The impossible happens every day in the life of the refugee | Kao Kalia Yang | TEDxMinneapolis

Kao Kalia Yang came to America after spending the first six years of her life in Hmong refugee camps in Thailand. Her family’s story is one of love, life, and a deadly war - one rarely taught in history classes. Kao Kalia Yang is a Hmong-American writer. Born in the refugee camps of Thailand to a family that had fled the aftermath of America’s Secret War in Laos, she came to America at age six. Kao Kalia is a graduate of Carleton College and Columbia University’s MFA Program. Her books include National Endowment for the Arts Big Read title The Latehomecomer and The Song Poet, which will be the first Hmong story adapted into an opera by the Minnesota Opera in the spring of 2021. Yang's first picture book A Map Into the World and an edited collection What God is Honored Here?: Writings on Miscarriage and Infant Loss By and For Native Women and Women of Color were published in fall of 2019. In spring of 2020, a second children's book The Shared Room and a collective memoir of refugee stories Somewhere in the Unknown World will be published. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@barb572000]

I loved the way she loved her grandmother. Kao's books are thoroughly enjoyable to read. She has a loving family.

[@JosieLewisArt]

I was in the audience for this and it's is (and was) so incredible. Thanks Kao!

[@christophervang3347]

You are an amazing individual Kao, thank you so much for reminding the Hmong generation that the impossible can happen and what opportunities are available to us in the United States.

[@txiabneeb]

....and so a healer you have become. Not a medical practitioner, but a healer of the heart, the mind and the spirit. Thanks for giving and being a voice of the refugee.

[@yaya4768]

awwe, yes, your words are beautiful and true

[@Maylc2001]

Kao, we grew up in the refugee camp together. My family came in 1979 when I was 1 month old and arrived in the US in 1988. I'm a proud sister. This is so beautiful.

[@svang78]

You're always an inspiration as your words change the world!

[@HunterPanoch]

Just finished her book, and came to watch this and I've been sobbing for 10 minutes 😭

[@kasniblis3746]

You always inspire me and give me motivation to become better and reach for more for a purposeful life. Thank you for being you Kao Ka Lia!❤

[@chouavang1294]

I just can’t stop crying 😭

[@vajhuamsibluag]

You were and are not alone. In the early 60's, three of my older brothers were in the front line leaving me with my senior parents and my older sister. I was about 10 years old. I already carried an M1 carbine 30.

[@EmCeeMS]

Ohh wow

[@ranglovesyou]

This is one of the greatest things ive seen in a minute

[@AimeeCVaj]

BEAUTIFUL!

[@MsLollyYang]

Such a strong women with a powerful and soothing voice. Inspirational ❤️

[@meikoyang1543]

Beautiful

[@lorihalverson-wente7714]

I am honored to hear your story. I am so moved. I will honor your grandmother's story and your own, with your family by sharing this with my students. Thank you so very much for the power of story.

[@ryanschwalm3524]

GRANDMA 😢 The way Kao Kalia Yang writes about her grandma makes me feel as if I had one myself, even though I never did.

[@xuelor3614]

Nothing makes me cry like the story from a hmong refugee. Thank you for your story Kao Kalia. 😢

[@sifumiaotzu1132]

I'm so glad I found this, great speech

[@realchris]

Thank you so much for sharing and I hope you can continue to share your story

[@tubceevxwmlee8328]

Hi, this story relate to my parents and how we come to America in 1992. Thank you!❤

[@toulor5448]

For the elders:
As young children 90’s born in the states we did not fully comprehend what you were saying. There was war everywhere in history. All we knew was that being Hmong was miserable,poor and a struggle. It wasn’t until we got back on our feet and the first generation Americans grew up did we finally understand the scope of what happened and what really went down. As with anything in life a human cannot fully comprehend and sympathize until you are older. When we were told the horror stories, they were just that: HORRORS. We were spooked and freaked out but it is only until you are older and out the “struggle” so to speak, is when you can fully understand what happened. With that being said thank you to all the elders that never got thanked for fighting through because all I knew was that being Hmong was that I was different. I did not know that there was such beauty and wholesomeness in Hmong pre war history and in the Hmong people’s spirit.

[@bpx2494]

I loved her book and since it was so good to learn about my family history

[@sialor9669]

Pretty good speech sister very proud of you, great story represented our hmong families. Love you

[@00ninja00]

Awesome talk!! Beautiful!!

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Thanks@

[@EmCeeMS]

Love it

[@antoniodossantos5960]

«Education is the garden»...

[@antoniodossantos5960]

I understand....El inmigrante venezolano

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Small Great Miracles happens...El inmigrante venezolano@

[@antoniodossantos5960]

The impossible happens.....

[@PanhiaVanglawyerflash12]

[@DUDEfreestyle]

k mart...wow :(

[@TheMadisonHang]

meh

[@PO2BMR]

lol good luck with that gender studies.

[@travelwg5268]

Beautiful