Half a century after his death, Bruce Lee remains a symbol of physical strength and masculinity for the Asian community and an icon of 20th-century cinema. However, his daughter, Shannon Lee, emphasizes that his legacy encompasses more than his martial arts prowess and cinematic achievements.

Shannon, who was just 4 years old when Bruce Lee passed away in 1973, explains that her father rejected toxic, traditional notions of masculinity, valuing emotional expression instead. As she reflects on his life on the 50th anniversary of his death, Shannon hopes others will recognize how Bruce Lee defined strength: through vulnerability.

“As masculine as he appeared physically, through the amount of strength and action of martial arts, there is actually a very inherent sort of softening of his masculinity that I think gets overlooked,” said Shannon Lee, an executive producer on HBO’s “Warrior.” “He advocated for really showing up, really being present.”

Bruce Lee, who died in Hong Kong at age 32, is widely credited with popularizing martial arts in the West, introducing the art form to new cultures and breaking color barriers. His films, such as “Enter the Dragon,” brought martial arts to the big screen and left an indelible mark on global cinema.

For the Asian American community, Bruce Lee was more than a martial arts icon; he was a resistance hero who challenged persistent stereotypes that depicted Asian men as weak, emasculated, and deferential. Shannon Lee, his daughter, emphasizes that it was his emotional intelligence that truly set him apart as a trailblazer.

“We have a letter where he wrote to the head of this studio and he says, ‘Listen, I want to deliver you the most amazing action film, but you have to give me not just your head but your heart,’” she shared.

Since Bruce Lee’s death, some have defaulted to a view of him that Shannon Lee sees as “patriarchal.” This was notably evident in Quentin Tarantino’s controversial 2021 film “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” where Bruce Lee is portrayed as an arrogant and competitive character, a depiction that sparked significant backlash.

“His portrayal of my father was this masculine fighter guy. ‘So he must have been an a–hole. And he must have been arrogant. He must not have been sort of a vulnerable human being,’” Shannon Lee said of Tarantino’s depiction. “Honestly, he didn’t believe in competition. … He didn’t believe it was a good model for personal excellence and personal growth, because you’re always pitting yourself against someone else.”

Tarantino, however, defended his interpretation, responding to critics by telling them to “suck a d—” on an episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast.

Shannon Lee emphasized that her father valued collaboration over competition. He believed in making martial arts more inclusive and often risked judgment to do so. This commitment to inclusivity and his rejection of traditional competitive models underscored his broader philosophy of strength through vulnerability and emotional intelligence.

Throughout his career, Bruce Lee accepted students from various backgrounds, embodying inclusivity and breaking barriers. One of his first students was Jesse Glover, a Black man who became his first assistant instructor in the U.S. Glover, who had taken up martial arts for self-defense after being a victim of police brutality, symbolized Lee’s commitment to using martial arts for empowerment and protection. Additionally, Bruce Lee’s friendship with NBA legend and civil rights advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became a well-known symbol of solidarity and allyship across communities.

“I go back to my father’s quote: ‘Under the sun and the heavens, there’s one family. There’s one human family,’” Shannon Lee said.

Bruce Lee challenged societal norms by teaching Chinese kung fu to non-Chinese individuals, a practice frowned upon at the time. “But it was something he felt — ‘I want to share what I love with people who don’t have a connection to it. Then I have to share it with people,’” Shannon explained.

Despite his openness and vulnerability, Bruce Lee was also firm in his boundaries. He refused to accept unequal treatment or take on roles that would harm the image of Asian Americans in Hollywood. “When the systems weren’t allowing him to take those steps forward, he was like, ‘OK, gotta find a different way,’” Shannon said. “That takes an incredible amount of inner strength.”

Bruce Lee has remained a fixture in pop culture, with many attempting to analyze the motivations behind his unique path. Shannon Lee noted that her father operated with a happiness and pride for his culture that didn’t require validation from mainstream, white approval. This authentic pride and joy in his heritage made his legacy so profound.

“He represented Asian joy, you know, because he was very proud to be Chinese, and he was very proud of what he could do, and he wanted to share it. He wanted to celebrate it,” Shannon said. “He took those things about him that were different and unique and turned them into superpowers of his, because he loved them.”