395 - Viet History Makers - Nguyen Thi Dinh - How Does One Become A Revolutionary?

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.In this episode of Viet History Makers, we ask, "How Does Someone Become A Revolutionary?" We turn our focus to Nguyễn Thị Định, a significant figure in Vietnam’s history, whose journey from a rural village to becoming a top military leader for the Viet Cong—and later a vice president of unified Vietnam—remains a subject of both admiration, debate and deep pain for others.Join us as we carefully navigate Nguyễn Thị Định's life and legacy, and reflect the deep complexities of Vietnam’s war-torn past. While she is celebrated by many as a symbol of resistance and resilience, her story is also deeply intertwined with the profound loss of those who fought to protect a different vision for Vietnam. In this episode, we explore her path to communism and the forces that shaped her, acknowledging the diverse perspectives on her contributions to Vietnam’s history.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts. He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024). Kevindoanpham.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Om Podcasten

Being part of a culture of almost 100 million Vietnamese people living in the world today has its pain and challenges, but it comes with plenty of history, privileges and honors. Join Kenneth Nguyen as he spotlights Vietnamese excellence from around the world. Each episode explores the creative process of individuals shaping the diversity of what it means to be Vietnamese--as a local, born and raised, or as a third culture kid, and even the divisions that separate us politically and culturally. This show can take multiple directions, but what it will do is show Vietnamese from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities.