Arkansas NCTA and the UCA Center for Asian Languages and Cultures present a free public screening of Bluff City Chinese, featuring Director Thandi Cai and independent historian Emerald Dunn. Register here!

This documentary follows two storytellers of different generations on a mission to share the untold history of Chinese American immigrants in Memphis, Tennessee. The film observes the complex nature of crafting historical narratives from scratch and explores how a yearning for identity can bring generations of people together to break ground for a more hopeful future. This short (42 min) documentary is ideal for classroom viewing, and Arkansas teachers will receive a complimentary Learning Guide with suggested discussion questions and classroom activities. You can watch the trailer for the film here.

Format: In-person
Audience: Grade 5 – 12 Teachers
When: February 19, 2026 from 7-9pm
Where: University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
Integrated Health Sciences Building, room 280-282

Speakers:

Thandi Cai (they/them) Director and Creator of Bluff City Chinese identifies as a storyteller of the Asian Diaspora. Cai grew up in Memphis, TN where they learned how storytelling could be used to empower themselves and others across racial, political, gender, ethnic and economic lines. Cai uses visual arts, film-making, and graphic design to begin conversations around critical dialogue. Their goal as an artist is to arouse imagination, pleasure, and improvisation to ideate new paths forward.

Emerald Dunn (she/her) independent historian, has collected several historical articles, images, and genealogical records on local Chinese people spanning 150 years. Her research has contributed to organizations such as the Memphis Public Library, the Chinese Historical Society of Memphis & the MidSouth, the Shelby County Historical Commission, 1882 Foundation, Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum, and the founding of the Arkansas Chinese Heritage Project. Her work has also helped unite over 8 different families to their ancestral history across the mid-south.