Humor. . . in Hmonglish

The adage "Laughter is the best medicine" may be overused, but that fact doesn't make it any less true.

When it comes to Tou Ger Xiong, though, perhaps a better phrase would be "Laughter is the best teacher."

Xiong's history shares many of the same harrowing details as other Hmong immigrants in Minnesota. His family fled Laos to Thailand, where they spent several years in a refugee camp before making their way to St. Paul. On the surface, there's not too much anyone could say about the experience that would inspire humor.

Yet Xiong has found a way to reach new audiences with his story. Often cited as "the first Hmong comedian," he has traveled around the country performing comedy and rap routines--often bilingually in both Hmong and English--based on his life and memories and the Hmong American experience. Have a look at some of his work:



"What Is Hmong?" rap, from hmongnetwork.com:

(Rap begins at 1:25)