Anna May Wong
Definition
Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American movie star, and also the first Asian American actress to gain international recognition. Her long career spanned silent films, sound films, television, stage, and radio.
Analogy
Think of Anna May Wong as the Lucy Liu of her time - both are pioneering actresses who broke racial barriers in Hollywood by becoming some of the first Asian women to achieve mainstream success.
Related terms
Silent Films: Movies made without synchronized recorded sound. This is where Anna May Wong started her career.
Sound Films (Talkies): Movies with synchronized recorded sound rather than silent moving images. Anna May Wong transitioned into these types of films as technology advanced.
Racial Barriers: Socially constructed boundaries that limit opportunities for certain racial or ethnic groups. As a Chinese American woman in early Hollywood, Anna May Wong faced many such barriers.
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