Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the migration of Hmong refugees from Laos and Thailand to the United States and, for many, to California. Hmongstory 40 is a traveling exhibition of Hmong photographs, art, stories and artifacts that will commemorate the occasion, with one CSU Stanislaus lecturer playing an integral role in the project.
Seng Vang, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and moved to the U.S. with his family before his second birthday, earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology at CSU Stanislaus in 2002 and now teaches ethnic studies at the University. Vang is curating an anthology of Hmong stories from throughout California, with plans to sell the book as a fundraiser during the Hmongstory 40 events.
The book will be anchored by commissioned feature stories, Vang said, but will also rely heavily on stories and photographs submitted by members of the Hmong community. Hmong students from all grade levels are encouraged to engage and research their family’s history and submit their own stories, with a deadline of Dec. 5. Scholarships of $250 each will be awarded for the 20 stories that appear in the anthology, and all submitted stories will be published on the Hmongstory 40 website.
“Hmong history in the United States and in California is not well documented, and therefore these personal stories will give us a new window into the lives of Hmong refugees and their families,” Vang said. “In particular, this is a great opportunity for young students to learn more about their cultural roots.”
The Hmongstory 40 exhibition will have its strongest presence in Fresno and Sacramento, Vang said, with smaller events likely to be held at CSU Stanislaus and UC Merced. The long-term goal of the project is to create a permanent Hmong museum, and Hmongstory 40 will also play an integral role toward that effort.
Along with the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Milwaukee metro areas, California is home to some of the highest concentrations of Hmong people in the United States. The Hmong Student Association at CSU Stanislaus is among the longest-standing student organizations on campus and will celebrate its own 30th anniversary to coincide with Hmongstory 40 in 2015.
While the Hmong are widely known for their customs, traditions and arts, Hmongstory 40 will attempt to illustrate a richer perspective of the Hmong American experience. Organized by Hmong leaders and educators from throughout the state, the exhibition aims to celebrate Hmong accomplishments and leaders while connecting a new generation of Hmong Americans to the struggles of their predecessors. The exhibition will also serve to educate the general public about the Hmong people and their history.
“Hmong narratives have typically been written by outsiders, not those within the community, and that can lead to misrepresentations or stereotypes,” Vang said. “We want people to know what the Hmong people have overcome and how they are contributing now.”
A full schedule for the exhibition will be finalized in spring of 2015, Vang said, but events are tentatively planned for December 2015 in Fresno and spring 2016 in Sacramento. Details about upcoming events will be posted here as they are confirmed.