Historical Players

• 2nd Generation: Defined as the first to be born in the immigrated country, many people suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, cultural and language barriers, and economic strife in a new country. As they began a new life, this new 2nd generation had to face a different world while understanding the personal consequences of the Vietnam War.
• Boat People: The second wave of Southeast Asians who left their countries following the collapse of the South Vietnamese government during the years 1978-1980. Many were ethnically Chinese and Chinese-Vietnamese. Generally, people were less educated and less proficient in English. Crowded in small boats, they were often targeted by pirates and many suffered from dehydration, starvation, and death by drowning. Those who made it to refugee camps often suffered from PTSD due to these horrific experiences at sea.
• Cambodian Genocide: Led by leader, Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge were guided by the belief that Cambodians had been corrupted by outside (specifically Western) ideas. Those who were educated (doctors, lawyers, teachers, military, and police) were targeted as well as Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist citizens. Between 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge killed more than 1.7 million people through work, starvation, and torture.
• Refugee Camp: After the fall of Saigon, thousands of South Vietnamese fled from their homes in search of safety. Camps were quickly established in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. These camps became the symbol of safety for all Southeast Asian communities fleeing.
• Refugee Act of 1980: This act defined the term ‘refugee’ while creating a new process on where and how refugees would be resettled upon coming to the United States. It provided them with not only admission to the U.S., but a parthway to citizenship.
• Secret War: Between 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than two million tons of bombs on Laos. This is equivilant to a planeload of bombs every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years. 1/3 of the bombs did not explode, leaving the country with a vast amount of unexploded ordnance. To date, Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history.
• The Fall of Saigon: Also known as the “Liberation of Saigon” by the North Vietname, this event marked the end of the Vietnam War and started the transition period from the reunification of Vietnam into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
• Vietnam War: This war between North and South Vietnam lasted between 1955-1975.
• Yellow Peril: Defined as the constant fear of Asians coming into the United States, Americans were first compassionate about refugees coming into the country as they had seen horrendous images. However, this turned to fatigue and quickly led to violence against Asians.