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Agnes SmedleyAmerican journalist, writer, and activist for women's rights and Indian liberation.
Date of Birth: 23.02.1892
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Agnes Smedley: A Life Dedicated to Justice and Revolution
- Political Awakening and Activism
- Indian Revolution and Imprisonment
- International Revolutionary
- Espionage and the Sino-Japanese War
- Later Life and Legacy
Agnes Smedley: A Life Dedicated to Justice and Revolution
Early Life and EducationAgnes Smedley was born into a poor farming family in Osgood, Missouri. Her father, of Native American descent, abandoned the family when Agnes was three years old. The family then moved to the mining town of Trinidad, Colorado, where Agnes worked as a domestic servant due to her mother's poor health. Despite the lack of formal schooling, Agnes pursued self-education through reading and attending lectures.
Political Awakening and Activism
In 1912, Agnes married Ernest Brunsdale. In 1913, she enrolled in a teacher's college in San Diego. However, she was expelled in 1916 for her political activities and became active in the Socialist Party of America. In 1917, she divorced her husband and moved to New York City, where she wrote for socialist publications.
Indian Revolution and Imprisonment
Smedley became involved with a group of Indian revolutionaries seeking freedom from British rule. In 1918, she was arrested on charges of aiding espionage and preparing an anti-British rebellion. She spent six months in prison without trial.
Upon her release, Smedley continued to write for the "New York Call" and "The Birth Control Review." She also joined the Friends of Indian Freedom, an underground organization that trusted her with confidential correspondence.
International Revolutionary
In 1920, Smedley moved to Germany with Virendranath Chattopadhyay. She wrote about German politics for American publications and worked covertly for the Soviet intelligence agency, the Comintern.
In 1928, Smedley relocated to Shanghai, where she wrote an autobiographical novel, "Daughter of Earth," and became a correspondent for several newspapers. She also wrote books on the Chinese Red Army, angering the ruling Kuomintang.
Espionage and the Sino-Japanese War
In 1930, Smedley met Soviet spy Richard Sorge and assisted him in setting up his espionage network. She spent months in the Soviet Union, but was denied membership in the Chinese Communist Party.
During World War II, Smedley served as a key liaison between the American army command and Chinese communists, organizing medical supplies for the latter.
Later Life and Legacy
After the war, Smedley returned to the United States briefly but faced suspicion of espionage. She moved to England, where she died in 1950. Her ashes were buried in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, a testament to her lifelong commitment to social justice.
