What Was the China Doll?

parsing the meaning behind a loaded phrase

Anna May Wong poses in one of her flapper dresses, circa 1920s

When I set out to write a book about Anna May Wong, I had a specific intention in mind. I wanted to reframe the narrative around AMW’s life and career. Rather than characterize her as a tragic victim of racism and sexism — as many articles on the internet tend to do — my aim was to acknowledge her resilience and resourcefulness, and the agency she…