KQED's Forum How Bruce Lee Helped Shape Asian American Culture
Sep 17, 2025
Jeff Chang, a journalist and author of "Water Mirror Echo," dives deep into Bruce Lee's life and his pivotal role in shaping Asian American culture. Chang reveals Lee's journey from a challenging childhood in Hong Kong to becoming a martial arts icon in the U.S. The discussion highlights Lee's innovative Jeet Kune Do, his unique contributions to cinema as an anti-colonial force, and his lasting cultural impact that resonates with diverse communities. Lee's philosophical insights and relevance in today's world, especially during the pandemic, add intriguing layers to his story.
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Be Like Water, Mirror, Echo
- Bruce Lee's phrase 'be like water; still like a mirror; respond like an echo' framed his life and work across decades.
- Jeff Chang says Lee became a mirror and an echo for millions only after his premature death.
Born In San Francisco On Tour
- Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 while his parents were touring to raise funds for Chinese nationalists.
- His U.S. birthright citizenship later proved important though his family did not emigrate to live in America.
Hong Kong's Fight Culture Shaped Him
- Lee grew up amid wartime and postwar Hong Kong violence and scarcity that shaped his toughness and fighting culture.
- Jeff Chang compares Hong Kong's postwar fight culture to the Bronx in the 1960s and 1970s.
