Bruce Lee and Racism
November 28, 2014Friday morning message
November 28, 2014
“I felt pretty good growing up. I didn’t feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to be a movie or a television show with Asian characters, I would go out of my way to avoid them, because they portrayed all Asians as either ridiculously good or ridiculously bad; you know, the whole Charlie Chan-Fu Manchu thing.” – David Henry Hwang
“Racism is ridiculous no matter where it’s coming from.” – Alan Ball
Dear Academy friend,
Perhaps you were aware that yesterday in addition to being Thanksgiving Day here in the US, was also (what would’ve been) Sijo Bruce Lee’s 74th birthday.
Kabbalah teaches that on the arrival/departure date of someone who’s passed on, their vital energy is accessible to those who believe in that kind of stuff.
I spent part of yesterday watching Enter The Dragon, Filipino Martial Arts and reading from The Warrior Within, another excellent John Little book about Bruce Lee.
For me it’s always remarkable when I find an unexpected Bruce Lee “connection” to something that I’m working with in my non-martial world.
For example, two weeks ago on NPR (National Public Radio) there was a report about an affluent California anesthesiologist who also happens to be a dreadlocked Negro who is married to a Caucasian woman of German heritage.
The couple has two children and the article/report dealt with their approach to teaching their mixed-ethnicity kids about racism in their town, in the country and around the world.
And then yesterday I read about Bruce and Linda Lee’s approach to teaching their two kids Brandon and Shannon about racism.
Here’s what Sijo Bruce says: “I will teach Brandon that everyone – no matter who he is or where – must know from childhood that whatever occurs does not happen if the occurrence isn’t allowed to come into the mind.”
Interesting for me because of the time I’ve been spending working on the new aspects of mind control that I’ve been introduced to.
Later on Sijo Bruce continues: “Finally, through all Brandon’s education will run the Confucianist philosophy that the highest standards of conduct consist of treating others as you wish to be treated, plus loyalty, intelligence and the fullest development of the individual in the five chief relationships of life: (1) government and those who are governed, (2) father and son, (3) older and younger brother, (4) husband and wife, (5) friend and friend. Equipped in this way, I don’t think Brandon can go far wrong.”
Although I don’t care much for #1 and I’d change #2 to parent and child, #3 to elder and younger sibling, I think I agree with Bruce Lee’s approach.
What about you? What’s your approach to dealing with life’s inequities yourself or teaching others in your circle about how to deal with them?
Now go out and conquer the world,
Sifu DW for TeamUMAA
www.unifiedmartialart.com
“Using Martial Art As a vehicle for personal growth and development”
305 595-2892
P.S. If your email system still lets this message through, you’re lucky. In 2015, I’ll be switching to a new email system but also making more use of the UMAA Facebook page and the SifuDW blog to spread the Miami Jeet Kune Do word.
P.P.S. I’ll be conducting the long-awaited Graduations during JKD & Muay Thai classes next week.
Nota Bene: If you enjoyed this, forward it on to a few of your friends and business associates.
Comments? Leave them below. Let me know what you’re thinking.
©2014 Unified Martial Art Academy
13260 SW 120th Street
Miami, Florida 33186
305 595-2892
Posted in email newsletter | Tagged bruce lee, dwight woods, jeet kune do, jkd, martial art, Miami, motivation, politically incorrect, positive thinking, racism, self confidence, self help, self-image, self-improvement, UMAA, unifiedmartialart.com |
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