Thelonius “Monk” Ellison is a literature professor and novelist whose highbrow fiction works sell poorly.

Angered by the accusation that his writing ignores ‘the African-American experience’, Monk pseudonymously pens a stereotypical ‘Black’ novel which gains widespread acclaim.

Soon he’s complaining to his agent: “The dumber I behave, the richer I get.” This delightful satirical comedy is an Oscar and Critic’s Choice winner for best adapted screenplay.

“Elegantly walking a line between absurdist satire and family drama, this is a clever send-up of how the broadness of Black culture gets reduced to cliché.” (Empire).