Cambodians need to come together as a community and really learn to love and support each other because no one else will, we are a beautiful people with a beautiful culture, we need to embrace it more, love to my Khmer brothers and sisters I’m always here for you.
According to the U.S Census Bureau website, the median Cambodian household income in 2017 was $66,453, which is higher than the national median income. Things are looking up.
@JC Denton-The same Pew research you pointed out shows the average income of the house hold. But if you look at individual average income among Cambodian Americans, they average out between $32,700 to $39,000 a year which is much less compared to overall average of Asian Americans. I would assume that many Cambodian households have more than one income earner. But since Cambodian communities live in areas that is generally more expensive compared to more rural areas. $67,000 won’t be enough to support their families.
EMBRACE YOUR CULTURE BY MARRYING/DATING OUTSIDE YOUR RACE. THATS THE BEST WAY TO PRESERVE YOUR CULTURE. ALSO, TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ENGLISH SO THEY CAN FORGET WHERE THEY COME FROM. THIS IS THE BEST WAY.
Southeast Asians ( Cambodian, Vietnamese, Hmong, and Laos) fell into this lifestyle and culture. We were placed in housing projects in the low income areas and were targeted by criminals and gangs of that community. So naturally, we formed gangs to protect ourselves too. Then the evolution of that always result into a criminal element.
@jfktruthseeker420 when you come into this country with literally nothing but the shirts on your back and dont speak the language. You go where they put you. Many didnt stay there for long term. Now after 40 years many are doctors, lawyers, politicians, business owners, and some are even millionaires. Most are out of the ghettos and public assistance, and living the American dream.
@BJ22 my point was that southeast Asian gangs were formed in America. A biproduct if living in the American ghettos. They were non existent in the old countries (unlike the Chinese Triads or Yakuza from Japan).
I am married to a wonderful Khmer woman. Like many other Khmer people, she was also a refugee. Hearing the stories from her parents, always broke my heart. But it also showed me how proud and strong the Khmer people were and are. I have great respect for these people. They welcomed me with open arms. Shared with me their culture. Especially their food, songs and dance. A wonderful culture. Proud to be married into this culture.
Mom came over here from Nam. She never talked about the war but I could tell she was suffering. She’d worked all day, everyday to provide for us until she got depression. It took 4 years before she got out of bed & left the bedroom.
OK so I needed to watch this. I'm been very ignorant and insensitive. As an African-American I'm so into Black unfavorable demographics and viewing Asians as the model minority. This video along with other presentations have enlightened me an I owe my fellow Americans an apology. I'm now beginning to think differently.
Its the mainstream media portrayal of Asian Americans. Before the internet, we didnt even have a voice in America, and everything portrayed of us came from dirty ass hollywood.
This always annoyed me. People would say you probably own a resturant or have money not knowing we probably grew up poorer than them by far. The struggles of an immigrants coming to a new country not speaking the language and we was put in the hood. Some families had 2-3 other families living with them in apts or the projects. This is my experience of a southeast Asian whos families came in the late 70's. Theres many still living in poverty and stuck in the hood to this day 3-4 generation in. Koreans and Chinese struggle as well , many living below poverty look it up. Its a stereo type that all asians are educated and come from money.
It is an eye opening video. I understand the struggle these individuals are going through. There is hope for the next generation thanks to a few of those organizations. Thank you for sharing.
gangs have always originated with a simple idea, "to protect each other and our community from bullies"; however gangs always manifest into the opposite idea eventually.
Gangs pretend to care about their community until the neighborhood kid is shot in the head due to enemy cross fire. Selling meth to somebodies Dad for profit, creating a drug epidemic. I grew up around gangs, almost ended up in one too. Luckily my parents, aunts and uncles already been around the block to tell me its not worth it. I thank them for pushing me in the right direction. Gotta keep the kids in check. Give them love and support. Expose them to the world.
My can relate to how’s he’s feeling. My older siblings came to the country as toddlers and when they grew up, they had an identity crisis, they felt that they’re not “Cambodian” or “American” enough that was the combination of American societal expectations and the social environment of the Cambodian community. They always felt they had one foot one side and the other foot on the other side.
Very important. Im from long beach and have been taught to hate or dislike just as my elders have been being black. Yet i never followed what i was raised yet i embraced all . I ask forgiveness for my confused upbringing. We all are human just we go through different messed up situations. So i thank you for teaching me what i did not know.
I'm in my forties and no remember being in elementary back in the 80s, and one of my teachers talking about the killings fields how a student told him that her little brother had been killed by the kamanruge. The baby was impaled and the family was forced the watch as the baby died... After all these years I still remember that...smh. I'm not Asian but we are all humans. I wish all my Cambodian bros and sisters prosperity
damn.. I teared up at 19:00... it made me think what my parent's lives would've been like if the genocide never happened and they didn't have to escape Cambodia.
I’ve was in that killing field ! People called me all kinds of name! My parents never had an education! For 7 of my siblings we all struggle in school! But we were persistent in our study! We didn’t want to disappoint our parents! After all what they have done for us! You guys can do it! All Khmer share the blood of Khmer empire! Be all Khmer strong!
Thank you for your comment! I too survived the killing fields. You have done your family proud with your persistence and determination to succeed in the new world. I wish you all the best! Blessed to be Khmer!
One love to my Cambodian brotha's in the LB & Fa'aaloalo to my SA Uso's on W32nd, E10th & E15th of the LB , Malo !........... "Saiga" --- ex Uso Family Gang: Hawai'i , 808 / 2014 U.S. Deportee - Western Samoa
Us Khmer people need to work together and build up the community that is best for our future generations. We need to create a positive image about Cambodians and the best way is to work together. ✊🏽🇰🇭
Very sad. I committed myself to ensuring my children never had to endure the kind of stress these kids are enduring. Trust me 24 years of marriage can have its lumps, but at the end of the day if you are tenacious about giving your children a happy, stable, home...it can be achieved. At the same time, I also ensured my kids were aware of this sort of lifestyle (the same as I grew up in) and that there is real shit, with real problems going on.
It's crazy because I'm mixed. I'm part of Cambodian, Vietnamese and Chinese. Yeah i had a rough childhood but living in east side in my hometown. it was tough but both my stepmom and dad are Vietnamese taught me things i have to know. I can relate some of it because back in 2008 I reunited with my mom who is Cambodian but i felt like she was different, i tried to fix the problem as her only child, however... the way i see it, it seems like she doesn't want me and her family. I cant blame them because lack of communication. I'm so thankful because my stepmom who is my Vietnamese mom who always put me in my place to become a better man be a good person. Asian parents are old school but hey at least you would understand as you grow older and understand why did this or that. With my experience i do understand why they did and that. Thanks to my stepmom who i consider as my mom mostly and well a little bit of my dad since he always scares me well both of them even though we don't talk much... at least i forgive him and respect him. As a adult I understand because its adult life :D
I love how some comments say they "respect" this shit. There's no excuse! Victim mentality and go getter mentality is what makes or breaks these kids. They already are winning by being born here but use their parents life as an excuse to fail.
Did you know Cambodians that were born here or were the generation that actually came here? After a generation or two they are just like any other Americans, and click up if they have to.
@@akllls617 it’s not using their parents life as an excuse to fail, it’s just like how any other person would be dragged into that lifestyle, gangs in the area and the poverty their in
I love my cambodian people. It's sad how our parents had to experience the killing fields then came to America for a better life to then see their children gang banging, underachieving in school, & losing their khmer communication... I too need to relearn how to speak khmer as I was born in America & became more Americanized
Americanized.. what is it actually? You were born in America so you can't be Americanized. What ever you do becomes part of being American. America is based on a diferent cultures mixing together.
@@kennethyoung9560 It could be a facade. For example, many wealthy-looking Koreans value their image so much that they buy materialistic goods that make them look and feel rich, but they really have nothing of value at the end of the day. They basically don't have much savings as you might expect. They are probably living in debt.
Who assumed that? Literally every single gle Asian I know works hard for what they have. Yes, some are extremely wealthy, but they still have to work everyday. If they don't work, they'll be out on the streets.
These are good people or Cambodians are good people. It is just sad to see them in a rough environment. It is giving them a bad reputation but I know they are good. And stupid young....I heard your music. Keep it up and try do what you can. Don’t ever give up!
That’s crazy how gangs make races not like each other especially over there cause here in MD we all get along doesn’t matter what race you are as long as you’re solid
kind of hate how the interviewer asking Uncle "got use to seeing..." like he just said it. My Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Grandma, and Grandpa Escaped to Thailand too. They had to deal with the same shit out here in NY and MN when they finally settled here. Edit: I spoke fluently until 4th grade when ESL forced me to believe that I would never need it later on in life.
We need more Khmer speaking mental help therapist / psychologist. therapy is key to aid in helping to heal our community. Trauma is passed down by generations - we come from great artists, musicians, leaders etc Let’s heal our community
My grandma stay threatening me in Khmer talking bout she gon send me to Cambodia ... all I did was buy some fast food , and you know how old Asian ladies be when they say “ we got food at the house ,” man ain’t nobody tryna eat rice with soy sauce 😂😂
I'm Salvadorian, my dad fled the civil war to the U.S. our neighbors were Cambodian and Vietnamese we used to all chill together in East Long Beach. Our fathers telling stories of how fucked up their countries were and how fortunate we are to be U.S. born.
US Gov didn't exactly do the best job with the resettlements. Basically just dropped people in various pockets of the country, gave them legal status to stay here, gave a basic place to stay and that's it. No education programs or training programs. Limited English help in some locations. I believe if the US Gov had given more assistance to the first groups that came here, it would have helped subsequent generations much more. I'm not from SE Asia, but I spent a number of years working there (in Thailand). I think it would probably be a great experience for those who were born here in the US, or were too young to remember, to spend some time in Cambodia - even if just for a few months or so.
To the youngsters confused n overwhelmed by American society. Forget about all that! FOCUS on school! If your not intellectual, go to a trade school. Take advantage of all the programs available. Find them! FOCUS. Quit trying to fit in. EDUCATION, TRADE SCHOOL! Open your minds. Visualize. Becoming emotionally strong. Workout. Read. Move if you have to. Only takes a lil time to be living a completely different life! Do this or be a slave.
Notice how we will always see people who come up somewhere on TV or in pictures with a famous person.. Almost like it's planned.. Like they all know eachother 👀
@dek heay in some areas we were, when first migrated, but the the second generation are abit more spread out as alot became adult and work family and job choices
At 13:20 the kids counselor, he already explained the question, which the journalist was asking him next. She must miss his answer since she's busying thinking about planned next questions.
Don't carry that weight, you are in America make the best of it! Dream big, grow, become successful! Take advantage of the opportunities! Stay educated!
I visited Cambodia about ten years ago and found the people to be kind and hospitable. The gang lifestyle doesn't at all fit with my perception of the people and the culture.
Yeah, of course many people from Cambodia don't know english. A lot of Cambodians before spoke Khmer and then French. Older generation is probably tired to learn yet another language.
"Let me take you to a section where it ain't nice, niggas don't work they just shake dice, Hennessey sippin' they don't think twice Cambodia Town nigga welcome to the gang life" - $tupid Young
Radio shack. Wow. Where dream were made. Where dream of dreaming that became a reality. For example, electric vehicles, now we have them. Crazy time. Peace with everyone. Stand up my Asian Brothers, war ain't over. Protect all Asian brother and sister, even our elders. Stay strong. 1st gen Asian Mien. One love
How do you lose your mother tongue? How can you live in the same exact house with the only person who gave birth to you and not know the same language? You basically gave up your identity so that you can be Americanized
your last sentence sums it up. The funny thing is that the older I get and start to look at myself I reminisce about my old identity, then work on myself to relearn my other culture the Khmer culture. I love being American, but I appreciate my Khmer culture just as much.
I found that strange, because my parents came to this country not knowing a lick of English and English became my second language. Even tho I decided to speak more English, we still understood each other pretty well no matter what language we spoke. I mean after so many years my parents learned English without going to school and I still understand them no matter what they choose they speak in.