A decade of discovery: How retracing the Long March inspired an American to build cultural bridges

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March. To mark the occasion, China International Communications Group (CICG) launched the international communication project "Together on the Long March: 90th Anniversary of an Epic Journey." The initiative aims to help global audiences better understand the founding ideals and mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the enduring values that have guided the Chinese people through decades of struggle and development.

On July 24, as a key component of this project, the sharing and exchange meeting titled "The Enduring Echo of the Long March: Toward a Shared Future" was held in Yan'an. More than 50 Chinese and foreign guests gathered to discuss the contemporary relevance of the Long March spirit.

Below is the full text of the speech delivered by Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager of the Springfield Urban League in the United States.

Ten years ago, in 2016, I had the extraordinary privilege of retracing the route of the Long March as an intern journalist during the 80th anniversary of its victory. At the time, I was a young student at Hampton University, eager to document one of history's greatest journeys. I left China with something far more valuable than a story. I left with a deep admiration for the Chinese people, a profound respect for China's history, and a greater appreciation for the power of international friendship and cultural understanding.

Returning this summer for the 90th anniversary as the head of marketing and Communications for the Springfield Urban League and a "China In-Lens" broadcaster with ICN TV Network and CICG has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Looking back over the last decade, I can confidently say the spirit of the Long March has not changed for me. It has deepened.

As we grow older, history begins to speak to us differently. We begin to understand that behind every monument, memorial, and museum exhibit are ordinary people who made extraordinary sacrifices for something greater than themselves. Walking this historic route once again, I could almost feel the footsteps of those who came before us and the weight of the tens of thousands who gave their lives in pursuit of a better future. Their legacy lives on not only in museums, but in the resilience of the Chinese people and the communities they helped shape.

One of the greatest privileges of this journey was meeting the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of Red Army soldiers. Listening to their stories transformed history from something I could read into something I could feel. I had the honor of speaking with Ruan Qingxia, daughter of former Red Army General Hong Shui, who shared memories of her father's humility and the responsibility carried by future generations to preserve the spirit of the Long March.

In Gansu province, I also met Ruan Lianshan, whose pride in his father's sacrifices reminded me that the Long March has never been about individual recognition. It has always been about collective purpose. Every descendant we interviewed echoed the same message. Their fathers and grandfathers never celebrated themselves, but honored every soldier who marched beside them, especially those who never returned home.

I was equally inspired by a remarkable fourth-grade student historian from Xing'an County, Guangxi, Liu Shuyun, who proudly gives more than one hundred presentations each year to teach her classmates about the Long March. Watching someone so young carry history with such passion reminded me that preserving history begins by inspiring the next generation.

Throughout this journey, I witnessed remarkable advancements in infrastructure, technology, and museums. Yet what impacted me most remained unchanged, the kindness, generosity, and hospitality of the Chinese people. In village after village, residents proudly shared how investments in their communities improved their quality of life while preserving the places where history unfolded. One phrase continued to resonate with me. China is not building over its history. It is building with its history.

The greatest lessons I learned in China could not be found in a textbook or museum. They were found in conversations, shared meals, and genuine human connection. Every step through the mountains, valleys, rivers, and villages reminded me that history is ultimately about people.

Too often, people form opinions about countries they have never visited and cultures they have never experienced. My time in China reaffirmed that understanding cannot be built from a distance. It is built through conversations, shared experiences, and the willingness to see one another as fellow human beings. These exchanges replace assumptions with understanding, stereotypes with friendships, and distance with empathy.

Leading communications for the Springfield Urban League has strengthened my belief that one of our greatest responsibilities is preparing young people to become global citizens. This journey has inspired a new mission, to bring elementary, middle, and high school students to China each year, not only to learn about the Long March, but to experience Chinese culture firsthand, build lasting friendships, and develop a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

I plan to begin with minority youth served through the Springfield Urban League and eventually expand these opportunities through the National Urban League network. I firmly believe that when we invest in the hearts and minds of young people, we cultivate a generation rooted in empathy, respect, and understanding. Travel creates empathy. Experience removes fear. Human connection builds peace.

As someone who has now walked the Long March twice over the span of ten years, I leave with an even stronger conviction that its spirit extends far beyond Chinese history. It is a timeless reminder that perseverance, unity, sacrifice, compassion, and hope have the power to transform nations, strengthen communities, and inspire all of humanity.

When I return home to the United States, I will carry these lessons with me. I will continue working to build bridges of cultural understanding, create opportunities for young people to experience China firsthand, and encourage the next generation to approach the world with curiosity, empathy, and respect.

Because when we take the time to learn one another's stories, walk in one another's communities, and see one another through our shared humanity, we discover that what unites us will always be greater than what divides us. I leave China now as more than an ally, but as a friend.