Story perspectives

California Names May 17 Bruce Lee Day, First Chinese-American Honor

7/2/2026

Summary

Newsom Signs BruceLeeDay

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day in California.
The legislation makes Lee the first Chinese-American in California history to have an annual namesake day.
Assembly member Matt Haney said Lee represents the state’s innovation, diversity, determination and courage to challenge convention.
Shannon Lee, CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation, called the honor a testament to his lasting legacy as a cultural bridge.

Summary

Bruce Lee Celebrated

State officials urged schools to add Bruce Lee philosophy and film lessons on May 17.
The Chinese Historical Society of America held the “We are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family” exhibition in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
The Bruce Lee Foundation and Asian-American groups planned workshops and demonstrations while HBO Max promoted the series “Warrior” as holiday programming.
Actor Michael Jai White became the first non-Asian to receive the Bruce Lee Award.

Summary

Bruce Lee Day

California will observe the first official Bruce Lee Day on May 17, 2027.
The law authorizes voluntary commemorations statewide, including school lessons and cultural exhibits.
During his Bay Area years, Lee co-founded a martial-arts dojo in Oakland.
Lee’s 1970s films sparked a nationwide “kung fu craze,” reshaping American pop culture.
Justin Hoover, creative director of the Chinese Historical Society of America, called Lee a beacon for inclusiveness and tolerance.

History

Historical Context

The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, ended the National Origins quota and opened Asian immigration, sparking a 533 % rise in Asian-American residents from 1.5 million in 1960 to 9.5 million by 1990. Today Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Matt Haney and the Chinese Historical Society of America honor that legacy with a statewide Bruce Lee Day.

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Newsom Signs BruceLeeDay

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day in California.
The legislation makes Lee the first Chinese-American in California history to have an annual namesake day.
Assembly member Matt Haney said Lee represents the state’s innovation, diversity, determination and courage to challenge convention.
Shannon Lee, CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation, called the honor a testament to his lasting legacy as a cultural bridge.

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