Week 3 - Madison Yn

Madison Yn

ASA002 A02

Week 3

My first time seeing the word “Hmong” and learning who the Hmong people are was in Kaozong N. Mouavangsou “Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation Of Hmong Americans” which accurately indicates the lack of emphasis or mention of the Hmong people and culture in the US education curriculum which prides itself on being transparent and inclusive. I don’t believe I am entirely to blame for my deficient knowledge of the Hmong people as much as the education system should be held responsible for its exclusion and misinformation regarding the Hmong people’s significance as an ethnic group and in American history. In her paper, Mouavangsou also iterates how she grew up knowing very little about her Hmong culture besides the Hmong had no written language and no country, only perpetuating the unintelligence and insignificance of the Hmong people to American and to herself. The Hmong people’s insufficient recognition in US textbooks negatively impacts how Hmong American youth view and value their culture and in more obvious forms, it serves to miseducate students and scholars of Hmong history. Mouavangsou also mentions the US education system is source of American nationalism so as to gain loyalty and clout over the masses. It could be argued that the education system does an adequate job at rewarding triumphs and accomplishments in American history as well as noting our shortcoming and grave mistakes, however it only does this in regards to its Eurocentric curriculum as it fails to mention in depth the myriad of marginalized ethnic and racial groups that contribute to this country. Not only does Mouavangsou serve to illuminate the struggles of the overlooked Hmong community and empower individuals of the community, she also reveals a larger problem of the miseducation and selective education exercised by the US education system that affects all people in this country.

While respecting the research and studies conducted by Mouavangsou, I find it difficult to neglect the possible bias she has towards her subject as being a victim of the miseducation of and about the Hmong people. With this in mind, what are the most reliable sources to get information from about racial, ethnic, and cultural research? Scholars who objectively study but may be misinformed or perhaps biological representatives who can provide first-hand experiences and valuable insight but may introduce subjectivity?

References:

Mouavangsou, K. N. 2016. Hmong Does Not Mean Free: The Miseducation of Hmong Americans. Retrieved October 2, 2017.

Parker, Jeff. (n.d.) Retrieved October 8, 2017, from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjN4J_RgOLWAhVLr1QKHdB7DtIQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.co.uk%2Fwhitneychanell%2Fj250-cartoons%2F&psig=AOvVaw3U0y0lgvZcRm_rD4BMktuo&ust=1507585724230095