(June 6, 1939)

(Special to our newspaper) . . . Amid prolonged applause and enthusiastic cheers, Comrade
Mao Zedong walked up to the platform. He was especially happy, often wearing a smile.

"Young people should consider a resolute and correct political orientation as their
top priority. The model youth represent the common people of China and should
represent them all their lives." "It is not enough to represent them yourselves; you
should teach your sons to do so. China's revolution has not yet succeeded, and we
must struggle for a long time—we must struggle forever."

His words were so warm and powerful.¹

Our source for this extract from a report in the Yan'an Xin Zhonghua bao for June 6, 1939,
is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, p. 43.
1. According to the contemporary report, Mao Zedong and Wang Ming proceeded to
hand the awards personally to more than a thousand young people.