Thelonious “Monk” Ellison’s writing career has stalled because his work isn’t deemed “Black enough.” Monk, a writer and English professor, writes a satirical novel under a pseudonym, aiming to expose the publishing world’s hypocrisies. The book’s immediate success forces him to get deeper enmeshed in his assumed identity and challenges his closely-held worldviews.

2 Movie & Talkback options:
* On Saturday, January 13, immediately following the 4:30 PM screening, there will be a post-screening discussion of Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction led by Dr. Tracy Stephens from Queens University of Charlotte and Dr. Janaka Lewis from UNC Charlotte. Dr. Stephens is an Assistant Professor of English and General Education at Queens, instructing at the university since the Fall of 2017. Her courses focus on growth toward the Civic Mindedness and Global Mindedness attributes central to a Queens education. Dr. Lewis’ interests include African American literature of the 19th century and African American women’s writing.