On Flower Street, a few blocks from Los Angeles' Chinatown, there is a Shanji laundry shop owned by Huang Shanxing, a Chinese-American from Taishan, Guangdong, China. On January 3, 1905, he welcomed his second daughter.
This girl is Yellow Willow Cream. Her grandparents came to the United States in the 1850s, and her father was born in the United States, where she is already a third-generation Chinese child. Even though she was born and raised in the United States, she had a Chinese dream in her heart from beginning to end.
Figure | Yellow willow cream
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In Huang Liushuang's childhood, Los Angeles' Chinatown became an important location for many film companies to shoot. In Chinatown, you will often see the figure of some well-known movie stars, as well as the mysterious studios and cameras in her eyes, all of which deeply attract 9-year-old Huang Liushuang, who also wants to become a movie star.
In 1919, she finally got an extra role in the movie "Red Lantern", although this role was insignificant, but it brought the little yellow willow cream into the eyes of Hollywood directors and started her Hollywood film career.
Huang Liushuang's tall, big eyes, beautiful and charming, and her unparalleled dedication and seriousness to acting are enough to make her a dazzling star and the protagonist of many films. However, the serious racist ideas in the United States at that time limited her development on the star path. Many times, she can only play as a supporting role, playing some roles that die tragically before the plot is over, or the role of vilifying Chinese. It made her very sad, but there was nothing she could do.
But no matter what, it is difficult to hide her excellence and talent. In 1922, she finally ushered in her own spring and was able to star in the film "The Sea Passed", which became a big hit in Hollywood. This also gives her the opportunity to connect with a number of industry giants and get more opportunities to appear on the screen.
After she became popular, many film companies promoted her as a modern girl, but in real life, she was more eager to wear traditional Chinese clothing. Behind the laundromat, her father built a small bungalow for her, which she particularly liked. There she can abandon the bustle and noise of the outside world and enjoy a kind of relaxation and calm like a traditional Chinese woman. At home, she often wears brocade on the outside and exquisite Hanfu on the inside, and uses tea to entertain guests, telling oriental stories, beliefs and philosophies.
She also enjoys incorporating Chinese culture into her role. In the film "The Sea Dies", when she dances the Charleston dance, a line of subtitles appears on the screen: "This can make Li Zhongtang jump from the grave." "It's her masterpiece, it's her humor, it's just that only Chinese can understand it." Li Hongzhang, a famous politician, diplomat, and major leader of the Western affairs movement in the late Qing Dynasty, became an idol worshipped by this Chinese girl who had never been to China.
"Since the birth of a Chinese child, generations of superstitions, beliefs and traditions have flowed in his blood," she said. She also told reporters: "I wish I had been born in China." She called Chinese her "fellow citizens, these oldest civilized people." This is her love for the motherland and her deep reverence for the people.
Huang Liushuang, who stepped into the film and television circle, began her first love affair, and the object of her love was Marshall, the director of "Ice and Fire". Neeland, but the mercurial playboy didn't bring her love, and their love affair ended in vain. Since then, Huang Liushuang has also been in love many times, all of them are older white men. In fact, her heart is desperate to fall in love with a Chinese man with an educational background.
Yet her profession influenced her love. At that time, traditional Chinese thought was very repulsive to artists, and there was a saying that "a good man is not a soldier, and a good woman is not an artist", which is the general consciousness of the Chinese people. Therefore, although many Chinese students in the United States know her, no one wants to risk their future and marry an artist.
Later, on her journey back to China to find her roots, she once met with a fortune teller in Beiping and asked if she was married to Chinese or a foreigner. The fortune teller said after reading her birthday that it was better to marry a Chinese man. Huang Liushuang smiled and left after hearing this. Perhaps at that time, her heart was still full of hope, hoping that the fortune teller's words would be fulfilled and that she would marry a Chinese man of her choice.
But fate did not take care of her after all, and she never fell in love with a Chinese man in her life.
Marrying a Chinese man became a dream she had pursued all her life.
2
Huang Liushuang dreams of becoming a great actress, but although Hollywood makes her star-studded, it also makes her infamous whenever she plays roles that degrade the image of Chinese. She was tired of this life. Finally, in 1928, she bid farewell to the United States and went to Europe on the other side of the ocean to start a new journey.
Before long, her image spread throughout Europe, and film magazines across Europe rushed to publish large stories about her. European film critics often refer to her as Chinese, and she increasingly agrees with Chinese.
While in Europe, she wrote an article about "Chinese misunderstood". She tells the reader that in fact Chinese good nature and love of life, and their textiles, ceramics, costumes and feasts all reflect these characteristics. The Chinese value friendship and family above all else.
Although she had not been to China at that time, she believed that China was what she dreamed of. In Europe, she prides herself on being a Chinese.
The atmosphere of freedom in Europe made her feel comfortable, so when she returned to the United States, she no longer wanted to be manipulated, she had to make her voice heard. It was 1931, when Japan invaded northeast China, and Huang Liushuang was extremely angry at Japan's aggressive behavior. At the end of the year, she published an article entitled "Northeast China" condemning the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders. The article reads:
"The world has never needed a mental resurgence as it does today to relieve the fatigue of nerve-crushing rhythms and suffocating machines. Thus, we are witnessing the greatest revival in human history, which in the philosophy of life will eventually give new care and well-being to humanity. Just as the delicate lotus flower always blooms on the mud, despite the ravages of the Japanese iron hoof, Chinese culture with perfect purity of morality and elegant spirit will surely bloom on the basis of blood and violence. ”
Although she was born and raised in the United States, she knows that she is a Chinese and shares the blood of the Chinese people. The atrocities of the Japanese invaders made her feel empathy with the people at home. In the article, she also enthusiastically praised the talent of Chinese, and also praised "Hu Shi, Kwong Si, Gu Weijun, Shi Zhaoji, Gu Ziren, and Liu Tingfang, all of whom have won high honors in Western universities." She believes that this is the inevitable result of "the Chinese nation has always respected the learned people".
These were her first thoughts about China, and they inspired her determination to go to China.
Figure | Huang Liushuang returned to his homeland
In January 1936, Huang Liushuang embarked on a journey back to China to find his roots. Although there were many twists and turns during the period, it was warmly welcomed. It is said that she was greeted at the dock on the same day not only by the heroes of the Shanghai film industry, but also by Ambassador Gu Weijun and his wife.
In China, she met celebrities such as Lin Yutang and his wife, Mei Lanfang (who had seen her once in Europe), Hu Die, and everyone's enthusiasm for her made her feel like home.
Especially at the banquet of Wu Tang, the first lady of Beiping at that time, Wu Tang personally picked two flowers and pinned them next to Huang Liushuang's bangs, implying that Huang Liushuang was her most honored female guest. During the banquet, the famous Peking Opera performer Li Wanchun and the violinist Wang Shaoqing performed for her, which made her listen to it like a drunkard. When parting, Huang Liushuang tightly held Li Wanchun's hands, thanked him for his performance, and said with emotion: "There is no feast in the world that will not be scattered!" We're going our separate ways, not knowing when we'll see each other again. ”
Her words were extremely sincere, indeed, over the years, Huang Liushuang had experienced countless banquets, and countless celebrities she had seen, but they could not really move her, only this time, she felt that this was a night that she would never forget. This is the identity of culture, the identity of the nation. She has the blood of the Chinese nation in her blood, and only here will there be a true heart-to-heart connection.
Although this trip to China did not make her a Chinese citizen, it further aroused her sense of national identity, she regarded herself as a Chinese, she wanted to do her best to improve the image of the motherland, improve the people's poverty, and support the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japan.
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Huang Liushuang is not a politician, and it is impossible to stand at the height of a politician to save the country and save the people, but she is a Chinese with simple nationalism, and she uses her own way to fulfill her promises.
When she returned to the United States, the first thing she did was change her residence, because she didn't want to have a Japanese garden opposite her residence. Although this was only a formal question, it was a manifestation of her love for her motherland and hatred for the Japanese invaders.
At that time, there was an organization in the United States called the "China Aid Federation", which was a non-governmental organization used by American citizens to aid China. Since huang liushuang returned to the United States from China, she has begun to support the organization's activities in various ways.
During Christmas 1937, Huang Starred in a new film in which she was paid about $5,000, all of which she gave to Margaret, a prominent Chinese doctor who was raising money for the American Federation of Aid to China. bell.
Chinatown was demolished because authorities built the train station. In 1938, a group of Chinese merchants rebuilt the new Chinatown, and Huang Liushuang attended the opening ceremony of the new Chinatown, and wielded a shovel to shovel the first billet of soil and planted a willow tree. Later, she set up a stall at the intersection of Ferguson Street and North Los Angeles Street in Chinatown to raise funds for the China Aid Federation.
Due to years of war, medicine has become a hot commodity in the Chinese market. In June 1938, after Huang Liushuang learned of this news, he began another righteous act, that is, to raise funds to donate scarce drugs to China. She auctioned off all the dresses she had bought for her in Paris, New York, China, and Hollywood over the years. At the auction, she also showed five rolls of film shot in China, so that everyone can deepen their understanding of China, hoping that more people can join the fundraising and contribute to China's anti-Japanese resistance.
She deposited all proceeds from the auction in a Bank of China fund dedicated to helping War Refugees in China. Her actions also alarmed the Chinese government, and Li Zongren, a senior Kuomintang official at the time, wrote to thank her for this.
As Huang Liushuang's film resources became less and less, she began to work full-time for the American Federation of Aid to China. He also became the main leader of the "rice bowl" movement in the film industry. It is a campaign aimed at providing medical assistance to China and the United States.
For the sport, she flew to New York to act as a "queen" for the "Rice Bowl" ball held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. She then hosted a fashion show led by eight beautiful Chinese girls, followed by 14 American women, all dressed in modern evening dresses, all of which were traditional Chinese costumes, and were cleverly modified to become costumes suitable for the face shape and figure of Americans. She perfectly modified the dress to make it easy for American audiences to accept, and also made Chinese elements accepted and loved by more people.
In order to "bowl of rice" charity activities, she also traveled to Boston, New England and other regions, participated in many fundraising parties and performances.
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Because she has not signed a contract with any company now, she can help China resist Japan in her own way. Of course, the way she is most familiar with it is still movies.
In support of the anti-Japanese resistance, she starred in a propaganda film, Bombing Burma, which aimed to expose the evil deeds of the Japanese invaders. Although the film was criticized by some as a "very low-level wartime programming," the New York Times also called the film "scrap." But her overseas fans were still very willing to accept the film, with British critics calling her performance "sincere and moving".
At the same time, Huang Liushuang also picked up paper and pencil again to support the anti-Japanese resistance in the form of writing. She prefaces Xinhua Cookbook, which is not only a project to raise funds for the American Federation of Aid to China, but also an important activity dedicated to pushing Chinese culinary techniques into the mainstream of society. As a result, as she hoped, Americans began to walk into Chinese restaurants in droves, so that Chinese restaurants still flourished during the war.
Although Huang Liushuang had disappeared, she was involved in the filming of another film in June 1942. The film is called "The Woman from Chongqing", and she created the image of an anti-Japanese heroine in the film - Guan Mei. When the Japanese execute Guan Mei in the film, she proudly says that the Chinese people will inevitably defeat the invaders. This is also the voice she borrowed from Guan Mei and shouted out her heart.
While she was fully engaged in the work of aiding China, Song Meiling's visit to the United States made all her efforts seem to be meaningless.
In 1942, the most difficult time of china's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chiang Kai-shek sent Soong Mei-ling to the United States for a "goodwill visit" in early the following year in order to obtain support and assistance from the United States. After Song Meiling arrived in the United States, she gave a wonderful speech in support of China's War of Resistance in the Us Senate and House of Representatives, and the whole United States was conquered by her charm.
Hollywood has also made enough efforts for Song Meiling's visit to the United States, which can be described as pouring out of the nest, tea parties and parties. At the Hollywood event, Song Meiling was arranged to sit with a group of brilliant actresses, and many famous Hollywood movie stars were present, but only Huang Liushuang was absent. Wagner, a close friend of Huang Liushuang, said: "No one has worked more faithfully for the cause of aiding China than Huang Liushuang. But at this film reception, was she invited to say hello to Mrs. Chiang Kai-shek? No! Wagner's wife also pointed out that Huang Liushuang's absence was the only "discordant note" of the event.
Huang Liushuang was unable to participate in this grand meeting, it is said that it was because a gentleman surnamed Xiong in Song Meiling's delegation specifically explained not to invite Huang Liushuang.
Although Huang Liushuang has made great contributions to the work of aiding China, in the eyes of Song Meiling, she is just a disgraceful actor in Hollywood who uglys the Chinese. Song Meiling was very disgusted with the Chinese image shown in Hollywood movies, so Huang Liushuang, who often played Chinese roles in Hollywood, became the object of her disgust. On the other hand, it is speculated that Song Meiling was born into a prestigious family, thought she had received a good education, represented the elite women of the upper class, and it was unimaginable for her to sit on the same stage as the daughter of a laundry worker. Therefore, it is inevitable that Huang Liushuang will be treated with this cold treatment.
Huang Liushuang, who was snubbed by this, was naturally sad in her heart, but she tried her best to face it calmly, and she said to her friend: "The most important thing is China's anti-Japanese cause, and nothing else matters." However, this incident still had a great impact on her, and all the achievements of Huang Liushuang's aid to China were overwhelmed by Song Meiling's aura. Moreover, Song Meiling's malicious evaluation of Huang Liushuang has also been accepted by left-wing scholars in the United States, which has greatly worsened Huang Liushuang's reputation in the United States.
Later, when she recalled these days, although she had regrets, she still felt extremely proud. She has made the greatest efforts to support and assist China in resisting Japanese aggression for a long time, and she has no regrets in her life.
The war was over, and Huang Liushuang returned to a peaceful life, but as she grew older, she got fewer and fewer roles and her health deteriorated. She died of a heart attack on February 3, 1961, at the age of 56. In her life, she did her best for the film career she loved and for the motherland she loved. No matter what the result is, and no matter what others say, she is finally ashamed.
Figure | Haha ~ ice cream is a bit frozen mouth
Text | First brew