In The Sleeping Negro, Skinner Myers crafts a provocative and deeply introspective portrait of a young Black man navigating the complexities of contemporary America. When his white boss pressures him to participate in corporate fraud, an already fragile sense of belonging gives way to a profound personal and moral crisis. Through this pivotal conflict and the protagonist's everyday encounters, the film explores race, identity, and the psychological impact of living in a society where he is continually seen through the eyes of others.

As he confronts racism, microaggressions, and the pressures of assimilation, he struggles to preserve his sense of self without being reduced to stereotype or symbol. Working in the tradition of the LA Rebellion filmmakers, Myers tells a deeply personal Black story through a boldly unconventional cinematic style that gives voice to the emotional and psychological realities of being a Black man in America.

An essential work for audiences, students, and scholars interested in African American cinema, Africana Studies, Film Studies, race, identity, and contemporary independent filmmaking.

Why ArtMattan Selected This Film
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The Sleeping Negro exemplifies the kind of cinema ArtMattan champions—award-winning films that deepen our understanding of the human experience of people of color and the realities that shape our shared world.