"We don't rise by proving each other wrong. We rise by refusing to let one another go," Jiang Yurong passionately declared on Thursday. Her words coincided with a significant legal development: a US federal judge's decision to block the Trump administration's controversial ban on foreign students at Harvard, adding another layer of context to her timely address.
The speech quickly went viral on the Chinese internet, moving many to tears. For some, Jiang's articulate and heartfelt plea for understanding symbolized a voice for Chinese students navigating an increasingly challenging international landscape. However, others on Chinese social media were critical, suggesting that her elite background and access to prestigious international education did not represent the typical Chinese student experience.
In the United States, the reaction has been equally polarized. Some conservative voices have raised concerns about Jiang's alleged connections with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These accusations echo previous sentiments from US authorities who, in their attempts to restrict Harvard from enrolling foreign students, had claimed the institution was "co-ordinating with the Chinese Communist Party." A conservative X (formerly Twitter) account, @amuse, with a significant following, publicly criticized Harvard's choice of speaker, alleging that Jiang is "a representative of a CCP-funded and monitored non-government organisation" and that her father works for a non-governmental organization that "serves as a quasi-diplomatic agent for the [party]." It's worth noting that this account has a history of posting pro-Donald Trump content and sexually charged imagery of political figures.
Conversely, some Chinese social media users have defended Jiang, alleging that the organization her father works for receives backing from prominent American companies and foundations. The BBC has not independently verified any of these claims regarding her family's affiliations. Critics in China also pointed to her background, with one Weibo user writing, "This is why she could get a scholarship to go to the UK for high school, and later also to Harvard," implying that her connections facilitated her educational path. Some sarcastic comments on Chinese platforms even suggested she should remain in the US: "Such talent should be left to the United States," and "I hope she will continue to glow abroad and stay away from us!"
Despite the critiques and controversy, Jiang's central message of "shared humanity" clearly struck a chord with many. Her emphasis on the value of Harvard's international classrooms, where she learned to "dance through each other's traditions" and "carry the weight of each other's worlds," resonated deeply. "If we still believe in a shared future, let us not forget: those we label as enemies - they, too, are human. In seeing their humanity, we find our own," she stated. This sentiment garnered significant praise, with a user on Red Note, another Chinese social media platform, expressing, "That she is able to stand on an international stage and speak the heart of Chinese students has moved me to tears." Another user defended her against critics, noting, "You may not have changed them, but they've heard you... As more and more people speak out like you, you will eventually move and change others."
Jiang Yurong, who pursued International Development at Harvard, holds the distinction of being the first Chinese woman to speak at a Harvard graduation ceremony. Before her time at Harvard, she spent her final two years of high school at Cardiff Sixth Form College in Wales and completed her undergraduate degree at Duke University in the US. With approximately 6,800 international students, making up over 27% of its enrollments in the past academic year, Harvard's diverse student body includes a significant contingent from China, representing about a third of its foreign students, alongside over 700 from India. Her speech, therefore, arrived at a pivotal moment for a substantial portion of Harvard's student population.
What are your thoughts on the role of personal narratives in bridging geopolitical divides?