A stranger Hmong us

CORRECTION: Because of an editing error, the story previously listed the wrong location for the event. It was updated Jan. 26 with the correct location. 

The Hmong are one of Michigan’s most overlooked immigrant groups, often lumped together with the Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples who fled to the U.S. following the Vietnam War. Martha Aladjem Bloomfield’s new book, “Hmong Americans in Michigan,” is an attempt to put a spotlight on this community.

The Hmong are, in fact, a distinct ethnic group found in Laos, China, Thailand and Vietnam. In Michigan, the Hmong are mostly known for their community gardens, their vibrant tapestries, a cultural exhibit in Frankenmuth and a supporting role in Clint Eastwood’s 2008 movie “Gran Torino.”

Bloomfield has worked on two other critically acclaimed books on outsiders and immigrants. She co-edited “The Sweetness of Freedom,” a book on 19th and early 20th century immigrants, which was selected as a 2011 Michigan Notable Book. She also was the editor of “My Eyes Feel They Need to Cry,” a collection of stories from formerly homeless adults.

“Hmong Americans in Michigan” is a slim, 100-page guide to the people’s history. Bloomfield traces the Hmong from their origins in China, but mostly focuses on their immigration to the U.S. in the tumultuous period following the Vietnam War.

Throughout their history, the Hmong’s unique cultural history and fierce independence has often led to persecution wherever they lived. As early as 1959, the Hmong who had fled to Laos in the 19th century began aligning themselves with the U.S. to spy on the North Vietnamese. Later, they would form guerilla units to battle the communists in Laos.

They would pay dearly for that alliance. They found themselves on the losing side of the conflict and were forced to flee their home, uprooted once again. Most of the Hmong who made their way to the U.S. came as refugees through sponsorships by Catholic and Lutheran religious organizations.

Since 1975, over 145,000 Hmong refugees have relocated to the U.S. According to the 2010 Census, Michigan is the fifth most popular destination among the states, with a population of nearly 6,000 Hmong people. The majority of Michigan’s Hmong population resides in the Detroit area (4,190) with Lansing being the second most populous area (958).

Through oral histories, Bloomfield tells an enlightening story of the Hmong who made their way to Michigan. When she began working on the project, very little had been written by or about the Hmong.

“I began with an open slate,” she said. “I started with nothing and created something.”

Ultimately, she would document oral histories from 12 Hmong who had fled to Michigan, including several who had served in military units during the Vietnam War.

According to Bloomfield, the Hmong people’s history lends itself to the oral history process. The culture is an oral tradition with no written language or recorded history.

The stories Bloomfield relates are of dramatic escapes, tedious time spent in refugee camps and rebuilding their lives in Michigan. A consistent thread is the resilience of the Hmong people.

When she asked one immigrant about that resilience, they responded, “When you are faced with extermination, you have no choice.”

Bloomfield also writes about the Hmong’s entrepreneurial spirit. This spirit is most vividly seen in the restaurant business, where the unique tastes of Hmong cooking stand out. Appropriately, she closes out the book with several wonderful Hmong recipes.

“Hmong Americans in Michigan” is the latest addition to Michigan State University Press’ popular “Discovering the Peoples of Michigan” series. The series, which comprises 37 books so far, highlights what the Press describes as Michigan’s “often unrecognized communities.” The communities featured in the series thus far are diverse, including Danes, Greeks, Haitians and Arab Americans.

Not content to rest on her own laurels, Bloomfield is already working on two new projects. The first is a continuation of the Hmong story through an international film project, which will tell the story of the modern Hmong diaspora. The second is a retelling of her own family story; Bloomfield is a descendant of Bulgarian Jews.

Martha Aladjem Bloomfield

Author presentation with Hmong guests

7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29 Schuler Books & Music —

Meridian Mall, 1982 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos.FREE. (517) 316-7495, schulerbooks.com