It's what makes one want to be oneself.
A reason for breathing,
An inner pride of oneself
It's one of the many reasons to live.
And often to live best.

Pride is sometimes looked down upon, but in our case, in the case of Peb Hmoob,
pride is not only a good thing,
IT'S A NECESSITY.

What's your pride in being hmoob?

Name it, list it, but you better explain it
Why do you want to be hmoob?

Why is being hmoob so cool?
What makes you proud of your culture?,
unique way of life?,
culture?,
history?,
and if your not hmoob, why do you respect them?


because, often I find, and HONESTLY FOR ME, I am not proud of Hmoob, of which I am Hmoob, and I search for this pride.
Of which I find in the few.

I'm proud to be hmoob
but not proud of Hmoob.

That's only because I'm not proud of "Peb Hmoob" yet.
My expectations are high, and "Peb Hmoob" is and are not reaching it.

Yet, I'm without a doubt of my people, of our
greatness and adaptation of our ways,
and I'm to make sure it comes true.

Economic success,
cultural: unity, reform, and adaption,
and a higher honor within oneself and one's people
IS NOT MERELY AN "IF" OR "MAYBE" BUT AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY.

IT JUST HAVEN'T UNFOLDED YET.....until something near this, I'm not proud.

I think it has something to do with our parents always telling us not to look up to other Asian groups. Not to seek their sympathy. Not to blend with them. I think it has something to do with our determination to be a distinct group of people. I'm proud to be Hmong.

I love the Hmong 100 new year festivals across the western hemisphere. It shows that we as Hmong are culturally very strong and we are. Our culture are very distinct from others. We don't like to compare ourselves to others and we don't praise and look up to others as king and queen like other asian groups do.

TSIS POOB LUAG. TSIS NOJ LUAG TUG. <============== Hmong elders saying. "DO NOT MIX WITH OTHERS, DO NOT EAT FROM OTHERS." Meaning do not try to be something you're not and do not act like the others.

I'm proud to be Hmong because even though we don't have our own country we have a thousands year history.
We are a people that have always kept our own identity and culture, language & traditions even when the main stream culture
or brutal governments tried to get us to change or bring us down.

There are Hmong all over the world... in the US, France, Austrailia, China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma etc.
Some Hmong don't even know about their ancient roots in China and deny that we are related to Miao in China
just because they don't understand the dialect. We may not speak the same dialect but just by looking at the clothing
and the traditions we are from the same origins. That's why I am proud to be Hmong, to know that we in the U.S & our
relatives in Laos and Thailand are not alone in the world. We are not just a small population that has been decimated by war....
We are spread all over the world, and in China most definately is where a lot of our ancient traditions are still being kept alive by the millions.

^ I agree with you Shayna.

Hilltribe Fusion? I came to your booth during the Sacramento Asian Pacific Islander Festival.