THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION
mrs. Schwartzman English Honors Period 5/6
By Jack Poppell
姜其麗 Jiang Ji-Li jiang Ji-Li is a horrible person. Our schools have not been bringing us up to be good socialists. When we write da zi bao criticising our teachers, she cannot write anything bad about them. Ji Li’s family had much money before the Cultural Revolution, and now they want more and are angry of the new policies. The Jiang family even has a maid to do all of the housework. Her father is a rightist, who attacked the Party and socialism. Even worse, her grandfather was a landlord, who exploited the farmers. The worst of the “Five Black Categories”.
Do you love dear Chairman Mao? if you want him to love you back it's simple. All you have to do is help destroy four olds. Report any four olds or anything uncommunistic to red guards near you. That's it. So do this for your beloved leader, Chairman Mao
Life during the Cultural Revolution I am smart and Lucky I wonder If I can be a red successor i hear the red guard searching peoples houses i see people being humiliated and tortured i want to be of red class status i am smart and lucky i pretend to be jia hong-yu i feel violated i touch my red scarf i worry about my father i cry because my life is changing i am smart and lucky I understand that chairman mao is good I say everything will get better i dream my status will become red i try to help my family i hope my father will be free i am smart and lucky
Diary of Ying-Chen Dear diary, It is 1966, Ji-Li came home excitedly, saying that she was chosen to be a red guard. “what do i say, she doesn’t know about our political background,” i THOUGHT.LUCKILY, xI-rENG TOLD HER THAT SHE WOULDN’T PASS THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND CHECK.“jI-LI WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED if she went to school, and everyone knew she was of black class status. Even worse, she would figure out her Grandfather was a landlord.”
iT IS 1967, THINGS HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE. wE HAD TO FIRE SONG PO-PO TODAY. iF ANY OF THE RED GUARDS FOUND OUT ABOUT HER, OUR FAMILY WOULD BE IN HUGE TROUBLE. jI-yONG’S MILITARY CAP WAS STOLEN FROM SOME BOYS, AND HE WAS CALLED A BLACK WHELP. nOW, HE HAS A BLACK EYE. ALSO, jI-yUN’S BACKPACKED WAS DROPPED FROM A WINDOW, SHE WAS CALLED A BLACK WHELP AND LEFT HER BACKPACK THERE. pROBABLY THE WORST, xI-rENG WAS TAKEN into custody. The kids and I are very scared and worried.
It is 1968, my disease symptoms have come back today. Ji-Li is trying to help me through it, but i know she has troubles of her own. Ever since that article was posted in the paper, everyone knows of our family background, This has probably ruined Ji-Li’s life. I know i've been considering suicide, but i can’t. I have kids to take care of. I hope Ji Li hasn’t been. The red guard are on their way to our house now. This is probably my last entry, so goodbye.
About the Author I was born in Jacksonville Florida, 2001. After reading this book I have learned about the Cultural Revolution and what it did to people’s lives. I strongly disagree that harmful books should be destroyed. Also, if a government is corrupt, people should not follow laws, because they are bad.