The original letter appeared March 9, 2010 in the Greensboro News Record.
To see Census 2010 translations into several Montagnard languages, click here.
Census 2010 and Guilford’s Montagnards
How many Montagnards are in Guilford County? Unquestionably, there are a lot. These Southeast Asian refugees have been coming to the area for over 23 years, but try to find how many and you’ll receive any number of guesses, from a few thousand to many thousands. Why does it matter? Because without objective numbers, it’s impossible to know if current policies, resources and especially funding are adequate or effective. Readers who have followed recent News-Record stories about refugees know their arrival and settlement are handled by a patchwork of private and public agencies, faith-based groups, volunteers, dedicated individuals, and professional refugee organizations. They also know success has been mixed. For every refugee success story there has been one full of heartbreak and despair.
Objective numbers would certainly help put known health, housing, transportation, and language problems in perspective. For example, many Montagnards, like many working poor mainstream Americans, can’t afford healthcare and delay seeking medical help until a preventable illness has become dangerous and expensive. Since too many wind up in our local hospitals’ emergency rooms, it begs the question, at what point does it make sense to invest in more health education, translators and translated information?
For those who read about refugees and see red, a few notes. Refugees are legal residents. The Montagnards, like the Hmong, were our allies in the Vietnam War and were highly esteemed by our Special Forces, who continue to be among their most dedicated supporters. Guilford County is not only home to many Montagnards, it is also a place in which we hear 100 native languages or dialects representing 123 distinct cultural or ethnic groups. The untold story about our county is that we truly live in a multi-ethnic, multicultural place. As long as that story remains untold and groups like the Montagnards remain uncounted, they will also be unrepresented, under-served, ignored and unable to assume the full responsibilities we expect of all residents and citizens.
The Census represents a rare chance for the Montagnard population to become an identifiable, empowered community. With the help of the Asian-American Justice Center, Southern Coalition for Justice Network, and the Montagnard Dega Association, we are going to Montagnard churches to help congregants fill out the census form. On Question 9, their leadership is asking them to check the box “Other Asian” and write in “Montagnard”.
