09/06/2026
Hello!
My name is May Lee-Yang, and I’m a Research Fellow with Hmong Museum. A few years back, a Hmong elder I spoke with told a story about how, when she was 13, she was recruited to sing kwv txhiaj (Hmong poetic chanting) at the Long Cheng Radio Station during the Secret War. She mentioned that older women often used kwv txhiaj to spread anti-Communist messages over the airwaves.
This research will eventually be compiled into a 4-6 page article that the public can access to learn more about Hmong history. Would you personally have insights or connections to someone who can tell me more about the radio station that Hmong people operated out of Long Cheng, the CIA Secret Army base? I’ve heard people DJ’d for the radio station, sang live music, performed radio plays, and of course offered news about the war. Any leads are welcome. Please DM me or email [email protected].
Sincerely,
May
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Hmong Museum received a grant to support a Hmong Research Fellowship. May is one of our fellows this year.
This fellowship was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.