Processing the "In-Between": My Hmong-American Journey w/ Kevin Yang

(S2, EP 10)  In continuing the 2nd season “1975" theme, I interviewed Kevin Yang, a 2nd generation Hmong American from the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  Kevin is a multi-discipline artist which includes being a spoken word artist and filmmaker. In this interview, Kevin shares his family’s migration journey from Laos to Minnesota.  He talks about his upbringing in Minnesota, and his relationship with the Hmong community there.  In discovering his family’s refugee journey, Kevin became inspired to write and perform as a spoken word artist as a way to document his family’s history, and his own personal challenges with assimilation.  He also shares a personal poem he wrote called “Come Home” for this episode.  Tune in, and listen to this wonderful conversation that we shared.

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Special thanks to my sponsor, Lawrence and Argyle, a Viet-American owned merchandise line representing immigrant empowerment.  Get yourself a pin, hoodie or t-shirt and show off your immigrant pride.  Visit them at www.lawrenceandargyle.com or follow them on IG @LawrenceandArgyle or on Facebook.

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Bio:

Kevin Yang is a Hmong American multidisciplinary artist from the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Kevin creates in the mediums of spoken word and filmmaking. He is a board member with Street Stops and Mountain Tops, a team that connects the global Hmong diaspora together through the arts. He finds most of his inspiration unraveling his experience as a Hmong soul born in the United States.