By The China Connoisseur
I was given a copy of “A Heart for Freedom” by a friend of mine who had read the book and was deeply impressed by it. Although I was a history major in college with a focus on Chinese history, the Tiannanmen Square protest and massacre was only briefly mentioned and never discussed in-depth. Thus, I was never interested in the topic and only read the book as an obligation to my friend.
I’m thankful for the obligation.
Written by the commander-in-chief of the protests herself, this book goes in-depth explaining the incidents that led up to the student protests and gives the reader an inside look into the motivations and conflicts among the student leaders during and after the protests were over. Moreover, Chai Ling reveals how she endured 10 months living as a fugitive in the rural countryside and ultimately how she escaped from China. In the latter half of the book, she shares about her years in America, where she fulfilled the American dream, obtaining two Ivy League degrees and becoming a successful entrepreneur. Yet, despite her success, she struggled for 20 years with coming to terms with her past and finding an understanding for the sacrifices made at Tiannanmen Square.
My words do not do justice to the poignant and gripping nature of this memoir. Chai Ling is open and sincere about her own mistakes and gives credit and criticism to her fellow colleagues when deserved. A woman of conviction and courage, she continues to fight for causes that will bring about a better China. In 2010, she founded the non-profit organization All Girls Allowed in order to end gendercide and child trafficking in China. Chai Ling was and continues to be a leader against oppression and a voice for the voiceless.
