Children of Asian Immigrants Share About the Sacrifices of Their Parents

With Father’s Day coming up, I am not only thankful for the sacrifices my Asian mother made, but to my American born (caucasian) father who returned to Vietnam for my mother and me after his time in the American War in Vietnam. From the racism I experienced from others, I had to learn how to work through my own internalized racism. Today, I am no longer ashamed, but proud of my Asian Heritage and I am most definitely proud of my Asian Immigrant mother. She left in the middle of war to follow her heart and the man she loved. She had to leave her parents and all of her family in Vietnam behind.  (My reflection I wrote to my mother below video clip).

Hear more reflections from other children of Asian immigrants about the gratitude for the sacrifices made by their immigrant parents in the video clip below. Some day I will share more of my experience and reflections. 

Reflection I wrote to my mother -Thuy Smith (C) 2015

Colonial Cambodia’s ‘Bad Frenchman’, Children Stolen From Cambodia

Colonial Cambodia’s ‘Bad Frenchman’, Children Stolen From Cambodia

Who are the stolen children from Cambodia? They are called Métis, children born from French and Cambodian parents during French Colonial rule in Cambodia. It is a sad and shameful time in history and the lost stories that need to be told.

Here are some statements made  from a series of letters written by the country’s Résident Supérieur in Cambodia, François Baudoin, regarding what to do about the métis:

“There is no doubt that by letting the number of métis increase, we risk seeing the creation of a class of individuals who, living on the margins of both French and indigenous society, would not miss any opportunities to become a source of annoyance and embarrassment to our administration.”

Another, from 1916, reads:
“[…] we must definitively break the link which attaches these children to their Indochinese origins, and even go as far as making them lose all their memories of Indochina.”

*Quotes above gleaned from article, please read recent article to learn more about their story- The Story of Cambodia’s Stolen Children (Recent Article)

Here is a related book I’ve recently learned about and will be reading in the near future. You can purchase it in book form or download for purchase or rent through kindle.

Colonial Cambodia’s ‘Bad Frenchmen’

It is a book about the history of French Colonialism researched from Cambodian and Vietnamese archives

Here is one statement from a review of the book-The Wild West in the Far East – Surprising (sometimes shocking) history at its readable best

You can read more about the book, it’s review, and purchase it here

 

Hmong student panel discuss embracing between old and new, family and community

Hmong student panel discuss embracing between old and new, family and community

*TSIO had permission to film.

 

 

Young Hmong men reflect on their history, identity, and connection to the Vietnam War

 

Psychological lense-Speaking through my camera to my new friends in Vietnam

(Written by Vietnam Veteran who met Amerasians in Vietnam after one of our return trips

 As I zoom lensed my camera into their eyes in my best photography, I saw these thoughts as I independently photographed these asking people: ~Did my dead father die on the battlefields of Vietnam?~Would I be loved by the American people?

~How can I escape the life that I love?

~Will my mother come with me if I leave my homeland?

~How can I be sure these strangers are sincere?

~I do not want to beg for a chance in life, but I am

~Is my God their God?

~I feel hope & happiness.

~Stay strong, don’t let them see fear in my eyes.

I put down my camera, my psychological zoom lens. The photographs forever stay in my mind. We wave, hug, shake hands, say goodbye, but not forever.

Past Practice
The Hmong of America marched through my mind each step of the way. The way to another land after post 1975 is not easy.

Vietnam Veteran meeting Amerasians with Thuy in Vietnam

See other reflection (Lost Children of Asia) and our (Website).

Please help share this story in trying to help reunite an Amerasian with her Vietnam veteran father (One woman’s search for her father)

Founder’s Reflections (Healing my wounds of war)