Why is actress Anna May Wong being featured on US currency?
During the 1920-30s when US cinema showcasing Asians meant white people wearing yellow make-up and taping their eyelids, Anna May Wong entered the film industry as a 14-year-old and left a legacy which changed the way East Asians were perceived in the Hollywood. Now, the US Mint, the bureau responsible for producing coinage, is honouring her by making her the first Asian American woman to be featured on the US currency.
This comes as a part of the American Women Quarters Program started in 2022, which celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by American women to the development and history of the US in various fields.
What is the American Women Quarters Program?
- Started in 2022, it is an initiative by the US government to honour American women.
- The plan is to launch coins featuring at least 20 women in the span of four years (2022-2025).
Before Anna, the US had previously honoured these four women:
And this year, the fifth coin features Anna Wong which will start its shipment process on October 24, 2022.
The fight against stereotypes and racism: Anna May Wong's story
- Anna grew up in a culturally diverse neighbourhood adjacent to Chinatown, Los Angeles. She was fascinated by cinema since she was a kid.
- She started her career as a 14-year-old as an extra in the Alla Nazimova silent production of The Red Lantern because of her neighbour's recommendation.
Anna was grossly underpaid, and would often end up getting roles laced with racial stereotypes. For instance, she earned $6,000 for her top-billed role in Daughter of the Dragon compared to Warner Oland's $12,000, who only appeared in the first 23 minutes of the film.
Following this treatment in Hollywood, Wong starred in English, French, and German films in Europe. In a 1933 interview with the Los Angeles Times, she said she was tired of Hollywood roles.
With a career that spanned motion pictures, television, and theatre, Anna May Wong left a lasting legacy for Asian American women in the entertainment industry. She appeared in more than 60 movies, including silent films and one of the first made in Technicolor. She also appeared in productions on the London and New York stages.