California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Tuesday afternoon, officially designating May 17 as Bruce Lee Day. This makes Bruce Lee the first Chinese American in California history to be honored with an annual namesake day.

Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and returned to the city on May 17, 1959, aged 18, after spending his childhood in Hong Kong. His daughter, Shannon Lee, CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation, said the honor reflects her father’s enduring legacy as a bridge between cultures.

"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," she said in a statement.

State Assembly member Matt Haney, who represents San Francisco, called Lee the "epitome of the best of California." "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," he said.

The Bruce Lee Foundation and Asian-American groups hope Bruce Lee will be celebrated each year with voluntary activities, including cultural exhibits, public events and classroom lessons.

Lee died tragically in 1973 at the age of 32 after an allergic reaction to pain medication. His name and likeness remain widely popular.

Source: www.aljazeera.com