I am no expert of Hmong history, but only of my own experience. This project was created to tell a story of the many different experiences I’ve seen and went through as a Hmoob Dawb (White Hmong) girl in America. The animation in this project represents children’s books, Kwv Txhiaj (Hmong folk singing) books, and cartoons. When I was younger, I was always curious and sometimes even furious about why I never saw Hmoob in American books, literature, and classrooms. Books are full of knowledge. I've decided to go on an adventure through this love letter and storybook.

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A lot of things/concepts influenced me to write my song the way it is, and the language as is, such as the White Hmong and Green/Leng Hmong dialects. I fully recognize that Moob Leeg and Hmoob Ntsuab are different and the dialect discrimination within our community continues to exist. I wrote this song to show how it was like growing up as a Hmoob Dawb girl who thought that the world was just Hmoob Dawb and Hmoob Ntsuab. While unaware of the Moob Leeg concept and having a lack of exposure to the many parts of history, the character proceeds to learn. She spends her time learning about the culture as is based on the media, politics, and elders who told the folktales. I share that in this Hmoob Dawb girl’s life, she’s confused and heartbroken as to why her Green dialect lover left her, while also navigating the complexity of her Hmong identity, dialects, and culture in America.

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Key words: 

Hmong Dawb | Hmoob Ntsuab | Moob Leeg | Dialect | History | Identity | Discrimination