Erased: Silencing a kindergarten

Key takeaways

Cultural identity and language preservation are vital for community solidarity and resilience.
Small acts of defiance against oppressive regimes can ignite larger movements.
Authoritarianism often begins subtly, making it crucial to remain vigilant in the face of cultural erasure.
The personal consequences of standing up for cultural identity can be severe, impacting families and communities.
Defending cultural identity is not only important for those directly affected but also for global communities to understand and learn from.

Summary

The Dream and the Reality

In the heart of Northwestern China, Abdul-Weli Ayup had a dream of opening a kindergarten where children could learn in their native Uyghur language. Despite the challenges of operating in a region where such expressions of identity are viewed with suspicion, he embarked on his journey by writing down his vision and gathering support to launch a preschool. However, he soon realized that joy and happiness in education could be construed as acts of defiance against an oppressive regime, where preserving cultural identity is seen as a challenge to authority.

Cultural Erasure Begins Quietly

Abduweli's childhood experiences reflected a creeping authoritarianism as he began to notice changes around him, with a sense of oppression manifesting in subtle ways—missing books, the absence of relatable representations in school materials, and increased military presence. As he grew older, small incidents of humiliation and violence revealed a systematic attempt by the state to suppress Uyghur identity through cultural erasure. These experiences laid the foundation for his later work as a linguist and educator.

The Birth of a Movement

Upon moving to the U.S., Abduweli witnessed firsthand how quickly his daughter lost her native language, which ignited his determination to create a preschool back in Xinjiang that would teach children in Uyghur. The kindergartens he established became not just places of learning, but centers of cultural resistance, teaching children not only to speak their language but to think independently—an act of rebellion against a system designed to squash any signs of dissent.

Facing Oppression

As Abduweli’s movement gained momentum, the government took notice, sending state security officers to investigate. While he initially operated within legal gray areas, his efforts increasingly attracted the attention of authorities, leading to harassments and threats against the school. His creative approaches to language learning and teachings about freedom for children posed a significant challenge to the oppressive system, highlighting the importance of preserving culture and language.

The Consequences of Defiance

Abduweli eventually faced severe repercussions when he was detained and tortured for his efforts to protect Uyghur culture. His story is a stark example of how authoritarian regimes react to defiance. Even as he was released and sent into exile, the personal costs of his defiance lingered, impacting not just him but his family and broader community.

Global Implications of Local Actions

The episode concludes with a reflection on the broader implications of Abduweli's story, emphasizing that the erasure of culture is often gradual and quiet. It serves as a warning not only for those in similar oppressive situations around the world but also dissects the vulnerabilities present even in democracies, urging listeners to recognize these patterns before they escalate.

Show notes

In a small classroom in western China, children once learned to sing and count in the language of their ancestors — Uyghur. Then the doors were locked, and founder Abduweli Ayup went from teacher to enemy of the state.

ERASED is a four-part investigation into how China is wiping Uyghur culture from existence — one law, one app, one person, one website at a time. From shuttered schools to vanishing websites, ERASED uncovers an authoritarian regime’s campaign to delete a culture — and the unlikely rebels racing to stop it.

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