The Visionary
Bruce Lee knew he had a special message for the world, but he had to overcome racial and cultural stereotypes to achieve it. See original artwork and documents by Lee that showcase his tenacity and determination (L2021.4.038) and learn about his hunger for stardom and acceptance. See how Lee faced, and ultimately overcame the racism of Hollywood.
"I wanted to make sure before I signed that there wouldn't be any 'ah-so's and 'chop chops' in the dialogue and that I would not be required to go bouncing around with a pigtail."
― Bruce Lee, excerpt from an interview for Black Belt Magazine about auditioning for the role of No. 1 son in a Charlie Chan tv show.
The Athlete
Famous around the world for his kung fu, did you know that Bruce Lee was also a champion Cha-Cha-Cha dancer, a skilled fencer, an acclaimed bodybuilder, a boxing and Judo practitioner, and a calisthenics fanatic? In this part of the exhibition view Bruce Lee’s personal weight bench and some of his dumbbells, read Lee’s personally typed out and hand signed workout routines, see his business cards from his time as a martial arts instructor and price out what it would cost to train with Lee himself on one of his rare coaching price sheets
“As we progress and time changes, it is necessary to reform this formula...tradition is nothing."
― Bruce Lee
The Thinker
Bruce Lee’s sayings continue to reverberate around the globe. Lee’s ongoing legacy as a philosopher is rooted in his voracious appetite to read. On display the view can read original writing by Lee in the form of a college essay he wrote by hand about Enlightenment philosopher René Descartes. Lee’s philosophy was radical in how it joined traditional Chinese philosophy with European Enlightenment philosophy in a new way that the general public had not seen before.
"Millions of his fans are convinced that Bruce was born with a special body; [but] Bruce built up his outstanding physique through sheer application and willpower; through intense training."
― Linda Lee Cadwell (married to Bruce Lee)
The Unifier
Many of the themes of Lee’s films dealt with fighting the oppressor. He was himself a mixed-race individual, and embraced all races and genders in his movies and in his martial arts classes. While he himself did not march in protests for civil rights, he did embrace concepts of social unity, and civil rights in his films.
“To hell with circumstances, I creat opportunities"
― Bruce Lee
“Research your own experience, Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own."
― Bruce Lee