The Sleeping Negro opens with James Baldwin’s quote “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in rage almost all the time.” It tells the story of a young Black man, simply identified as “Man,” who must resolve the personal meaning of his blackness when his white boss orders him to commit fraud to benefit the corporation. Struggling with an overwhelming sense of shame for going through with the illegal demand, Man seeks consolation by discussing his unease with a black former friend and his white fiancé. This does not go well.

Available only in Texas with Limited Tickets:

We invite you to watch "The Sleeping Negro" On Demand at your leisure beginning January 27th @12:00 am CST and join us for a Live Stream conversation on February 5th at 8:00pm CST with the Director Skinner Myers. Hosts for the conversation are DBFF Festival Director, Harry and Eaddy, and Linda Eaddy, Director of Film Programming.

Skinner Myers is an award-winning filmmaker who has written and directed 11 films. His feature film debut, THE SLEEPING NEGRO (2021), world premiered at Slamdance FF and internationally premiered at the Champs-Elysees FF in Paris, France. It won the FIPRESCI award at IFF Mannheim Heidelberg and the Visionary Award at Cinequest. Myers has studied at Columbia University, Brooklyn College, the USC School of Cinematic Arts and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam.