Vocabulary

It is important to understand the meaning behind the words in this memoir. This is a complied list that may help in the reading of this story.

black: opposed to the Communist Party (red symbolizing Communism). Has a negative connotation.

black whelp: derogatory name used on families belonging to the "Five Black Categories"

bourgeois: member of the middle class--- aimed at those a part of the Capitalist system

capitalism: private ownership of land, business, and other means of production; values competition among people

class status: system of classifying people based on their economic situation/occupation

communism: land, resources, and businesses owned by the community as a whole; values the profit of all things as for the benefit of all members in the community

da-zi-bao: written propaganda written against accused counterrevolutionaries (those against Communist Party)

educable child: a child from a "black family" who is loyal to the Communist Party and rejects their black family

Five Black Categories: landlords, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries, criminals, and rightists ("enemies" of the Communist Party)

Four Olds: "Old ideas, old culture, old, customs, and old habits." connections to the old society and lifestyle that interfered with the progression of the Cultural Revolution (used as weapons of attack against black families)

Precious Red Book: pocket sized edition of  Selected Quotations from the Writings of Chairman Mao--- read, studied, and utilised throughout all meetings of people (propaganda)

propaganda: any form of information or graphics used to promote a particular belief