Image description: A weathered American flag flies on a flagpole against a soft sage green sky. The flag appears worn and frayed, with its stripes streaming and torn edges visible, creating a poignant image of endurance.
Mississippi, USA: The Fisher People
They came here in search of a different life.
And that’s exactly what they found.
The Fisher People explores the immigration experiences of Vietnamese refugees on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Their stories are Mississippi’s stories – the triumphs and challenges that have defined life along the shore for the last 50 years.
Episodes
Image description: An old, yellowed map of Vietnam displayed on a white wall. The map shows regional boundaries marked in red lines and numerous place names. A red and white flag is partially visible on the right side of the frame.
Part One: Everything Has Changed
As the Vietnam War enters its final days, many South Vietnamese citizens look for a path to a better life. First, they have to escape their own country. Saigon is surrounded; the only ways out are by air or by water.
Image description: A tall white lighthouse stands against a vibrant sunset sky filled with orange, pink, and purple clouds. The lighthouse is positioned along a coastal road lined with street lights and framed by silhouetted trees. The Gulf coast waterfront is visible in the background.
Part Two: The Promised Land
Adjusting to life in a new country is hard, made harder by a language barrier, cultural differences, and a tight economy. For the Vietnamese who have settled along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the promised land may be a mirage.
Image description: An elderly Vietnamese woman wearing a traditional white conical hat and pink-striped shirt kneels while examining contents of a red plastic basket. She is positioned outside a building marked '105' with a brick wall background.
Part Three: Little Saigon
Vietnamese refugees who settled along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have found a slow acceptance, creating communities where they may freely practice their beliefs and live the American Dream. How will the dual storms of economic pressure and a changing climate threaten everything they’ve built?
Image description: A fisherman wearing a cap stands on a boat at sunset, shown in profile against a pastel sky of pink and purple hues. Fishing ropes and equipment hang in the foreground, framing the contemplative scene on calm waters.
Part Four: The Stories We Tell
Once a lifeline for Vietnamese refugees, the seafood industry is beset by economic and meteorological challenges. From their hard-earned living, education and opportunity has opened new doors for the children of those who toiled on the water. The next generation of Vietnamese Americans balance their pursuit of the American dream with the desire to preserve their parents’ stories.
