When Minnesota was a new state, thousands of settlers arrived, many of them from Europe. But in recent decades, the state has attracted large numbers of Hmong and Somali refugees. There are also thousands of people from India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Mexico and the People’s Republic of China living in Minnesota.
The state has become more racially diverse in the last 10 years, and demographers said that's especially true among children. About 83 percent of Minnesotans were white, non-Hispanic for the 2010 census, compared to 88 percent in 2000.
April 6, 1992 - On this segment of Worldview, MPR’s Kate Smith profiles Mai Vang, a young Hmong woman working to support her parents and siblings in Rosemount, Minnesota.
May 30, 1992 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles Ying Vang, who has become the first Hmong priest ordained in the United States. Vang shares his goal to provide comfort to those in Hmong community, as well as bringing together Hmong and Catholic beliefs.
August 4, 1992 - MPR’s Chris Roberts visits University of St. Thomas, where Hmong youth are experiencing the sport of tennis. The hope is the sport will be an avenue for young Hmong boys and girls to be active. Whacking the ball is a ‘hit.’
August 12, 1992 - MPR’s Jim Wishner talks with Bob Anderson and Padee Yang about Hmong American Partnership, a nonprofit social service and community development organization. The two discuss the unique challenges for Hmong as they adapt to life in the United States.
August 27, 1992 - MPR’s Kitty Eisele interviews Hmong filmmaker Vang Xiong, who examines the loss of Hmong culture and family tradition as individuals try to adjust to living in the United States.
September 2, 1992 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder talks with Lee Pao Xiong, executive director of Hmong American Partnership, about Hmong youth in Minnesota. Xiong describes gender and family dynamics within Hmong community and language struggles of young Hmong students in Minnesota education system.
November 6, 1992 - MPR’s Chris Roberts talks to the playwright and cast behind "We are Hmong," an original play collaboratively produced in St. Paul. The play explores the generational and cultural tug-of-war that characterizes Hmong family life in America.
December 12, 1992 - Lucia was sainted, and adopted by the fishermen of Sicily as their patron saint. No one knows exactly how she became the queen of light in a little country far up in the North. Perhaps the Vikings brought the legend back with them. It seems fitting the the tune the old Sicilian folk song was used in Sweden as a traditional song of Lucia.
March 18, 1993 - At issue is the bill that’s been referred to as “gay rights” legislation. It would change the state human rights law to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas like housing, employment, and education. Current law bans discrimination based on race, sex, marital status, religion and some other factors. Supporters of the legislation are hoping the house follows the lead of the Senate and approves the bill. Opponents of the bill say it would give gays and lesbians special privileges.
March 18, 1993 - This bill would change the state's human rights law to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas like housing, employment and education. Some members of the House have been saying that the bill grants special privileges to gays and lesbians. Supporters of the bill say that it doesn't give anybody special privileges or anybody more legitimacy than anybody else. They say it just protects against discrimination in these certain limited areas. The Senate has already given preliminary approval to the bill. And if the House approves it the governor says he will sign it. Includes remarks from Hilda Betterman, Kathleen Blatz.