- Betty Yu’s documentary "Resilience" explores her mother, a garment worker, fighting against sweatshop conditions. It provides a firsthand account of her and her sister, Virginia Yu, participating in the 1995 hunger strike. Focus especially on 07:56–10:59.
Guided Discussion
- How did the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre influence these student protesters? Why do you think they invoked that historical moment?
- Virginia Yu said, “But I think without the support of the community, if like the restaurant workers weren't out there, construction workers weren't out there, if the youth group wasn't out there, if other people were not out there, then we wouldn't have been able to sleep out there for five nights. It would be way too dangerous.” What does this tell us about the importance of collective action?
- What personal risks were the student hunger strikers taking? Would you have joined them? Why or why not?