Proctor Yang
Proctor Yang is a Hmong American elder who lives in the city of Milwaukee. When he first arrived in America he lived in Fresno, CA. He stayed there until 1994, and then moved to North Carolina. In 2011, Yang decided to move again, this time to Milwaukee's Washington Park neighborhood. He chose Milwaukee because he had relatives in this city. Even though he had to deal with frequent readjustments and moves, he is proud of his decision to settle in Milwaukee where he has a stable career and a home.
Dreams of unification and consolidation of Hmong society underpin many stories that Yang told us. Yang calls upon young Hmong students to unify the Hmong community. He emphasizes that there is a need for Hmong classes focusing on cultural tradition and practices so that the younger generations may learn and sustain their heritage: "When they know about this, they can help each other out. If there is no Hmong classes, at the end, these students will not care anymore. The American way [mainstream traditions and practices] will encourage the decrease of engagement in the Hmong community. We must learn about Hmong traditions and follow them so the kids can also learn and know how to fortify the Hmong and help ..." Yang describes sees himself as an elder who is concerned about the day to day living of his people [noj ib hnub xam ib hnub]. Money and education are important issues for him. He wishes that young adults in the Hmong community will push for higher education. Once these students are educated, Yang believes that they will be able to help strengthen the community and create stronger social networks. He envisions a united Hmong society where the act of caring for each other is a priority. Proctor Neej Kos Yang, interview by Tommy Yang, Jia Jun Yin, HongYan Yang, June 2015 |
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