Tracey Nguyen Mang
Tracey Nguyen Mang is the founder of the nonprofit organization Vietnamese Boat People, dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Vietnamese refugees. Her journey began with a personal quest to document her own family's experiences, fearing their history would be lost with future generations. Through her podcast, she has created a platform for intergenerational dialogue and cultural preservation, resonating deeply with the Vietnamese diaspora. Tracey’s work emphasizes the human aspect of the refugee experience, focusing on the resilience and identity of ordinary people who have lived through extraordinary circumstances. Her efforts have expanded to include storytelling workshops, a community blog, and an upcoming traveling exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, showcasing personal narratives and artifacts that reflect the diverse perspectives within the Vietnamese community.
Shaping Identity
Tracey’s early experiences as a Vietnamese boat refugee significantly shaped her identity and her approach to life and work. Growing up with the stories of her family’s perilous journey and the hardships they endured instilled in her a deep sense of responsibility to preserve these narratives. Witnessing the struggles and resilience of her community firsthand, Tracey understood the importance of storytelling as a means of connection and healing.
Inspiration Behind the Vietnamese Boat People Organization
Listening to oral histories was challenging for Tracey; she found them difficult to navigate and digest. This realization influenced her decision to present her family's story in a more accessible and engaging format, leading to the creation of her podcast. The positive feedback from listeners, who related to her experiences and sought advice on communicating with their parents, reinforced her belief in the power of storytelling as a means of connection and healing.
"I didn't really want it to be like your traditional oral history...for me, I just felt like, of course, no one's really listening to any of this because it's not being delivered in a way that is digestible."
Her work with Vietnamese Boat People reflects her commitment to honoring the resilience and identity of ordinary people who have lived through extraordinary circumstances. By focusing on personal narratives rather than famous figures, Tracey provides a platform for underrepresented voices, helping to bridge generational gaps and foster a sense of community.
"It was only after I released the first few episodes that I got a lot of people reaching out to me saying how much they felt like they were in my shoes, how they were going through something similar. People asking me for advice on how to talk to their parents."
"I started to add to my show, just like, hey, if you have a story to share, contact me because I thought, well, maybe it shouldn't end at just my family story. Maybe I should continue this."
Tracey's early experiences instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility to her heritage and community. This has driven her to create spaces where stories can be shared and preserved, not only for the sake of historical accuracy but also for the emotional and psychological benefits that come from storytelling. Her approach to life and work is characterized by empathy, dedication, and a deep respect for the human experience, ensuring that the legacy of the Vietnamese diaspora is honored and remembered.
"Story sharing brings a sense of healing to the journey, but also it brings validity to the experiences. I think for refugees, you often feel like your experience is overshadowed by the label that you've been given as a refugee or an immigrant."
A Memorable Podcast Story
A memorable experience that highlights the impact of Tracey Nguyen's organization, Vietnamese Boat People, is the story of a man who took an 11-year-old unaccompanied minor with him on his journey as a boat refugee. This man, who later fell ill in a refugee camp, and was taken care of by the child, had formed a bond with the child and brought him to America. After arriving in the U.S., he managed to find the boy's relatives, who then took him in, and he lost contact with the boy.
Years later, through the Vietnamese Boat People podcast, this man’s daughter, reached out to Tracey to share her father's story. Tracey interviewed him, and the episode left a profound impact on listeners. Remarkably, someone who recognized the story from the podcast reached out, leading to the reunion of the man with another person from the boat journey.
Additionally, another listener shared how an episode inspired their father to open up about his own experiences when they were listening to the podcast on a road trip, leading to ongoing family discussions about their history.
These anecdotes illustrate how Vietnamese Boat People has facilitated the preservation and sharing of personal histories, creating meaningful connections within families and the broader Vietnamese community. The podcast and related initiatives have not only captured and disseminated these important stories but have also encouraged intergenerational dialogue and healing, demonstrating the profound impact of Tracey’s work.
“When I published his story, it left such an amazing impact on me because... to this day, we don't know where that 11-year-old boy is, but we actually left it with, 'If you have any details, we'd love to reunite them.' We haven't been able to, but someone recognized the story on Facebook, and they said, 'My parents were on that boat.' So we were able to build some connections. The daughter sent me a heartfelt email saying, 'I've never heard my dad's story told in that way, and I just loved it so much. Thank you for doing this for my family.”
Rewarding Aspects
The most rewarding aspect of Tracey’s work with The Vietnamese Boat People has been the profound impact her organization has had on fostering intergenerational dialogue and connecting families through storytelling. By creating a platform where personal histories are shared and preserved, she has enabled many to learn about their heritage and feel a deeper sense of belonging.
Tracey has described moments where the work of her organization has led to significant personal revelations and connections for individuals and families. Additionally, the emotional feedback from families, such as heartfelt emails expressing gratitude for how their stories were told, underscores the meaningful impact her work has on people's lives.
"One of the most rewarding moments was when someone sent me an email and said that they listened to an episode on the way to the supermarket with their dad, and then their dad was like, 'If you think that was bad, let me tell you my story.' That was how she learned about her dad's story. It was special because hearing somebody else's story inspired families to share theirs with each other."
"We think that everybody should feel like their story is important and valuable. And so a lot of our work is creating spaces for that."
A Message To The Next Generation of Vietnamese Americans
Tracey has high hopes for the future of The Vietnamese Boat People organization and the next generation of Vietnamese Americans. She envisions expanding the organization’s efforts to preserve and share the rich, diverse stories of Vietnamese refugees, ensuring these narratives are accessible to a broader audience. A key initiative she is excited about is the upcoming physical exhibition in 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. This exhibition aims to highlight the human experiences of the Vietnamese diaspora, focusing on intergenerational voices and the evolution of these stories beyond the war and political contexts.
"Everything that we do, even though we can't escape the experiences of the war, we're not focused on the war or the politics. We're focused on the human experience. Our exhibition aims to show the human experience and the evolution of it, the intergenerational voices of it. I feel like it's going to be a first of its kind and we're really excited for it.”
Tracey also hopes to continue fostering vibrant Vietnamese communities across the globe through initiatives like community recordings and storytelling workshops. These efforts aim to spotlight often overlooked Vietnamese communities and provide platforms for more voices to be heard.
For the next generation of Vietnamese Americans, Tracey hopes to inspire a deeper connection to their heritage and encourage them to take pride in their identity. She believes that sharing and preserving their family stories can bring a sense of healing, connection, and validation of their experiences, empowering them to embrace their cultural legacy.
“I feel that there are so many pockets of Vietnamese Americans all over the world and they don't often get a chance to share their stories, and I hope that our organization can be a part of coming to them and celebrating the stories and helping to record it.”