California designates Bruce Lee Day, first such honor for a Chinese American
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Set us as preferred Cut to a seedy alley behind a Chinese restaurant in Rome: A dozen mobsters menace a slight young man who suddenly pulls out a pair of nunchucks.He swings the traditional stick-and-chain weapons and makes quick work of his enemies, who fall one by one, groaning in pain.The comedic, legendary action scene is from the 1972 film “Way of the Dragon,” written, directed and starring Bruce Lee.
The martial arts star was a trailblazer, allowing Asian Americans to see themselves represented in a strong, positive light on screen.And now he has secured a place in California history, becoming the first Chinese American in state history to have a day designated in his honor.
Lee was born in 1940 in San Francisco.His mother was of European descent and his father was a Cantonese opera star who was on tour in the city, affording his son birthright citizenship.
Politics The justices said Trump may not revise the Constitution and change citizenship laws in an executive order.Lee grew up in Hong Kong, where he followed his father’s path as a performer, acting in more than a dozen films as a child and studying the close-quarters southern Chinese martial art Wing Chun.On May 17, 1959, an 18-year-old Lee returned to San Francisco and eventually made his way to Hollywood.He went on to influence an industry that was at the time bereft of Asian American talent, and helped to popularize the genre of martial arts films and ignite Western interest in Hong Kong action cinema.In recognition of his contributions, state Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill designating May 17 as “Bruce Lee Day” in California.
The bill, signed into law Tuesday by Gov.Gavin Newsom, encourages schools and communities to honor Lee’s life and cultural impact.Haney has described Lee as a “symbol of pride, resilience, an...