Essay On Hmong Gangs

Hmong gangs started forming in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s for protection from other neighborhood youth and school bullies where large members of Hmong refugees settled. Unlike many Latino and African American youth gang members who came from a broken family, Hmong gang members are mostly from a good home. They often come from intact homes with supportive and loving parents. However, the young Hmong generations found themselves caught between two completely different culture, the mainstream American cultures and the traditional Hmong culture. At school or in the public, children are American; but at home, Hmong children are in another totally different world. Hmong youth suffered from culture conflict due to cultural demands that affects the relationship between the youth and parents in which certain individuals then turn to gang

They had their own traditional cultural values compared to the mainstream culture. Hmong refugee parents grew up in a different time and treated their children how they were but in American, it conflicted with the mainstream culture and law that confused many Hmong children and pressured many to balance both cultural difference. Being new in America with very little English and new environment, many Hmong youth was picked up and dealt with discrimination that contributed to the formation of Hmong gangs. Many Hmong youth had to rely in joining gangs to protect themselves and find a sense of belonging due to misunderstanding with parents and the cultural differences. Many Hmong children lacked proper adult guidance, community support, and accessible resources to assist them growing up and therefore, had to rely in themselves and other who can relate. There contributing factors lead to many Hmong youth to form gangs and join gangs. The Hmong youth turn to gang activities for support and to feel a sense of