The Right to Remember Must Come Before the Freedom to Forget

Refusing to learn from history is just as tragic as being forced to forget the past.

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Photo by 五玄土 ORIENTO on Unsplash

Few events in China’s history have affected as many people as the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). Yet, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has devoted enormous resources and energy to erase the 10-year long turmoil from the Chinese people’s collective memory. Tania Branigan’s new book, "Red Memory," is a timely reminder that despite the Party’s relentless effort, some Chinese people continue to fight for their right to remember.

Branigan was The Guardian’s former China correspondent between 2008 and 2015. She wanted to write a book about the Cultural Revolution because it is impossible to understand China today without understanding it. Fortunately, before Xi Jinping, the CCP’s most oppressive leader since Mao, came to power in late 2012, Branigan found quite a few Chinese willing to share their experiences and memories of the Cultural Revolution. Her book "Red Memory" is primarily based on her interviews and observations while reporting from China.

Communist China’s dictator Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966 with multiple objectives: destroying his political opposition, reclaiming his absolute power, and kicking off "an ideological crusade" to reshape the Chinese people’s hearts and souls fit for a Communist society.

The movement was known for its widespread violence. At least two million Chinese were killed, and another 36 million were tortured and punished for various trumped-up charges, including harboring "wrong" thoughts. My father was sent to a labor camp and tortured because of his "wrong" lineage – he was punished for being the grandson of a landowner (the Communists deemed landowners to be class enemies).