Date of Birth: March 28, 1968
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: November 9, 2004
Biography
Iris Shun-Ru Chang was a Chinese-American historian and journalist, born on March 28, 1968, in Princeton, New Jersey. She grew up in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where her parents worked as professors at the University of Illinois. Iris Chang was known for her commitment to uncovering the truth about historical events, particularly those involving human rights violations. Chang graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism and later earned a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. She worked briefly for the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune before becoming a full-time author. Her most famous work, “The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II,” published in 1997, chronicled the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers against Chinese civilians during the Nanking Massacre. This book garnered international acclaim and brought significant attention to an often-overlooked chapter of World War II history. In addition to “The Rape of Nanking,” Chang authored “Thread of the Silkworm” and “The Chinese in America,” both of which were well-received. Tragically, Iris Chang struggled with depression and committed suicide on November 9, 2004.
5 Interesting Facts about Iris Chang
1. Iris Chang was a vocal advocate for human rights and historical memory, often speaking at conferences and events worldwide.
2. Her book, “The Rape of Nanking,” spent 10 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list.
3. She received numerous awards, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “Genius Grant.”
4. Chang was working on a book about the Bataan Death March at the time of her death.
5. Her work inspired a renewed interest in the Nanking Massacre, leading to documentaries and further research on the topic.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Iris Chang
1. “Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.”
2. “History is not just about the past. It also reveals the present.”
3. “The failure to address the atrocities of the past will only lead to the repetition of history.”
4. “When you believe in something, you can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen. You have to make it happen.”
5. “Memory is a political act.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of her career, Iris Chang’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, primarily from book sales and speaking engagements.
Children
Iris Chang had one child, a son named Christopher Douglas Baisden, who was born in 2002.
Relevant Links
2. [Biography.com: Iris Chang](https://www.biography.com/writer/iris-chang
3. [Iris Chang Memorial Fund](http://www.irischangmemorialfund.org/
