Since beginning my study of Hmong life, both in Laos and in their new country, the USA, a number of situations have been brought to my awareness. I find the reports to be stunning, but even more unbelievable due to a seeming unawareness of the American public, at the time. The Vietnam War was in the news, too much so, in the 1960s. Watching “gooks” get killed, and seeing the televised fight going on, right under our noses, seemed surreal. Yes, have a dose of “I Love Lucy,” “Peyton Place,” and “General Hospital,” and then, have a dose of war.
Only recently, through the study of needlework, did I learn about the Hmong people and their need to escape to Thailand, across the Mekong River, from Laos, the only escape route for them. They were targeted for death by the Communists, after the war. I did not know about the young babies or the very ancient ones who had to be left behind, sometimes by the side of the trail, when they could be no longer be carried or helped to safety. Moreover, as hillside farmers, most of the Hmong did not know how to swim, and many drowned in trying to cross the Mekong on makeshift conveyances. In the so-called, “Secret War” of Laos, countless Hmong lost their lives, fighting for democracy, as allies of the United States and CIA operatives.
I recently read that U.S. official Alexander Haig confirmed the existence of “yellow rain,” a substance (mycotoxins) dropped from helicopters and planes from those enemies who wanted to exterminate the Hmong people. One scientific theory proposed that what dropped from the skies was actually bee feces. Indeed? Bee feces would not cause immediate, severe illness and death. Poison could, and poison did.
I can only imagine the thoughts of the Hmong people when they saw the last U.S. planes carrying away their “friends” in the fight for freedom. Lifting into the skies and roaring away, the planes and their military occupants were leaving them to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, a concerted effort at genocide of the Hmong was underway. They sought asylum in Thailand, but soon the refugee camps were full to overflowing. The food was meager, usually consisting of dried fish and rice. People contracted dysentery, due to poor sanitary conditions, and because they were already at risk for health problems because of an imbalanced diet.
The admired story cloths and the traditional, embroidered panels of the Hmong women (and men) tell the story of only one part of Hmong culture. When we look at this needlework, we feel happy, until we realize the greater meaning of the escape scenes, after the war ended in 1975. We admire the tiny stitches and fine workmanship. However, behind the stitches, and the costumes of the Hmong, is a long tale of a suffering people, always trying to fit in to someone else’s country but always without a country of their own. Their culture is unique, wrought with meaning, symbolism, traditions, animistic beliefs, and folk legends, and a language that was banned.
This is a Paj Ntaub in non-typical colors of yellow and green, most likely made by a member of the Blue Hmong tribe who favor the use of a lot of cross-stitch and center medallion work.
The July issue of The Quilter magazine is available now. I hope that you will have the chance to enjoy the article I wrote about the Hmong and their needlework, Part 1 of a two part series. Many thanks to my dear friend, Sandra Munsey, who suggested this article and without whose collection of Hmong items, this article would not have been possible. Thanks to the lovely college administrator who sold me one of her story cloths that she bought while in Laos, where she was a war-time reporter; and thanks to Yuepheng Xiong for his help in securing a second story cloth.
Years later, this topic of the Hmong migration to the U.S., is worthy of your attention. Only when we can place needlework within a context does it take on greater meaning. I hope you enjoy these articles.
For more information, please see “Hmong Textile Art: The Tie That Binds A Culture,” an article written some time ago, for our website.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – At the moment, there is a Hmong baby carrier published on the front page.
