Red Azalea spans the first few decades of Anchee Min’s life; this era of her life coincides with the Cultural Revolution and its immediate aftermath in China. Serving as the historical backdrop for Min’s memories and narration, the complex social implications of the Cultural Revolution are vividly reflected in the various events Min describes, from her memory of school and her denunciation of her teacher as an imperialist, to her forced work at Red Fire Farm and her work at the movie studio in Shanghai. While the veracity of her memories of these events can be questioned, given that the memoir is composed decades after the original events, many of the events she describes coincide with the historical reality of the Cultural Revolution, and this gives her narration and memories a wider historical significance than a simple recollection of her own personal experiences.

Mao Zedong helped to establish the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1921; his efforts were heavily influenced by the ideals of the Bolsheviks, the writings of Karl Marx, and the revolutionary teachings of Lenin, both of whom are mentioned in Red Azalea. Espousing disdain for the wealthy and landed classes, Mao and his forces engaged in guerilla warfare with the Nationalist forces which retained control of China until 1945.