100 Objects #10: Nunchaku

Nunchaku evolved from an ancient Okinawan farming tool into a potent symbol of resistance and cultural identity for Asian Americans during the late 1960s and 1970s. Historian and culture critic Jeff Chang traces this transformation through the career of Bruce Lee, whose cinematic use of the weapon resonated with marginalized communities facing systemic oppression. By adopting martial arts, Asian American activists reclaimed their agency, moving beyond the "Oriental" stereotypes imposed by mainstream society to forge a unified political identity. This movement intersected with the broader "third world" struggle, as Kung Fu films gained popularity in urban theaters alongside Blaxploitation cinema. Although mainstream authorities attempted to suppress this cultural shift by banning nunchaku, the weapon remains an enduring emblem of the fight for representation and the shared struggle against disenfranchisement.