Mao's Mango Cult

How a mango became an object of worship in 1968 in China

7 mins
In August 1968, factory workers overheard news of a mandatory meeting. Whispered rumors described shipments of a gift from the country’s Communist leader, Chairman Mao Zedong. And sure enough, managers soon distributed a gift to every factory worker– a glass box encasing a golden wax replica of a mango. What was the meaning behind this unusual offering? Vivian Jiang investigates.

Pen-Pen Chen

Narrator

Kayu Leung

Director

Anna Bechtol

Producer

Sadia Afrin

Associate Producer

Alex Rosenthal

Editorial Manager

Dan Kwartler

Editorial Production Assistant

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