The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land.
Hmong people have their own terms for their sub cultural divisions, Hmong Der (aka “White Hmong”) and Mong Leng (aka Mong Njua or “Green Mong”) being the terms for two of the largest groups in America and Southeast Asia. In the Romanized Popular Alphabet, developed in the 1950s in Laos, these terms are written Hmoob Dawb/Moob Dlawb (White Hmong) and Moob Leeg/Hmoob Ntsuab (Mong Leng). The doubled vowels indicate nasalization, and the final consonants indicate with which of the eight lexical tones the word is pronounced. White Hmong and Mong Leng people speak mutually intelligible dialects of the Hmong language with some differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. One of the most obvious differences is the use of the aspirated /m/ in White Hmong by the sound of “H”, which is used when it is written in Romanized Popular Alphabet. In Mong Leng dialect the sound of “H” is not in used. Hmong groups are often named after the dominant colors, patterns of their traditional clothing, head-dress, and the provinces they came from.
The Hmong groups in Laos, from the 18th century to the present day, are known as Black Hmong (Hmoog Dub/Moob Dlub), Striped Hmong (Hmoob Txaij/Moob Txaij), White Hmong (Hmoob Dawb/Moob Dlawb), and Green Hmong (Hmoob Ntsuab/Moob Leej). In other places in Asia groups are also known as Black Hmong (Hmoob Dub/Moob Dlub or Hmong Den), Striped Hmong (Hmoob Txaij or Hmoob Quas Npab), Hmong Shi, Hmong Pe, Hmong Pua, and Hmong Xau, Hmong Xanh (Green Hmong), Hmong Do (Red Hmong), Na Mieo and various other subgroups. These include the Flower Hmong or the Variegated Hmong (Hmong Lenh or Hmong Hoa), so named because of the bright colorful embroidery (called pa ndau, literally “flower cloth”). Vietnamese Hmong women continuing to wear ‘traditional’ clothing tend to source much of their clothing as ‘ready to wear’ cotton (as against traditional hemp) from markets, though some add embroidery as a personal touch. In SaPa, now with a ‘standardized’ clothing look, Black Hmong sub-groups have differentiated themselves by adopting different headwear; those with a large comb embedded in their long hair (but without a hat) call themselves Tao, those with a pillbox hat name themselves Giay, and those with a checked headscarf are Yao. For many, such as Flower Hmong, the heavily beaded skirts and jackets are manufactured in China.
Hmong (the H is silent) in the US represent a small Southeast Asian minority group of people who immigrated to the US at the end of the Vietnam War. According to US Census 2005 American Community Survey data, the majority of Hmong live in California (65,345), Minnesota (46,352), and Wisconsin (38,814). Hmong people originally lived in the mountains of South China, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, and Thailand.
Minnesota’s Hmong population is second only to California, and St. Paul is home to the largest urban population of Hmong in the world. (continue reading)
Additional Resources:
Hmong Cultural Center – To promote the personal development of children, youth and adults through cultural education while providing resources that enhance cross-cultural awareness between Hmong and non-Hmong.
Hmong Pages – Hmong Pages is a monthly news magazine. We serve as a source for the Hmong communities and businesses.
Hmong Times
The mission of the Hmong Times is to publish a quality newspaper for the Hmong Community. The Hmong Times is designed to provide:
- Valuable information for the Hmong Community.
- The tools to promote togetherness in the Hmong Community.
- A forum for the Hmong Community.
- Information about the Hmong Community for the general community.
- The means for businesses, schools and organizations to make a connection with the Hmong Community.
Hmong American Partnership (HAP) is a social service and community development organization whose mission is to empower the community to embrace the strengths of our cultures while achieving our potential. HAP accomplishes its mission by:
- Improving the lives of individuals and families in our diverse communities by providing culturally sensitive social services.
- Strengthening neighborhoods by providing housing, community, and economic development opportunities.
- Promoting the rich heritage of our ethnic communities.
Stratis Health Culture Care Connection – Culture Care Connection is an online learning and resource center, developed by Stratis Health, aimed at supporting health care providers, staff, and administrators in their ongoing efforts to provide culturally-competent care in Minnesota.
Hmong Handicrafts
920 E. Lake Street, Ste. 140 Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-872-4298
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