Red Scarf Girl Terms

The Antirightist Movement was a period between 1957 and 1958 in which the Chinese Communist Party attacked people who had spoken out against the Party or whose beliefs or activities threatened Party rule—so-called rightists… read analysis of Antirightist Movement

During the Cultural Revolution, “black” was the adjective applied to describe anything opposed to the Chinese Communist Party, Chairman Mao, or communist ideals—for example, the Five Black Categories, the Four Olds… read analysis of Black

Bourgeois is a French adjective meaning “middle class,” which implies materialism and a commitment to conservative or conventional attitudes. It is often used pejoratively in communist thought to identify people whose worldly comforts make them… read analysis of Bourgeois

The Chinese Communist Party, founded in 1921, seized control of the government at the end of a civil war in 1949 under the leadership of Chairman Mao. Chinese communism, also known as Mao Zedong… read analysis of Chinese Communist Party

Da-zi-bao, literally translated as “big character” or “big letter” posters, were a key element of the propaganda the Chinese Communist Party put forth during the Cultural Revolution. Da-zi-bao were large, handwritten posters carrying slogans, poems… read analysis of Da-zi-bao

During the Cultural Revolution, the five groups which Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party identified as the main enemies of China were known as the Five Black Categories. They included landlords, rich farmers… read analysis of Five Black Categories

During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party condemned old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits as impediments to social progress. read analysis of Four Olds

As the Cultural Revolution progressed, Neighborhood Dictatorship Groups—informal groups of volunteers who tasked themselves with making sure their neighbors and acquaintances were living up to the dictates of Chairman Mao—gradually displaced the more bureaucratic… read analysis of Neighborhood Dictatorship Group

Propaganda is information intended to portray a specific point of view—usually the view of the dominant political party. During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman Mao used propaganda to spread their… read analysis of Propaganda

During the Cultural Revolution, “red” was the adjective applied to describe anything or anyone aligned with or supportive of Chinese Communist Party, Chairman Mao, or communist ideals. Its opposite was “black… read analysis of Red

The Chinese Communist Party identified and persecuted anyone accused of disagreeing with or opposing Party ideology as “rightest.” The biggest purge of these individuals happened during the Antirightist Movement, although people were still condemned… read analysis of Rightist

Struggle meetings were a tool of oppression and propaganda that the Chinese Communist Party imposed before and especially during the Cultural Revolution. People accused of rightist or revisionist thinking, those accused of harboring one… read analysis of Struggle Meeting

Revisionism is an ideology that involves reinterpretation of Marxist theories and allegiance with the middle class. “Revisionist” is usually used as an insult to describe people who do not uphold true socialist principles. read analysis of Revisionism