Detroit Festival of Books – Live
PBS Books is thrilled to present exclusive live coverage from the 2025 Detroit Festival of Books at the historic Eastern Market. Join us on Sunday, July 20, for a day-long celebration of storytelling, identity, and community. This free virtual event is made possible through the generous support of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), with additional support from Michigan Humanities and the Detroit Festival of Books.
Throughout the day, tune in for live author interviews, cultural conversations, and behind-the-scenes festival coverage, streaming nationally on all PBS Books digital platforms. In-person attendees can visit the PBS Books booth—shared with Michigan Humanities—to meet PBS Books hosts Fred Nahhat and Lauren Smith, and connect with fellow book lovers from around the region.
This event is produced in partnership with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible.
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Spotlight on Great Michigan Read Author Curtis Chin
PBS Books & the Centers for Asian American Media (CAAM) have proudly partnered in spotlighting Curtis Chin, Detroit native and author of the acclaimed memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, selected as the 2025–2026 Great Michigan Read. Join us for a special on-site conversation with Curtis, where he’ll explore themes of family, identity, and community rooted in his experience growing up in Detroit’s Chinatown.
Curtis will also share insights into his broader body of work:
- “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” – We’ll reflect on the groundbreaking 1987 PBS film that awakened national conversation around race and justice.
- “Vincent Who?” – Curtis’s own follow-up documentary, diving deeper into the lasting impact of Vincent Chin’s murder on Asian American identity and activism.
- “Dear Corky” (2022, PBS American Masters) – A tribute to pioneering photographer Corky Lee and a powerful look at documenting Asian American history.
- A sneak preview of Curtis’s upcoming film about Chinese American paper artist Warren King, capturing the intersection of art, memory, and diaspora.
- And so much more!
In addition to his live festival appearance, PBS Books will premiere a full-hour recorded author talk with Curtis Chin—captured at the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch on Friday, July 18—that will be made available video on demand.
Festivalgoers can also meet Curtis Chin in person at the PBS Books booth for book signings and casual conversations throughout the day.
Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of books, voices, and the power of community.
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Featured Speakers
Revisiting Who Killed Vincent Chin? | One Detroit
Nearly four decades after the documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? premiered, the filmmakers Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña, alongside Detroit Public TV’s Juanita Anderson, join Detroit-area filmmaker Chien-An Yuan to talk about the making of the documentary, the civil rights movement they covered in real-time, and the significance the film still holds nearly today.
