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A Burmese American, or Myanmar American, is a permanent resident of the United States who is of Burmese descent. The term encompasses people of all ethnic groups living in present-day Myanmar.
History of Burmese in the U.S.
A large percentage of expatriates from Myanmar (formerly Burma) arrived in the United States 1960-1980. They emigrated as a result of the economic centralisation and nationalisation policies that affected many industries in Burma during that period. The main groups to feel the impact of this were Burmese of Anglo-Burmese, Indian and Chinese origins.
A second influx occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to the 2000 US Census, there were 16,720 persons of Burmese descent residing in the States. That number is estimated to have risen to 50,000 today, because of the large number of burmese(myanmar) people seeking political asylum. The actual number, however, may be even larger: proportionally, a significant number of Burmese Chinese and Burmese Indians who immigrated to the United States for socio-economic factors tend to identify themselves as Chinese or South Asianm rather than Burmese. Additionally, the Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indians from Burma, mostly now settled in Southern California and Georgia, usually classify themselves as 'other' for racial purposes.
The American Embassy in Yangon currently offers a Diversity Visa Program (colloquially known as OP in Burmese), a lottery-based program that grants random visas to people wishing to reside in the United States.
Demographics
English is widely spoken in urban areas of Myanmar, and it is frequently a second or third language for Burmese who emigrate. Some Burmese of mixed origins speak Chinese and Hindi or Urdu, enabling them to blend into the Chinese or Indian/Pakistani communities which are more prevalent in the U.S.
Most Burmese Americans of Chinese origin live in California, where they are concentrated in the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas. Other centers include New York(most Queens,Brooklyn), Illinois, and Florida. Since most Burmese are Buddhists, Burmese Americans tend to live near Burmese monasteries, which can be found in most major cities throughout the U.S.
Sources
- (sources needed)
Notable Burmese Americans
See List of Burmese Americans
See also
External Links
"Burmese American"