Shaking Hands with China’s Second Most Powerful Man (430)

Bill Hodes was an American school child in 1950s Revolutionary China and this is the second part of his story.

Among many stories we hear how he had the unique opportunity to meet one of China's most revered leaders, Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China and how he played softball with US and British POWs from the Korea War who had refused to return home.

Bill reflects on the challenges he faced, including moments of cultural misunderstanding and the playful jabs from classmates who labelled him an "American imperialist." These interactions highlight the complexities of identity and belonging in a rapidly changing world.

The narrative takes a poignant turn as he recounts his involvement in the Mississippi Freedom Summer, a significant civil rights initiative aimed at combating racial injustice.

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode430/

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