HUMAN 1C Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Cambodian Americans, Unexploded Ordnance, California State University, Long Beach

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9 May 2018
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Lecture #12: The Afterlives of Empire
Leang Seckon - Born in Cambodia one year before the Khmer Rouge took over. Was in the
process of rebuilding the artistic culture. His work is full of collages and hidden symbols.
Casualties of war
Secret bombing of Cambodia organized by Nixon - dropped 6 million tons of bombs. The
American public did not know and Congress did not approve it. Because of this, many
Americans didn’t know and still don’t know today how the US was involved in Cambodia.
Many refugees fled to Thailand by walking through the jungles which was full of
landmines and guerilla forces. Often times the Thai government didn’t want them either
because they were already dealing with Vietnamese refugees. Cambodians were often
pushed back into their country or may have been killed by Thai forces.
In Thailand, the refugee camps weren’t necessarily safe. They were overcrowded and
underfed and were without medical care. Authorities and other refugees robbed each
other and women and girls were often sexually assaulted or raped. Many refugees were
child orphans who endured horrible experiences.
They received refugee cards to give them official status as refugees so they could settle
in another country.
Resettlement and Cambodian American Communities
Cambodians have cluster communities, the largest one is in Long Beach which was
started by international students at Cal State Long Beach.
They were placed in housing in the lowest income areas with drugs and gun violence.
They experienced a second/third war, as they were racially harassed and beat up in
these neighborhoods. Many could not speak English. Americans couldn’t understand
why Cambodians were coming if it was the war in vietnam and felt they were taking
American jobs. Cambodian children were beat up in school and forced to join gangs.
PraCh Ly, hip hop artist in Long Beach CA
Forgetting and Silences
Many do not share their experiences because they do not want to relive the trauma, and
their children don’t know their history. They just wanted to forget and move on.
Many have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or experience survivor’s guilt. Why did
I survive but my family and children were killed? “It is ingrained in the sorrow of my
grandmother’s eyes; it is sewn in the furrows of my parents’ faces...This is my
inheritance; this is what it means to be Cambodian-Pete Pin (Diptych series -
contrasting photographs of life before and after US)
Intergenerational/transgenerational trauma
Casualties of War
Not just about the individuals who die during war, but the ripple effect on those who
survive beyond the war.
Refugee Detention, Deportation, and Reintegration?
U.S Cambodian Joint Commission on Repatriation 2002
“Double jeopardy”
One deported, they can never return to the U.S.
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Document Summary

Leang seckon - born in cambodia one year before the khmer rouge took over. Was in the process of rebuilding the artistic culture. His work is full of collages and hidden symbols. Secret bombing of cambodia organized by nixon - dropped 6 million tons of bombs. American public did not know and congress did not approve it. Americans didn"t know and still don"t know today how the us was involved in cambodia. Many refugees fled to thailand by walking through the jungles which was full of landmines and guerilla forces. Often times the thai government didn"t want them either because they were already dealing with vietnamese refugees. Cambodians were often pushed back into their country or may have been killed by thai forces. In thailand, the refugee camps weren"t necessarily safe. They were overcrowded and underfed and were without medical care. Authorities and other refugees robbed each other and women and girls were often sexually assaulted or raped.

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