A BILL TO COMMEMORATE MAY 17 as Bruce Lee Day in California was announced Wednesday to honor the legacy of the San Francisco-born actor and martial arts star.
Lee, named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Important People of the Century” in 1999, was a trailblazer for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. He died in 1973 at the height of his fame, which had skyrocketed as he churned out blockbusters such as “The Big Boss,” “Fist of Fury,” “The Way of the Dragon,” and “Enter the Dragon.”
His films and the roles he chose — and those he refused — redefined how Asians and Asian Americans were represented in the media, showing them as strong, proud, and intelligent, a turnabout from some previous portrayals.
The day of recognition would not close banks and government offices but would encourage schools to create educational materials to teach about Lee’s legacy beyond the screen during May’s AANHPI Heritage Month.
The bill was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, D-San Francisco. He said he expected it to be signed by the end of summer, setting the stage to celebrate Lee’s legacy in 2027.
“The reason martial arts is so popular in the Western world is because of him. The reason that every spy, every superhero is a martial artist on film, is because of him. The reason that perceptions about Asians shifted is because of him.”
Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter
But for San Franciscans who can’t wait another year: enter the library.
On Sunday, the main San Francisco Public Library will host a Bruce Lee Day celebration of its own. There will be martial arts demonstrations, activities and film screenings, with events starting at noon.
Lee was born at San Francisco Chinese Hospital in 1940 and moved to Hong Kong as a child before returning and living much of his life in the city and elsewhere in California. When he died in Hong Kong in 1973 at the age of 32, he was still a legal resident of California and always considered the state his home, according to his daughter Shannon Lee, founder and president of the Bruce Lee Foundation.
Shannon Lee, Haney, and representatives from organizations that Bruce Lee impacted and inspired spoke about his legacy at the library Wednesday.
Lee said the commemorative day would prompt young people to learn more about her father’s work beyond the screen developing self-empowerment philosophies, teaching new generations about the Chinese and Asian American experience, and shaping attitudes in American popular culture.
“He changed the world,” she said. “The reason martial arts is so popular in the Western world is because of him. The reason that every spy, every superhero is a martial artist on film, is because of him. The reason that perceptions about Asians shifted is because of him.”
Shannon Lee is the chief executive officer of Bruce Lee Enterprises, which controls his image, likeness and intellectual property. She wrote the book, “Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee” to share her father’s philosophy and methods for self-improvement, including using martial arts as a metaphor for life.
Bruce Lee created Jeet Kune Do, an expression of martial arts that incorporates philosophy. The term translates to “Way of the Intercepting Fist” and uses diverting an opponent’s technique or intent as a guiding principle, according to the foundation.
Claudine Cheng, founder and president of the APA Heritage Foundation, which celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, said Lee’s legacy was important for young people to learn.
“Bruce Lee is a shining example of how one person is able to help shape the community, help shape the future,” she said.