The next clip you pocket a freshly coin twenty-five percent , you might need to give it a look . The similitude of a vital Asian American film wiz may be staring back at you .
concord toThe New York Times , early 20th - century film actressAnna May Wonghas become the first Asiatic American to appear on United States currency .
She wasbornWong Liu Tsong in 1905 , and was the granddaughter of a Chinese immigrant . Growing up in Los Angeles , she found herself at the epicenter of a nascentHollywood film diligence , with productions set up equipment in her neighborhood . Film roles pursue , though opportunities were restrict by the ethnic stereotyping common at the time .
“ I was so tired of the part I had to play,”she saidin a 1933 interview . “ Why is it that the screen Chinese is nearly always the baddie of the piece , and so cruel a villain — murderous , punic , a ophidian in the grass . We are not like that . ”
Despite those barriers , Wong had a storied career , becoming the first Asian American worker to get top billing in a Hollywood output ( 1922’sToll of the Sea ) and even founding her own production company , Anna May Wong Productions . She died in 1961 .
The quarter is part of the U.S. Mint ’s American Women Quarters Program , which highlight influential figures and has previously included poetMaya Angelouand astronautSally Ride . George Washington remains on the facial expression of the quarters , while the featured figures come along on the back .
The Mint willbegin shippingthe quarters on October 24 . If you ’d prefer not to hold off for circulating change , you canorder the currencyfrom the U.S. Mint .
[ h / tThe New York Times ]
