Through multimedia journalism and storytelling, The Making of Tan Dan (New Citizens) seeks to unearth the untold stories of Southeast Asian refugees, who came through five refugee camps and were resettled in the U.S. after the fall of South Vietnam.
Fifty-thousand refugees were housed and processed at Ft. Chaffee in Arkansas in the summer of 1975 through December. In the six months the camp operated, U.S. and Vietnamese staff produced a daily Vietnamese-language newspaper called Tan Dan, “New Citizens.” Overseen by the U.S. military, the publication provided camp news and useful information about adjusting to American life. Beyond a tool to promote acculturation, Tan Dan provides a window into the lives and reflections of the refugees during a pivotal moment in history.
