Massacre survivor visits Global Studies class
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Photo by junior Joe Pilkington |
 Charlene Li vividly remembers the day that Chinese military personnel stormed the Tiananmen Square to stop students protesting the Chinese government. She was a professor teaching English to Chinese students that June of 1989. Although many of her students were present during the protest, fortunately none of them were killed at the event, which is now called the Tiananmen Square massacre. But one of her friends was — eight bullets to her body.
The Chinese government continues to deny that the massacre occurred, even despite evidence from video and primary sources — a fact that Li says is disturbing to her and the Chinese.
Li shared her story and discussed the Chinese culture with students in teachers Matt Rife and Tia Martinez’s Global Studies classes on Oct. 2. Her visit was used in conjunction with the district’s newly-created Global Studies course, and was part of the first unit of study: “How do we know?”
Li told the class about her life in poverty at that time, how tickets were required to buy little amounts of food and supplies, and other living conditions she had to endure.
She moved to America in 1991 and earned two Master’s degrees. She now works in the health care industry and says she enjoys living in the states because of the freedoms America offers.
Junior Joe Pilkington contributed to this story. |
