Okay blink you're eyes...yes I put those 2 names together. Yes those 2 names that in most people's minds would be quite contradictory: The gorgeous Chinese American actress always kept down by her race and use of 'yellowface' in silents and talkies, and the 'Give em hell' creator of what we now know as modern film and modern Hollywood...who also had a penchant for using yellow and black face and is generally regarded by the public as a 'racist'. But they both have one thing in common: they, and their contributions to film have been mostly forgotten.
Anna May Wong
Anna May maybe less so. With the 100 year anniversary of her birth (2005) many books were written and many retrospectives were held for her, in addition to a documentary titled "Frosted Yellow Willows". However to some she is still stereotyped as the 'Dragon Lady'...someone who helped to perpetuate Asian stereotypes (when in fact, she spent her life fighting them). However what I find even more sad is the fact that where Anna is buried, alongside her mother, her grave is unmarked. The headstone only contains her mother's name...not Anna's.
That's a little weird to me...as she had money (she bequeathed $80,000 to her brother) and at least one close family member at the time of her death and some type of funeral was held for her. Yet no headstone. Why? I have no clue. And nothing I can find in her wonderful biographies, sites, or interviews about her tells me why. I think she deserves to be remembered.
D.W. Griffith
As for Mr. Griffith his story is a lot well...harder and sadder. He made the first film in Hollywood, and was one of the first major directors. He discovered Owen Moore, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, the Gishes, and probably his only mistake was passing on Valentino. He made the best selling silent of all time, "Birth of a Nation" which...has been the source of a lot of his troubles. Trying to refute the racist claims from it (and indeed by modern eyes it is hard to stomach) he made 'Intolerance' which broke the bank for him. By the mid 20s he had already 'fallen' and wasn't successful in films. He had enough money off some investments, but he kinda spent it on booze. Can you blame him? Poor guy was embittered! He died at the Knickerbocker Hotel in 1948...basically forgotten.
Obviously, his story isn't squeaky clean and his beliefs were his own worst enemy (one must note his relatives were Confederate Veterans). Being a mostly silents only director he would have been forgotten anyways but what with Civil Rights and all his films became too risque to touch. Instead of being appreciate for their cinematic and historic qualities, people cant get over the racism (much like the plight of Disney's 'Song of the South'). Not all his films are racist, and not all his films even deal with race issues. In fact some of them, albeit still a bit stereotypically but not worse than anything else in the era, try to portray non whites as good people (ex: Broken Blossoms).
Nothing makes me madder than black, yellow, or brown face and nothing makes me cringe more than the stereotypical portrayals. BUT to accept Griffith was a genius is not to slight non whites. His whole career was not a racial thing, he did more than that. And with history in our eyes he deserves recognition. If we forget the past we are doomed to repeat our mistakes (and may I cite White Chicks, Norbit, everything Eddie Murphy has ever done, and the rest of the blaxploitation crap as proof). Griffith was buried in Kentucky his home state.
The 'Forget the Talkies Honor Project'
So do you now see the common thread? Two important silent film folk, who both are misunderstood and have legacy and burial issues. Over the years several silent stars died broke, with no burial arrangements, or had no headstone (Valentino, Karl Dane, and Florence Lawrence come to mind). Thankfully a lot of them were taken care of early on, or by the 90s. To my knowledge these are the last two major injustices left. And since I am a firm believer in not only should silents but the people who made them be remembered (as people, not images) this is extremely dear to me.
Anna May needs a headstone! She deserves a fitting memorial! She was the first non white female to become a star in the US, and she definitely spent the rest of her life trying to achieve an equal status. And right to her death, she was slighted. Many of her obituaries claimed her absence from pictures (which was caused by her annoyance with stereotypical roles) was because her father or mother told her "Don't be photographed too much or you'll lose your soul!" AHHH! Poor girl. What is even more maddening is the fact that she has had several honors since her death (such as the Anna May Wong award for excellence), a statue put up in her likeness on the Walk of Fame, a few living relatives, and yet no one to my knowledge has tried to give the woman a headstone!
Headstones don't cost 'that' much (well vs a major statue or something!) $1000-$2000 would probably be a high estimate. Unfortunately me, myself, and I do not have such funds. So I am putting out this appeal to Anna and Silent fans everywhere: Lets buy Anna May Wong a headstone! I am not quite sure which quote I'd like to see on it yet, but if anyone has suggestions feel free to contact us (on the right hand side of this blog).
As for Griffith at least he had a headstone. But I find it odd more so than any other star that he does not have anything here in Hollywood. He has a few plaques up here and there but nothing in honor of HIM. Several stars were not buried in Hollywood, some even when they died at their height (Olive Thomas, Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo, etc) mostly because of preference. And surely Griffith wished to be home, but he did kinda CREATE Hollywood...attention must be paid! I would like to see him get a cenotaph (especially in Hollywood Forever) much like Jayne Mansfield (odd comparison I know but not the first on this blog!) This would obviously cost much more than a headstone, so I expect this project to take more time. I would especially like a bust of him created, it could be gorgeous.
And I would like to see one other honor restored to Griffith. In 1953 the Director's Guild of America created the 'D.W. Griffith Award' the highest honor they present. Several notable directors, including DeMille, received the award. Though in 1999 for apparently no reason (and with no consultation to other board members) DGA President Jack Shea declared it too touchy and renamed it the 'DGA Lifetime Achievement Award' stupidly citing Birth of a Nation as good reason. I would like to point out to him personally that though Birth of a Nation did foster racial stereotypes, it also helped inspire and create the birth of the 'race films industry' and without it there never would have been any Denzel Washington or Halle Berry. Just...make note of that. Jerk.
I would like to see the award restored to its original name. Obviously this is an organization, we can't just 'buy' the change. BUT we can raise hell! Online petitions are usually pointless, but I hope in conjunction with our other efforts maybe they will see the error of their ways.
Let's do it!
So let's go! You can donate as much or little as you want (yes even a dollar) via paypal (links below) for either (or both) project you wish. All proceeds go towards said goals here. In the event that some legal red tape ensnares a project (highly unlikely) or that 20 years pass and we have not raised enough, then the funds will be donated to a charity to be picked at the time (Anna's would be Asian Arts causes, Griffith's would be young filmmakers, etc). I really doubt it will come to that, but I wanted to put any disclaimers in where needed.
Without YOU this would not be possible. So we all shall get credit and know we did good in the world. In all 3 events the credited party will be the 'Forget the Talkies Honor Project' which your name or organization/business will be on the list of when the project is completed (unless you wish it not to, please leave a note when making your donation).
My apologies the buttons are so low down, they work though!
D.W. Griffith
Click here to sign the Restore the D.W. Griffith Award Petition
Donate to the D.W. Griffith Hollywood Cenotaph project below. Note you can specify the amount you wish to donate to as little or as much as you wish.
Anna May Wong
*Please note this project is closed. Click here for and update more information.
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