“Everything I Learned, I Learned at a Chinese Restaurant”

An Evening with Curtis Chin: Everything I Learned, I Learned at a Chinese Restaurant

Monday, October 20, 2025
5pm, ZSR Library Auditorium (404)

In his book, Chin takes us back to 1980s Detroit, where he grew up in his family’s restaurant. It was here, between servings of chicken lo mein and almond cookies, that he came of age, navigating multigenerational family drama and learning to embrace his identity as a gay, American-born Chinese (ABC) man. His talk will explore this journey, offering a vivid and heartfelt look at finding your place in a changing world.

A book signing will follow the talk, with books available for purchase at the event courtesy of Bookmarks bookstore. You can also preorder using this link.

About the Book
“Vivid, moving, funny, and heartfelt, Curtis Chin’s memoir showcases his talents as an activist and a storyteller. This is one man’s story of growing up gay, Chinese American, and working class in 1980s Detroit, finding a place in a large and loving immigrant family and in a changing city—and in doing so, carving out a place in the world for himself.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

Co-sponsored by:

Wake the Arts, the Humanities Institute with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities; Program for Leadership and Character; Department of English; Journalism Program; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Department of East Asian Languages; and the AAPI Affinity Resource Group.