San Francisco-born martial arts legend Bruce Lee is set to make history as the first Chinese American to have an annual namesake day in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Tuesday officially making May 17 Bruce Lee Day in the state. The announcement came from the office of state Assemblymember Matt Haney, who represents San Francisco.
The date holds special significance — it was on May 17, 1959, that an 18-year-old Lee arrived back in San Francisco after growing up in Hong Kong.
Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter and CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation, called the recognition a reflection of her father’s lasting impact as someone who brought cultures together.
“From young people who found confidence and possibility in his philosophy, to families who finally saw themselves represented on screen, to athletes who still draw on his teachings of discipline and inner strength, his reach is profound,” Shannon Lee said in a statement.
Assemblymember Haney described Lee as the very best of what California represents. “At a time when Asian Americans were too often absent from or stereotyped on screen, Bruce Lee helped generations see themselves represented with strength and dignity,” Haney said.
The Bruce Lee Foundation and several Asian American organizations hope the day will be observed each year through voluntary activities across California, including cultural exhibits, community events, and lessons in schools.
Lee was born in 1940 to Chinese parents who were in the U.S. on an opera tour, which entitled him to birthright citizenship. His family returned to Hong Kong shortly after, where he became a child actor and began studying Chinese kung fu. He came back to the U.S. in 1959 and enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle two years later, though he eventually left school to dedicate himself fully to practicing and teaching martial arts.
In the 1960s, Lee broke into Hollywood, with his most notable role being Kato in the TV series “The Green Hornet.” However, studios pushed him toward racially stereotyped roles and paid him less than his white co-stars. He returned to Hong Kong, where he quickly became a superstar through martial arts films like “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury.” Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 following an allergic reaction to pain medication.
Decades after his death, Lee’s name and image remain widely celebrated. Fans mark his birthday each year, and a TV action series concept he developed served as the inspiration for the HBO Max show “Warrior.”
