Living in a Khmer Krom Community

By Lam Te

            I am a Khmer Krom-American, but I never really knew what it meant and what to make of it. My parents exposed me to culture and what it was like to be Khmer Krom starting from when I was very young. When I was young, both my parents were very involved within the Khmer Krom community and I took in the experiences as a young child, as I had to follow them wherever they went. I never really understood the fight for this land that was lost to South Vietnam and the determination that settled into the hearts of the Khmer people who wished for Khmer Kampuchea Krom to return to Cambodia. My parents were both members of the Khmer Krom Federation (KKF) and attended meetings in Lowell, MA, New Jersey, as well as Washington, D.C. They greatly supported the movement and took part in any way that they could. They showed me what hard work and dedication was, despite hardships along the way.

            When I was 7, my parents started participating in the dragon boat racing that was held in Lowell, MA at the Asian Water Festival every August. Their team was the Khmer Krom team and all the Khmer Krom people within the community helped to support them with money for food, team shirts, as well as flags. The team started from the ground up and eventually was very successful. To practice, they practiced on a wooden log, and over time with fundraising and the success that they had with winning, they eventually could afford their own oars and their own fiberglass boats to practice with. After many wins, the team was able to go to places like Philadelphia, Florida, Washington, as well as Rome, Italy. I was always happy to go along for the trips, and it is always nice knowing that we had a very supportive community.

            I was 12 when I attended my first protest in Washington, D.C. The protest was to demand back land that was rightfully Cambodia’s. I still was unaware of what happened in history and what we were fighting for. I just did as everyone else did, held up signs and demanded freedom like everyone else. Now it made me realize how fortunate I am to be in this country, to be able to freely protest for what I believe in without being harmed or jailed. We should take advantage of being Americans and do whatever we can for our fellow Khmer people in other places that may not have as many freedoms or can be in grave danger for speaking out against their government.

            I am 21 now, and I have yet to figure out what I should do to give back to my community someday. My parents always told me that we need more educated Khmer Krom people to help and to make a difference. They have great faith that I could be one of them. After graduating from my 4-year university, I plan on pursing a career in the United States Air Force. After my service is over, I plan on using the connections that I obtain to give back to my community that took care of me somehow. With my experience, I can help to educate and liberate future generations.