Annotated Bibliography

Tina Vue

ENGL: 1200-78

April 27, 2012

Project II: Annotated Bibliography

Cha, Dia, Mai Zong Vue, and Steve Carmen.  “Field Guide to Hmong Culture”. Madison Children’s Museum 2004. PDF file.

I found this source relevant to my second blog when I was discussing about the Hmong peoples’ involvement in the Vietnam War.  I like how the source briefly covered the main points of how the Hmong people got here in America as refugees during the Vietnam War.  The history of the war and the journey to get to America presented in this source is significant to my blogs, because as Hmong-Americans, I feel they need to know how they got here.  I find this source credible, because it was put together by Dia Cha, who a professor at St. Cloud State University, Minnesota earned her Ph. D. in Anthropology and ethnic studies.  Dia is also Hmong, therefore her knowledge and communication was not as difficult for her to gather information from the Hmong refugees.  The source is also administrated by the Madison Children’s Museum, which is also credible, because it is funded by children specialists, whose purpose is to connect children with their families.  

Kramer, Joel, [Matt Ehling].  “Celebrating and reflecting on Hmong history, culture”.  Minnpost.  Minnpost.  28 November 2008. Web. February 29, 2012 <http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/11/celebrating-and-reflecting-hmong-history-culture>

This blog had the most relevant to my whole project, although I only used it for my first blog.  The author Matt Ehling gathered great points from the Hmong scholars about the Hmong-America generation how they do not fully understand the historical context of the journey their parents took to arrive here in America.  It is not like they are taught in school about the details of the Vietnam War or the “Secret War”.  This is one of the reasons, why the Hmong culture is slowly fading.  I find the ethos of this blog to quite credible, because it has been sponsored by many foundations such as the Blue Cross of Minnesota.  Also it is published by Minnpost, a non-profit, nonpartisan enterprise whose purpose is to provide news to the public.

Moua, Gaoli. “Culture spotlight: Hmong clothing stands out with embroider and intricate details”. The Jade Times. A Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Publication. 18 August 2010. Web. 17 March 2012. < http://www.deltaphilambda.org/newsletter/?p=118>

This blog states the designs and different types of traditional Hmong clothes.  I find this source relevant in my forth blog when I was describing about paj ntaub because it plays a part in preserving artifacts of the Hmong culture.  Paj ntaub is hand stitched clothes that can be sewn to make traditional Hmong clothes or sewn to make story cloths.  Each design represents the different Hmong subgroups depending on the region they come from.  Gaoli Moua, the author of this blog is a staff writer and a copy editor of A Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Publication.  Although her blog might not be as credible, her ethnicity makes her credible because she is Hmong.

 Thao, Bo, et al. Donald A. Ranard. “The Hmong: An Introduction to their History and Culture”. The Cultural Orientation Project. 28 July 2004. Web. 16 March 2012. <http://www.cal.org/co/hmong/hlaos.html>

This source was very detailed about the Hmongs’ part in the Vietnam War and the aftermath.  It provided the history of the Hmongs about their migration from China to Laos and Laos to America.  This source was relevant to my third blog, in the case that it has a nice chunk of information about the Hmong economy, and how they practiced slash-and-burn agriculture.  I used that information to compare and contrast about the Hmong’s industrial life styles today.  The ethos of this source is highly credible because it has been written by many professors with their doctor degrees such as Bo Thao.  Also it has been reviewed many times by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Global Affairs, and many more to make sure the information is accurate.

“The Hmong and Laos: Old wars never die”. The Economist. 15 July 2010. Web. 20 March 2012. < http://www.economist.com/node/16592276>

This article published by the Economist is important to the Hmong community because it shows that the Hmongs are still not at peace.  The article clearly states how the war is not truly over for the Hmong people and they still fear persecution if Thai Land refugee camps sent them back into Laos.  This article is significant to my second blog as I discuses the Hmong’s migration to America, because it tells us that some are still left behind.  As the minority, not many people will care for the Hmong so they need a voice to stand up and say that these Hmong refugee needs a permanent safe home. I found this source to be reliable, because the many families here in America still have families overseas who are still in that situation.  The only thing that makes it loose a little credibility is that this article was written two years ago and situations could have change.

“The Hmong Idenity.” Hmong Student Association.  Inner Pirate Network.  Inner Pirate Administration.  2012. Web. 19 March 2012. < http://innerpirate.ecu.edu/events/the-hmong-identity>

The  HSA of East Carolina University wrote a little introduction to the Hmong culture.  They try to promote awareness through Hmong dancing and providing presentations about their culture.  I wanted to include the Hmong Student Association into my fifth blog, because I found this organization important to the Hmong college students, who want to preserve their culture and are interested in their heritage. This blog might not be as credible since they are just students; however this organization encourages Hmong college students to conform and understand more about their heritage. 

Vang, Charlie. “Hmong New Year Celebration”. Hmong International New Year Foundation. H.I.N.Y. 1975- December 2011. Web. 18 March 2012. <http://www.hmongnewyear.us/about-us.php> 

The This foundation is relevant to the Hmong community, because they plan the Hmong New Year in California that lasts for a whole week.  This is their official website and it is credible because they do sponsor the Hmong New Year.  I addressed this source in my forth blog because the Hmong New Year is a traditional event that the Hmong people keep to preserve their culture.  This event lures locals to come join the festival and promotes Hmong awareness.    

Yang, Yeng.  “Focus Group Summary of the Hmong Student Association”. Journal of Southeast. Asian American Education and Advancement, 2011, Volume 6. Pg. 117-118. Web. 19 March 2012. < http://jsaaea.coehd.utsa.edu/index.php/JSAAEA/article/view/124/99>

 Yeng Yang wrote an article about how the Hmong-Americans did not have role models and seek for someone who sees from their perspective.  I used this scholarly article in my fifth blog, because I agree that some Hmong-Americans are shy from expressing their culture, and needs social support from Hmong role models who were once in their position.  This information is important in supporting my main point about the Hmong Student Organization of how these college students works together to express their culture on campus.  I find this article credible because the author is Hmong and explains his experiences as well as interviewing other Hmong-Americans.