A Village with My Name: A Family History of China’s Opening to the World

The Young China Watchers of New York host a book talk by Scott Tong on the modernisation of China.

In partnership with the Museum of Chinese in America, journalist Scott Tong joins us to share his extended family’s incredible story of remaining in China after his parents fled the communists six decades prior. By uncovering the stories of his family’s history, Tong discovered a new way to understand the defining moments of modern China and its long, interrupted quest to go global.

A Village with My Name offers a unique perspective on the transitions in China through the eyes of regular people who have witnessed such epochal events as the toppling of the Qing monarchy, Japan’s occupation during World War II, exile of political prisoners to forced labor camps, mass death and famine during the Great Leap Forward, market reforms under Deng Xiaoping, and the dawn of the One Child Policy.

Scott’s story focuses on five members of his family, who each offer a specific window on a changing country: a rare American-educated girl born in the closing days of the Qing Dynasty, a pioneer exchange student, an abandoned toddler from World War II who later rides the wave of China’s global export boom, a young professional climbing the ladder at a multinational company, and an orphan (the author’s daughter) adopted in the middle of a baby-selling scandal fueled by foreign money.

Through their stories, Scott shows us China anew, visiting former prison labor camps on the Tibetan plateau and rural outposts along the Yangtze, exploring the Shanghai of the 1930s, and touring factories across the mainland.

Tickets include wine, book signing and Museum admission. Books may be purchased at MOCA for $18. Ticket holders can enter the museum prior to the event, as well as stay until closing at 9pm. 

Enter promo code YCW0411 in the upper right hand corner to get the YCW rate. Go through the check-out flow, and the ticket price should adjust to $10. For any questions please contact newyork@youngchinawatchers.com.

Text and Photo from Young China Watchers, New York