ABSTRACT
Another potent component of the archetype is that young Asian Americans were inspired by leftist politics. According to the ideal, during their college years, they studied Marxism-Leninism and Mao Tse-tung Thought (or MLMTT, to use the political shorthand of the period). Through political pamphlets or perhaps the aphoristic Quotations from Chairman Mao, they learned about the nature of oppression and power. Having attained a heightened political or “Third World” consciousness, they laid aside their middle-class ambitions and distinguished themselves from apathetic Asian Americans, Asian immigrant workers, and diligent Asian American students whom they viewed as slavishly and selfishly working for only themselves and their families. Instead, the activists were selfless individuals committed to larger goals, namely, the liberation of Asian Americans from an oppressive American society and the founding of a more humane society that was egalitarian and democratic. Inspired by the Maoist slogans “Dare to struggle, dare to win” and “Serve the people,” they devoted themselves to organizing others in Asian ethnic communities and engaging in militant, direct action to bring about progressive social change.
