Hmong American Experience: Life Between Two Worlds

I was requested to upload this piece I created in celebration of #APIHeritageMonth back in May. This is a digital poetry piece on my Hmong-American journey juggling life and identity between two worlds. Although this is rooted in the narrative of my Hmong people, I know many ethnicities have voiced how they too share this experience.
I think that is a beautiful thing for many of us who have no country on the map to explain where we are from and who we are.
That we still have our very existence and story to tell.
Keep in Touch:
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FB: / nakitacvang

[@lordcron]

Darn near every word she spoke Is the African American experience. It's almost spooky how similar our journeys are. I'm proud to learn the Hmong history.

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much! I am so honored to have heard so many comments from other ethnicities sharing how much our experiences overlap. I am proud to be in this space with amazing others like you!

[@lordcron]

@@nakitavang Thank you. The honor is all mine Queen Nakita. God Bless.

[@9chilidog]

If you were born in America black culture permeates the entire American culture-you are not an outsider. Lol, stop running in the victim Olympic.

[@caseyxiong7602]

Thank you for this sister. As an Army Officer, I have tried to explain the Hmong experience to my colleagues for the past 20 years. I could not have explained our struggle any better then this. We are a very resilient people.

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much and for your service as well. I am so happy that we are voicing our own stories even more and sharing with others who we are. Truly resilient indeed.

[@Larez121]

Found this after Sunisa Lee's Gold win! So happy for your community! Great video and message!

[@Skyyy.8158]

I'm Hmong and I really love this! And please give Hmong people a better life!

[@laurenbeal9776]

This is amazing! I would love to use this in my class for AAPI Heritage Month. I teach in Fresno, a heavy Hmong population. I think this would really resonate. Thank you for your art!

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it and know how much representation matters.

[@gc641]

I have just learned about Hmong people here in Minnesota, as a Hakka I have travelled and worked all over the world but never learned about the Hmong. Your people are beautiful and your culture is so interesting, I never knew there are Hmong in French Guyana and I am from Suriname, anyway I wish you success with your channel and life, accept what you are now but never forget who you are. God bless

[@nakitavang]

That is so amazing! I am just seeing this now. Thank you so much for sharing. I have heard of Hakka as well but have not yet met anyone yet! Thank you for watching!

[@kawaiibbyindahouse]

I cried so hard watching this. Thank you for this beautiful video. You are a strong and courageous Hmong woman.

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your sentiments with me!!!

[@jamalshokri723]

Well done, I'm not Hmong, but I can feel every single word from your poem because I don't have a country also, which made us stronger and more open-minded.

[@nakitavang]

That is so beautiful. I absolutely agree. May I ask what ethnicity you are? I love hearing stories of others who can relate. It makes us feel less alone!

[@seanweatherall3151]

Amazing stories, I have been very fortunate to break bread and moonshine with the hmong in southern Yunnan China, and communicating in Yunnan dialect have told me alot about their traditions and history.

[@divinelymoowah6104]

fellow sister here, and appreciate this reclamation for self and also as a mirror for the rest of us navigating this common experience a different world yet similar to our parents and ancestors before us..a country without borders, beautifully said and something I want to embrace more😌💖

[@nakitavang]

I appreciate that and feel that deeply. Thank you 🥹

[@marimar3161]

I'm not even Hmong but I loved this!

[@nakitavang]

Wow, thank you sooo much!

[@0211lilyify]

Beautifully said ❤ Your gift for words and storytelling is so healing for all of us. Being bicultural is hard and I can only imagine how hard it was for our parents. This made me miss my late grandma so much. 🥹❤️

[@nakitavang]

Awww thank you ❤ That was a grounding reminder for me of why I do what I do. I'm missing mine with you.

[@JVPrice713]

Beautiful video, Nakita! You've done so much in honoring and remembering your culture, it's admirable

[@nakitavang]

Thanks so much Julion. That means a ton to me especially coming from you. Thank you!

[@Killtrox91]

Such a beautiful video and powerful message! Thank you for sharing your story.

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much for watching Michael! :)

[@amalbajnaid8392]

This was absolutely beautiful!!

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much!

[@KingHayabusa384]

Such a beautiful video. I'm not Hmong, I am a white European and I have always admired the strength of your people.

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much. I appreciate the kindness greatly. ❤️

[@teatea4496]

That's so true. My parents often told me when I was growing up that we are foreigners in a land where we do not belong and are not wanted. If the white men ever decided to ring us by the neck. The world would not bat an eye for our loss.

[@nakitavang]

Our parents would surely feel that most. I'm so happy we are building a new world for ourselves and putting us on the map now too. ❤️

[@lorihalverson-wente7714]

Thank you so much for sharing! I will use this in my Communication classes in Minnesota!

[@nakitavang]

Wow! Thank you so much Lori! That would be an honor!

[@joyvaj5176]

This is the 2nd time I'm watching this and I still get teary eyes.

[@nakitavang]

Omg 😭🥺 thank you so much. I am so happy this piece is loved by many.

[@jussticexiong6228]

Thank you for the reminder! 💎

[@goldenflower88]

Well done!!! I have always thought this way too. I get asked those questions everyday even to this day and I'm 32 years old. Because we are here we all need to make happiness to what we have and make today worth it.

[@nakitavang]

That is so beautiful and true. We are all here and we get the chance to make it worth it. Right with you sister. And hehe give my Hmong a little time and we'll get there loolol.

[@johnxk81]

I am 9 months late but damn, this here is so dope. I love it 👏✊

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much John! Appreciate it!

[@birdseyevue]

Thank you for sharing your story! It was very well written and delivered!

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@vanhoavannghe]

Hmong costumes very special lots of very beautiful patterns

[@Gen_ShadowCompany_203]

It's beautiful, also I'm Hmong

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much Andy!

[@Gen_ShadowCompany_203]

@@nakitavang That's actually my Dad's name, it's Riley. He named the account his name

[@yengkonglor6924]

Very good sis, I'm proud of you.

[@MLLL1234]

Beautiful poem and totally can relate!!!

[@nakitavang]

I am so glad--thank you!

[@T1012ool]

I love this so much!

[@nakitavang]

Thank you so much!

[@xxAngeldust24xx]

I love this.

[@senthilcaesar]

I recently read Hmong people history in Erica Lee 'The making of Asian American' book. This video reinforces the chapters in the book.

[@nobirthday]

🖤🖤🖤

[@crasher209]

I'm moving closer to be with my clan family.

[@leejlauj5365]

However we are still Hmong enough and I loved my name and I am really proud I was born a Hmong on the earth

[@pwtohmoov4216]

Good job frds i want to be your friend

[@gjgj2293]

Suab zoo heev ho hmong

[@Kirielive]

Can I use this for a song. Your voice is amazing!

[@nakitavang]

Hi, I would be honored! Just please credit my video as well :)

[@foreversjl]

❤️❤️❤️

[@nakitavang]

Thank you for watching!

[@ThePonsor911]

Hmong Us

[@hmoobleejtub4845]

Koj hu li cas nkauj hmoob koj zoo nkauj heev li

[@adolffranz9502]

Hmong means free man....they are people who lives on the hill and don't care about country and politic, so pople treat them as barbarian(Miao)...and due to the han domination they spread from south west china to south easth asia(laos and vietnam) and it didn't go well (vietnam war) and then some of them end up in US as refugee Piece of little part of history is fascinating to read

[@tublis6345]

peb haiv Hmoob vam meej kawg lawm nawb . sib pab tshawb peb cov nyob tim no thiab og.

[@TheEvilTwinCG2]

Oohlala

[@spark300c]

I guess that hmong have not been here enough to fit the East Asian American identity. I think they been here about forty years. In sense native born us hmong do have country. just that a minority here.

[@82daphy]

There part of Place in southern China were once belong to the hmongs taken by Beijing because of their resources Hmong were chase out by them

[@vajhuamsibluag]

Remember the recent and current hate and harassment against Asian!

[@李晨威-r1b]

Maybe you can go to China and have a look, the roots of the Hmong are in China.

[@puma6879]

Suiii

[@gjgj2293]

ທັງງາມແລະສຽງມວນຫຼາຍໆສາວມົ້ງອາເມກັນ

[@bvbxiong5791]

"but my spirit answers to Tshiab Liag" - omg stop being so overly dramatic.

[@pichupuche2474]

No, we are the ones who envy you. The Hmong have 4 countries of their own: China, Laos, Thailand and the United States. Currently, all 4 countries recognize them. The Hmong are legally part of the country. You have a very large country compared to other ethnic ❤

[@wonderfulchina1344]

hmong out china are not rich can develop your culture.

[@electrowizard3209]

Hmong Us