Bamboo Among The Oaks: Contemporary Writing by Hmong Americans

by Mai Neng Moua

Of an estimated twelve million ethnic Hmong in the world, more than 160,000 live in the United States today, most of them refugees of the Vietnam War and the civil war in Laos. Their numbers make them one of the largest recent immigrant groups in our nation. Today, significant Hmong populations can be found in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan, and Colorado, and St. Paul boasts the largest concentration of Hmong residents of any city in the world.

In this groundbreaking anthology, first-and second-generation Hmong Americans—the first to write creatively in English—share their perspectives on being Hmong in America. In stories, poetry, essays, and drama, these writers address the common challenges of immigrants adapting to a new homeland: preserving ethnic identity and traditions, assimilating to and battling with the dominant culture, negotiating generational conflicts exacerbated by the clash of cultures, and developing new identities in multiracial America. Many pieces examine Hmong history and culture and the authors' experiences as Americans. Others comment on issues significant to the community: the role of women in a traditionally patriarchal culture, the effects of violence and abuse, the stories of Hmong military action in Laos during the Vietnam War. These writers don't pretend to provide a single story of the Hmong; instead, a multitude of voices emerge, some wrapped up in the past, others looking toward the future, where the notion of "Hmong American" continues to evolve.

In her introduction, editor Mai Neng Moua describes her bewilderment when she realized that anthologies of Asian American literature rarely contained even one selection by a Hmong American. In 1994, she launched a Hmong literary journal, Paj Ntaub Voice, and in the first issue asked her readers "Where are the Hmong American voices?" Now this collection—containing selections from the journal as well as new submissions—offers a chorus of voices from a vibrant and creative community of Hmong American writers from across the United States.

Contributors: BC, Bee Cha, True Hang, Sharon Her, May Lee, Kou Lor, Pacyinz Lyfoung, Mai Neng Moua, Vayong Moua, Noukou Thao, Bryan Thao Worra, Va-Megn Thoj, Ka Vang, M.S. Vang, Mayli Vang, Soul Choj Vang, Hawj Xiong, Kao Xiong with Dia cha, Pa Xiong, Naly Yang, Peter Yang, Kao Yongvang

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Short Stories, Asian American, Literature, Anthologies

205 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Kelly Pfaefflin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Mixed feeling about short stories and collections - I enjoyed that I could read it at my leisure but I found myself having trouble really getting invested in the book/content. Overall, I thought the stories really helped to understand the experiences, difficulties and joys within the Hmong culture.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The interesting thing about this anthology is it shows the struggle to adapt to written language as art. It's very raw, and the works vary from highly polished and sophisticated to clomping along. They surely illuminate a culture that, aside from the two agricultural centers of the San Joaquin Valley and Minnesota, is fairly unknown in the United States.

[Julie Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this eclectic collection of short stories and poetry. Some, of course, were better than others but the work of preserving and encouraging a culture of displaced people must be noted. Worth reading as exposure to a variety of Hmong authors.

[Iriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone I know. I can totally related to some of the writer's stories and life experience. Some are funny, sad, and scary. :)

[CTEP]

I don’t often review books of fiction for CTEP, but I was fascinated by Mai Neng Moua's ground-breaking anthology written by first and second generation Hmong immigrants. The book contains examples of stories, essays, poems and drama, with each writer sharing his or her experiences of adapting to a new environment,yet striving to preserve their ethnic identity and cultural traditions. I was interested in the book because I have worked with a lot of Hmong clients in my two years in AmeriCorps, and I have read a series of books on the subject since I started taking part in the Book Club.

The book does not shy away from difficult themes such as violence and abuse, culture shock, conflict between generations, the struggle of women in an intensely patriarchal society and the legacy of the military action in Laos. A multitude of voices emerge from this body of writing, painting a varied tapestry of Hmong experience.

I read the book in one weekend, which is unusual for me because I normally take my time to finish a book. This shows how readable the anthology is. There are so many different styles and approaches that almost every reader should find something that appeals to them. Some of the stories are extremely dark and not for the faint-hearted! I was astonished at the quality of the writing, especially coming from a community that is only now beginning to develop a written tradition in English.

I would recommend this book to anyone living and serving in the Twin Cities, where the Hmong are such an important part of our melting pot. Reading such memorable stories and poems by representatives of this community surely helps us cherish our Hmong neighbors more, and understand their remarkable contribution to life in Minnesota.

[Nannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the last Hmong anthology I read (it's one of my all-time favorite anthologies, to be honest), but this one was a mess, unfortunately. While I loved being introduced to these new-to-the-publishing-scene authors, poets, and screenwriters—and their cultural perspectives—many of the stories were just okay. However, those that I liked … I LOVED.

So, basically, this is a standard anthology: a mixed bag. It contains twenty-two first- and second-generation Hmong authors, with over fifty pieces.

Standouts for me include
- "Along the Way to the Mekong" by Mai Neng Moua
- "D.C." by Mai Neng Moua
- "The Last War Poem" by Bryan Thao Worra
- "Ch*no" by Soul Choj Vang
- "Spirit Trails" by Naly Yang (my favorite of the collection)

Even though this collection wasn't one of my favorites, you can be sure I'll keep an eye on many of these authors! I'm never sorry to have read an anthology.

[May-Ling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moua dedicates a significant amount of space at the beginning to introduce Hmong culture and provide background on how this collection of stories and poems came together, which I appreciated. I picked it up to read something written by Hmong writers and this did not disappoint. Although all of the stores aren't amazing, I must give 5 stars for the wide range, the strong perspectives, highlighting new voices and the emotion put into the writing. Several of the stories made me sad and others scared the living daylights out of me.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

emerging writers from a relatively small diaspora community in america. some of the writing is quite good, some of the stories are powerful, all of it is interesting (and even more because of my personal/relational connections to the community).

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides really interesting and somewhat surprising insights...

[MacK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bamboo Among The Oaks offers a wide array of talented, but lesser known authors in the emerging Hmong literary scene. With its rapid expansion throughout the upper midwest there are many assumptions and stereotypes about the Hmong people and Bamboo Among The Oaks does its best to confront them through an anthology of short stories and poems that capture the experience of first generation Americans caught between an intensely traditional culture and a rapidly evolving America.

The works within the anthology are wildly uneven. Some offer gorgeous retellings of personal experiences, others simply dwell on stereotypes in unexplained native dialects. Though all the authors have grown up with the challenges of life as Hmong-American kids, their writing often adopts the tone of paternalistic or lecturing adults (a sure-fire way to frustrate current teenagers). As befits a group of "young writers" the style of most pieces is still developing, soon to be great, but still a little way off from that.

Still there are some great individual sections particularly Va-Meng Thoi's scathing satirical skit "Hmoob Boy meets Hmong Girl" and Ka Vang's great short story "Ms. PacMan Ruined my Gang Life". These stellar selections are great glimpses into a vital new voice in what some scoff at as "the bland mid-west" and I look forward to seeing more from Hmong writers in the years to come

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mai Neng was a guest at the 2008 EC Book Festival. I had the priviledge of escorting her to her many presentations and seeing her in action. I have read only the work by Vayoung Moua, son of Kay and Houa Moua, and classmate of Betsy in EC and at St. Olaf. Mai Neng is to be congratuated in putting together this "kaleidoscope" of vibrant visions, quietly eloquent observations, and lively discovery of stories, poems, essays, and drama by first and second generation Hmong Americans as they explore what it means to be Hmong in America.

[Jess Witkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like being told the most gut-wrenching and painfully emotional secrets one can be told. It was given to me by a dear friend, and when I read it, I cried. I finally understood the depth of what culture can create for us. I was very honored to read such insights and such raw emotion.

I'm an English major with a writing emphasis and I love poetry and prose writing. I am certain that this book belongs with my most treasured collections of poems and prose.

[angrykitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

so it's pretty hard to find asian lit of any kind....let alone hmong lit.....so i'm going to try out this collection and see if it's worth pushing....

was actually pretty disappointed by this collection. it's the problem that i'm coming across more and more....we try so hard to push minority lit, but it's hard to find works with "literary merit" that fall into that category. i will not be pushing this book in particular.....

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of doing my capstone project for my Asian American studies minor on this collection. Mai Neng Moua does a wonderful job of opening the text and explaining the process behind identifying as a Hmong American writer and the process of expressing self to the page. This text has everything from fiction and poetry to creative nonfiction and memoirs. It will leave you impatient for more collections of Hmong American written works to add to your shelf.

[Linda Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

We found this book at the Minnesota Historical Society bookstore after we saw an exhibit on the Hmong history and the Hmong experience in Minnesota. The collection is an interesting mix of poetry, raw stories, grim folk stories, reality checks. It was a window into a society of people I have lived near for the last few decades and really knew so little.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book of writing from Hmong youth trying to make their way in the American life. I used some with my students in St. Paul and they really liked it. Recommended read for anyone who works with 1st generation immigrants or third culture kids.

[andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good. very informative. students also liked it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased this after I attended a presentation given by the author.

[kec2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthology into Hmong life and culture.

[Lily]

I liked the book. It tought me a lot more about my culure that I didn't know.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should clarify that that it's purely voices from the Midwest and Great Lakes region.