of Hmong culture in the United States.
Some Hmong kids don't feel they fit in with American society, but they can't relate to their parents' culture, either. They're adrift, looking to grab hold of anything that will keep them afloat. The gangs provide temporary buoyancy until the kids are shot, jailed, or wise up and quit. "I see the style of parenting in the Hmong community as contributing to the gang problems," says a Fresno counselor. "Some Hmong parents are heavy-handed, barking orders and refusing to discuss issues. Or they simply give up, expecting schools to take responsibility for raising their children."
Since the Hmong are a group-oriented, "shame" culture, parents avoid asking for help when their children skip school, get into trouble, or become involved with a gang. The Hmong believe that if you ask for help, you'll lose "face" (personal honor), because you're admitting that you cannot control your own family. This position creates barriers between the Hmong community and the schools, police, social services, and other agencies.
Virtually all the Hmong leaders have ignored the pressing issues of youth gangs, school attendance, and cultural preservation. War veteran Kue Chaw is one of the exceptions. "To deal with the gang problem," he says, "we need to cooperate together--the parents, teachers, police officers, church, and all the officials who are involved with our people. We need to sit down together and talk about ways to prevent our kids from joining gangs. Then we must talk to the kids and their parents in order to change their behavior."
The gang problem could be countered by teaching the Hmong kids their history and culture, encouraging pride in their heritage and respect for their parents and elders. In Fresno, California, Stone Soup is one of the few organizations supporting Hmong culture. "We have a Hmong academy," says Kathy Garabed, who's been director of Stone Soup for ten years. Their six-week summer program offers the community instruction in the Hmong language, music, and art. "Just offering it and having it here is an affirmation of the culture," says Garabed. "The kids don't want to go
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