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Abstract
ABSTRACT This article explores how Karen refugees in Smyrna, Tennessee—part of the Nashville metropolitan area—utilize the concept of homeland and collective memory to sustain group identity and cohesion across generations. Through qualitative research, including 23 in-depth interviews and participant observation, we examine how different generations of Karen refugees conceptualize and negotiate their pan-Karen identity by drawing on the imagined homeland of Kawthoolei and their political struggle against the Burmese government. The study considers the community’s diversity in language, religion, and political views, as well as its historical fragmentation, to understand how these factors influence intracommunity dynamics and identity formation. This research contributes to the literature on contemporary refugee resettlement by illustrating how Karen refugees in a Southern suburban city maintain a connection to their homeland while navigating their identity within their resettlement community.
Published Version
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