Asian American Heritage Month

A First-Hand account

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, I have posted a translated letter from my grandma to her cousin. It is written during the Chinese Civil War between the Communists and Nationalists. So much chaos and confusion during these times. 

Cousin Jin-nian:

Have not communicated in a long time. From Kwok-leung’s letter, we are pleased to know that everybody is well. Concerning last year’s letter of inquiry about the situation in the village, Kwok-leung already briefly responded. But now the situation is different from before. Since the liberation of the village, I have asked some villagers who have escaped about the situation of the village. Shu-nian is now at home after two attempted escapes. With the help from Lee-bo (Secretary of Provincial Government), he is now employed as a teacher at a school and Fook-nian has been detained. No news about them now. Even Kwok-leung’s siblings who escaped from the village last May don’t have news about them because nobody wanted to associate with anybody. From end of last year to now, every escapee said the same about the villagers. With you in Taiwan and some in Canton, the rest who remained in the village were all executed or died from starvation. Don’t know if the rumors were true or not. Do you have any updated news? I just hope God blesses the Shu family. 

My father-in-law was arrested two times. He was released in September and died in December. Everything in the house was confiscated, even trash. My mother-in-law and her children escaped. Also in Bright Bamboo village my father was detained two times; I have no news about him for a year now. From what I heard in Upright Dragon village, 800 people were executed plus countless died from starvation. News reported that famine in Commune 6 is very serious. People are eating wild vegetables and roots and many dead bodies have been found. Even money is no longer used. There is nothing to buy. Even if there is something bought and cooked, once discovered it will be taken away and the money confiscated and the person will be beaten. That is the situation in the village now. Now we have 14 people in our household. It is getting expensive supporting the family but at least we are safe. 

Best wishes to you and your family and be safe,

Cousin Ging-han

March 23, 1952

Present Day:

The queue at the food commune. The lines are long but no more rationing of food. Life is good. No more food tokens. We can choose all the items we can afford to pay. Meantime someone has a vinyl record player which we listen to as we wait 40 minutes to select our food. Think of that cousin. There is a constant supply of food rather than constant shouting or beatings. We can wait peacefully to select our food with no shoving and clawing from neighbors. Everyone is peaceable, awaiting their turn.