Pepperdine Libraries Establishes “Death in Cambodia, Life in America” Collection
On January 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces and Cambodian rebel forces overthrew Pol Pot
and the Khmer Rouge, the communist guerilla movement that came to power in Cambodia
between 1975-1979. During its brutal regime, the Khmer Rouge established labor camps
where millions of Cambodians were expected to produce rice at an unrealistic scale
to support its mission of national independence and societal restructuring.
Robert Chau was only sixteen when he and his family were separated and forced into
some of these labor camps. His incredible story of surviving and escaping from the
Khmer Rouge, immigrating to California, and becoming a successful entrepreneur in
the donut industry has been lovingly recorded by his daughter, Dorothy Chow, in her
podcast "Death in Cambodia, Life in America."
Dorothy's podcast is one of the most detailed firsthand accounts of the Khmer Rouge
ever recorded. It is also an important document of the Cambodian refugee experience
in America and how the donut industry provided an avenue for entrepreneurship and
financial success for refugees. Pepperdine Libraries is proud to partner with Dorothy
to preserve and provide long-term access to these important recordings. In addition
to podcast episodes, the collection also includes music and sheet music created for
the podcast by Dorothy's brother, historical images from Robert's life, and notes
taken by Dorothy and Robert during the recording of the podcast.
