Monthly Archives: April 2024

The Art of Tshab Her

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“The United States has forgotten about the Hmong people and what they did. We helped the Americans. We died for the Americans–and we still are, long after the war has ended. And isn’t it ironic that most Americans don’t even know who we are.”

-General Vang Pao, 1979


Through her lived experience as a second-generation Hmong-American woman, her artistic endeavors both illuminate and complicate the intricate politics of displacement. As a member of a nation-less ethnic minority originating from Southeast Asia, she grapples with the looming threat of cultural erasure. Her creative output serves as a testament to the dispersed nature of the Hmong community, probing the significance of location and the spaces in between. Employing a diverse array of mediums including embroidery, installation art, and social engagement, she navigates the realms of political and cultural discourse.

In her artistic practice, she harnesses the power of color as a communicative tool, sparking conversations about spatial dynamics, ownership, and the assertion of identity. By integrating traditional Hmong textiles, language, and strategic placement of materials, she delves into the nuanced question of belonging, whether it pertains to physical land or the autonomy of the body. Her work becomes an integral part of the ongoing dialogue surrounding the historical trajectory of political refugeeism in the United States.

Photo: Tshab Her

Art serves as her chosen platform to explore the intricate interplay between visibility and invisibility within the context of the Hmong diaspora. Through her creative process, she not only situates her own body but also those of others within this complex narrative landscape, seeking to uncover the generative spaces that exist within the margins of societal consciousness.

Heritage Vocabulary:

  1. 流亡 (Liúwáng) – Displacement
  2. 文化 (Wénhuà) – Culture
  3. 跨文化 (Kuà wénhuà) – Cross-cultural
  4. 彩色 (Cǎisè) – Color
  5. 藝術 (Yìshù) – Art

Reference:https://www.artistsonthelam.com/tshab-her

What Is Food Insecurity?

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Food insecurity, a pervasive global issue, affects individuals and families across all economic strata, stemming from insufficient resources or restricted access to safe, nutritious food. Its ramifications extend beyond hunger, manifesting in compromised physical and mental well-being, diminished academic performance in children, and increased prevalence of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Often synonymous with “food poverty,” it diverges from food shortages, which denote insufficient food supplies in a given area. Rather, food insecurity arises from economic challenges such as poverty or unemployment, rendering existing food resources inaccessible to certain demographics.

Food insecurity has a deeply rooted history in the United States, stretching back to colonial times when farmers grappled with erratic harvests. The Great Depression of the 1930s amplified this issue as widespread job losses left many without means to feed themselves. President Lyndon Johnson’s declaration of a “war on poverty” in the 1960s highlighted the nation’s growing concern over food insecurity, which has since remained intertwined with poverty. Presently, over 40 million Americans, roughly one in eight households, face food insecurity, impacting diverse demographics such as children, the elderly, low-wage earners, rural residents, and racial minorities. Moreover, women bear a disproportionate burden of this challenge.

Signs of Food Insecurity

Signs of food insecurity encompass skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, facing trade-offs between food and essential expenses like rent, and turning to food assistance programs for support.

Below, Verywell Mind has compiled a list of the most common signs of food insecurity:

  • Shifting meal patterns—skipping meals, eating smaller meals, or relying on less expensive items like macaroni and cheese instead of healthier foods
  • Inability to store food—food may spoil quickly due to lack of refrigeration or other storage solutions.
  • Low energy levels—lack of nutritious foods can lead to fatigue, headaches, and other health issues.
  • Worrying about running out of food—constant concern about having enough food for the family.
  • Physical changes—weight loss or gain due to insufficient access to healthy diets.

Tips for Reducing Food Insecurity

Verywell Mind has also listed suggestions for individuals and communities seeking to alleviate food insecurity:

  • Support food banks and other organizations that provide meals or groceries to those in need.
  • Encourage local businesses to donate unsold items to food banks or other organizations.
  • Advocate for public policies that prioritize access to nutritious foods in areas where food deserts exist.
  • Volunteer at soup kitchens, shelters, or other local organizations providing meals for the hungry in your community.
  • Educate yourself and others about the signs of food insecurity and how to identify it in your own life or that of another person.
  • Start a community garden to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need.
  • Donate money or other items (e.g., canned goods, non-perishable foods) to organizations providing meals for the hungry in your community.
  • Create a support system of family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who can help provide resources or meals when needed.
  • Provide emotional support and understanding to those going through food insecurity—listen without judgment or offering unsolicited advice.
  • Encourage public discussion about food insecurity—raise awareness by starting conversations with friends and family about the issue.


Food insecurity poses a significant global challenge, impacting millions and causing profound physical, mental, and social hardships. Engaging in actions like donating, volunteering, advocating for policy reform, and establishing support networks can significantly alleviate this issue for affected individuals and families. If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, seeking assistance from organizations such as Feeding America can offer valuable support and resources.

Reference:https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-food-insecurity-7097382

A Poem by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

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Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, known by both they/them and she/her pronouns, wears many hats as a writer, cultural worker, and disability justice advocate. They blend storytelling with technology, making it their primary tool for amplifying marginalized voices and advocating for transformative justice. As an Aries/Taurus with a penchant for creation and documentation, Leah has authored or co-edited numerous impactful books, including “The Future Is Disabled” and “Care Work,” while also contributing extensively to various publications like Eater and Disability Visibility Project.

Their collaborative spirit shines through in their work, as they often create performances and rituals alongside other disabled BIPOC creators, fostering spaces of belonging and empowerment. From curating poetry folios to crafting grief transformation portals, Leah’s contributions to the disability community are multifaceted and deeply resonant. Their commitment to storytelling as a means of resistance and healing, coupled with their dedication to centering marginalized voices, makes Leah a vital force in the ongoing pursuit of justice and liberation for all.

“my body is 40 miles of bad road”- working class krip saying

you mean well, but

when I say I hurt         when I say some part of

my body hurts      and you say oh, did you do something?

I hear       what did you do? As is, it’s your fault,

there’s cause and effect and there’s a simple

story, and if a + b = c we can fix it

fast.

But there’s no simple story in this body.

She falls apart whenever she feels like it,

which is often. She doesn’t feel like going to

work or up and down three flights of stairs, and she’ll tell you all about it.

She can smell the weather.

She got a lot of stories

and just like her mama did at slam church two decades ago,

she spits them out my kneecap like a gun with chaotic

yet accurate aim.

She is forty miles of perfect bad road

all bumps and potholes that could take out your wheel.

You gotta know how to drive it.

You gotta not be too worried about breaking your car

(because she’s already broke          too)

I mean, I could tell you, everything happened! I could tell you my mama

molested me, I could tell you hers did too,

I could tell you we had to walk a long long way and get on a boat,

I could tell you I moved to brooklyn for love but there’s a lot of stairs here too

I could read you the particulate matter of the air, that they’re spraying for pesticides today

that I ran out of  the fish oil that greases my knee into smoothing,

and I don’t know if the CVS sells it here

– but does anyone want to hear all that?

The staying chant         

the recitation

of everything that’s happening in my body, and their body,

and the park’s body, and on the subway huffing diesel and cigarettes

When you say it’s just pain for no reason all the time, fibro, right?

I say, close but no cigar!

I say I intimate with pain tides

This ground not steady!  Why would it be?

As soon as I figure it out she flips me the bird

shapeshift hip transforms and says fuck you, you figure it out

Sometimes the place where my mama threw me into the wall

at three and broke my sacrum talks to me,

locks all my earth into cement.

Some days I don’t know what day it is.

Some days my ass leaks tidal marsh, briny river

Some times everything    everything

everything    every thing

hurts

like a church bell

like a call to prayer

and it calls me to pray

this pain

breathing into any place that doesn’t hurt

some of which only exists in my revolutionary imagination.

Sometimes you have to talk quiet.

Sometimes I can’t talk at all.

Of course you don’t believe that, but I feel the need to declare:

my life is worth living anyway

I love every jounce on this bad, bad

underfunded budget cut frost heave road

not everyone’s car can make it down;

      you gotta know

      how to drive it

I love every car that just gave up in the mountain pass

every hubcap that fell off

every- yes- road not on any map

every rock and resisting

every reason this happened

every reason this body

is reason enough

for being.

 LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA


In essence, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha epitomizes the power of storytelling and creative expression as tools for liberation and social change. Their multifaceted roles as a writer, cultural worker, and disability justice advocate underscore the importance of centering marginalized voices in narratives of identity, culture, and gender. Through their work, Leah champions the freedom of expression, weaving together stories that honor the complexities of lived experiences and challenge systems of oppression. By amplifying the voices of disabled BIPOC creators and advocating for transformative justice, Leah embodies a commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all individuals can authentically express themselves and thrive. Their contributions serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for a more equitable and compassionate world.

Reference:https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/159971/bad-road https://brownstargirl.org/