Iris Chang
Iris Chang
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Iris Chang was born as Iris Yu-Shan Chang on March 28, 1968, in Princeton, New Jersey.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: March 28, 1968
Died: May 9, 2004 (aged 36) from a self-inflicted gunshot wound
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Chang was an American journalist, historian, and author. She wrote primarily about Chinese-American history and the experiences of Chinese people in the United States.
Early Life and Background
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Iris Chang grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. Her parents were immigrants from Taiwan, who moved to the United States for education and career opportunities. Chang's early life was influenced by her cultural heritage and her family's experiences as immigrants in America. She began writing at a young age and attended high school in New Jersey.
Chang went on to study psychology at Harvard University before switching to literature. Her interest in Chinese-American history was sparked during this time, particularly through her studies of the 1960s' Asian American movement. After graduating from college, Chang moved to Chicago to pursue a career in journalism and writing.
Major Accomplishments
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Iris Chang's most notable work is The Rape of Nanking, a book that documents the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers during the invasion of Nanjing in 1937. The book became an international bestseller, drawing attention to this dark period in history and sparking renewed interest in Chinese-American issues.
Chang also wrote about other significant topics related to Chinese American experiences. Her work addressed issues such as identity, family, culture, and politics within the Asian-American community.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Iris Chang's notable works include:
The Rape of Nanking (1997) - a historical account of the 1937 invasion of Nanjing by Japanese soldiers.
Thread of the Silk Road (1986) - an essay on Chinese immigrants in America.
Chang was also an active voice within the Asian-American community. She spoke out against racism and injustice, advocating for greater recognition and understanding between different cultures.
Impact and Legacy
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Iris Chang's work has had a lasting impact on how we understand and discuss Chinese-American history. Her writing has helped to shed light on lesser-known periods in history and experiences of Chinese immigrants in America.
Chang's advocacy for Asian-American rights and her efforts to raise awareness about cultural issues have also left a legacy. Her influence extends beyond the literary world, inspiring others to explore their own roots and contribute to the conversation about identity and community.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Iris Chang is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Her dedication to historical accuracy: Chang's meticulous research in The Rape of Nanking brought much-needed attention to a previously overlooked period in history.
Her advocacy for Asian-American rights: Through her writing, Chang spoke out against racism and injustice within the community, advocating for greater recognition and understanding between cultures.
* Her passion for storytelling: Iris Chang's work is characterized by its engaging narrative style, making historical events accessible to a broad audience.
Iris Chang's life and work serve as a testament to her commitment to exploring and sharing stories about Chinese-American history. Her influence continues to inspire new generations of writers, advocates, and scholars working towards greater understanding and representation within the community.
Quotes by Iris Chang
There are now hundreds of thousands of new engineers that are being trained in China. If people start finding themselves losing their jobs, not to the Chinese here but because China has become such a dominant force - then there could very well be a backlash.
Some even tried to use opium to commit suicide, swallowing large doses as poison. Others turned to crime to support their addiction, causing a wave of banditry to sweep through Nanking. After making conditions ripe for banditry in Nanking, the Japanese used the epidemic of crimes to justify their occupation, preaching the need for imperial law and order.
To a man who came from a military culture in which pilots were given swords instead of parachutes, and in which suicide was infinitely preferable to capture, it was incomprehensible that the Chinese would not fight an enemy to the death.
So sickening was the spectacle that even the Nazis in the city were horrified, one proclaiming the massacre to be the work of “bestial machinery.
As economist Thomas Sowell has noted, middleman minorities typically arrive in their host countries with education, skills, or a set of propitious attitudes about work, such as business frugality and the willingness to take risks. Some slave away in lowly menial jobs to raise capital, then swiftly become merchants, retailers, labor contractors, and money-lenders. Their descendants usually thrive in the professions, such as medicine, law, engineering, or finance.
Because they saw themselves as intellectuals rather than refugees, they were concerned less about preserving their Chinese heritage than with casting their lot with modern America, and eventual American citizenship. It is in connection with these immigrants, not surprisingly, that the term “model minority” first appeared. The term refers to an image of the Chinese as working hard, asking for little, and never complaining. It is a term that many Chinese now have mixed feelings about.
Racism is always there underneath, but usually it is exploited in these times of economic crisis, and it’s hard to find out when one slides into another.
There isn’t much discussion of ruling class in America even in Boston, probably one of the most class-conscious cities in the country?
In Japan censorship is practiced not only by the government when it tampers with textbooks but by the media, which police themselves.