Growing Up in Mao's China
I’m a Chinese immigrant, having spent the first half of my life in the Chinese mainland and the other half in the United States. So I divide my memoir in two parts. The first one is entitled Growing Up in Mao’s China and the second will be written with the title Journey in America.
In the first memoir I describe my family roots and the major events in my 35 years from 1952 to 1987 during Mao’s regime. I came of age at a time when the Cultural Revolution threw China in chaos, so I emphasize the impact of those tumultuous years upon the three generations in my family—grandma, my parents, and myself. I also highlight my love affair with a “foreign devil” after China opened her door to the western world—the difficulties we encountered and the triumphs we achieved. In addition, some old-time family photos add color to lasting memories.
I hope my son and grandchildren (as yet unborn) will enjoy reading about their family roots, and get a taste about what it is like to live in an authoritarian state. They may appreciate how fortunate they are in growing up in a democratic country. I also hope they will contribute their own memoirs to a strong and prosperous dynasty in the generations to come.
Created: 1/3/2021
In the first memoir I describe my family roots and the major events in my 35 years from 1952 to 1987 during Mao’s regime. I came of age at a time when the Cultural Revolution threw China in chaos, so I emphasize the impact of those tumultuous years upon the three generations in my family—grandma, my parents, and myself. I also highlight my love affair with a “foreign devil” after China opened her door to the western world—the difficulties we encountered and the triumphs we achieved. In addition, some old-time family photos add color to lasting memories.
I hope my son and grandchildren (as yet unborn) will enjoy reading about their family roots, and get a taste about what it is like to live in an authoritarian state. They may appreciate how fortunate they are in growing up in a democratic country. I also hope they will contribute their own memoirs to a strong and prosperous dynasty in the generations to come.
Created: 1/3/2021
