Ann Arbor : Alliant International University, 2015.
Pages:
133
Language:
English
Abstract:
Throughout their arduous journey and migration experience from China to Laos, Thailand, and ultimately the United States, the Hmong people had been steadfast and actively engaged with the host nation in striving to achieve equal access to education, social services, economic, and political participation. At the same time, the Hmong communities continued to rely on their own leaders, such as the clan leadership and many Hmong traditional leaders from Laos for cultural and political expertise. For the past four decades, Hmong American community members considered the late General Pao their national leader who fulfilled the roles of political, cultural, and spiritual leaders. Since the demise of Hmong leader, General Vang Pao, there was a vacuum of leadership predicament within the Hmong community. Many individuals and nonprofit organizational groups have proclaimed to replace the leadership vacuum left by the late general. During the past few years, there have been contentious conflicts in the Hmong community in regard to who should lead and represent the Hmong people in exile. The ongoing dispute and litigation between the Hmong International New Year, Inc. and the United Hmong Council, Inc. was a clear indication of leadership crisis and dysfunctional in the Hmong community. In this study, the researcher utilized a qualitative research method to gain knowledge, feelings, and perceptions of 20 participants from first and second generation Hmong Americans (professionals, elected officials, community leaders, women, and college students) about the importance and implications of Hmong leadership structures and leadership roles in contemporary Hmong American society. The following research questions were the focus of the investigation: 1. How many kinds of Hmong leadership structures do you see existing in today’s Hmong American society? 2. What functions have Hmong leaders fulfilled and will continue to fulfill for Hmong Americans? 3. What types of Hmong leadership structures and leaders do Hmong American communities want to represent them in the post General Pao era? and 4. What roles should Hmong leadership structures and leaders play in today’s Hmong American society? The results indicated that there were indeed very strong leadership structures that exist in today’s Hmong American society. It was also clear that Hmong leadership structures were extremely important and very much relevant in today’s society. However, most participants agreed that the current Hmong leadership structures and leaders were every ineffective due to the lack of leadership transparency and credibility. The participants further expressed that there were urgent need to restructure and improve Hmong leadership structures and leadership roles to ensure more inclusiveness, democratic, and to encompass the viewpoints of all community members.