Propagandist - Blog Posts
Li Yang studies (Will post more in the coming weeks)
Although fairly timid in appearance, the University student Li Yang was a writer-turned-political activist at the forefront of the Equalist movement in Republic City.
His original concept portrait can be found here
Born to two fairly wealthy travelling merchants, Li has seen much of the world and has extensive knowledge about the different nations. Despite being a frequent traveller, he and his family consider Republic City to be their home. Being a child from an upper-middle class family, he and his elder sister had access to great education. His sister, who was older than him by 7 years, studied in Ba Sing Se University and became an inventor. Li on the other hand, a child prodigy, began studying Philosophy in a University in Republic City at the age of 15.
Primarily a writer, Li was very good with words and although he appears soft-spoken and quiet Li is very articulate and can be a very inspiring speaker. He saw the injustices against non-benders, both in Republic City and around the world, and sought to change that aspect of inequality in the world. At the mere age of 16, he became one of the main proponents of the Equalist movement seeking to uplift and recognize non-benders.
When he was 17, he accompanied his sister to an international science fair held in Republic City wherein his sister introduced him to Asami, whom he bumped into earlier that week in an incident involving ice cream, and Hiroshi Sato. Li furthur impressed Hiroshi Sato with his will to uplift the non-bending population. He eventually became close to both Father and daughter.
When Amon became a dominant figure, Li openly spoke out against Amon and Amon's anti-bender ideologies. He denounced such radical ways of thinking (believing that it would eventually lead to violence), splitting the Equalist factions into two. He also mentions that discriminating against benders would just be like how non-benders are already discriminated upon. They have no control over being born as benders just as they had no control over being born non-benders. Deciding to not use their gifts of bending would be like stopping non-benders from using their own skills.
Near the end of 169 AG, Li Yang was hit by an automobile and died.
(Li Yang’s way of resolving the inequality and much of his personality is inspired by the members of the Illustrados from the Philippines during the late 1800’s)