Yu’s journey into the world of oral history
Student Huang was a high school student from a rural county in western China. Under the guidance of her teacher, Mr. Tian, she conducted interviews with her grandmothers, who had lived through extreme poverty and a period of famine at their county, where many people perished. The grandmother, with her courage, kindness, and hard work, pulled herself and two children, and even a sister, neighbors, back from the brink of starvation and death during the turmoil in the middle of the 20th century. In her report, Huang vividly documented her grandmothers’ experiences, offering a poignant glimpse into that unforgettable era.
“If we overlook the stories and emotions of everyday people, the true essence of history will be lost. The elders carry with them lived experiences that are vibrant and closest to the truth. This authenticity and richness are preserved and passed down through the oral traditions of our ancestors, which deeply inspired me. It sparked a desire within me to take action. So, I began to ask questions, to gather stories, and document them.”
But, what was equally impressive is the following quote from her report: