Sleep disruption represents one of the most measurable ways that systemic racism penetrates health outcomes, particularly among young adults navigating critical developmental transitions. Understanding these pathways could inform both campus wellness programs and broader health equity strategies. A comprehensive 14-day monitoring study involving 168 first-year Black American college students reveals that experiences of ethnic and racial discrimination create immediate sleep disturbances, but the severity depends critically on how students perceive society's view of their racial group. Using actigraphy devices to objectively measure sleep patterns alongside daily discrimination reports, researchers identified a complex relationship where discrimination episodes triggered longer but more fragmented sleep on the same day. Students who believed others held negative views about Black Americans showed the most pronounced sleep disruption following discrimination, including earlier bedtimes, extended time in bed, and significantly more nighttime awakenings. Conversely, students with higher "public regard" - those believing society views Black Americans more positively - demonstrated resilience against discrimination-induced sleep disruption. This finding challenges assumptions about coping mechanisms and suggests that perceived social acceptance may buffer physiological stress responses. The immediate temporal relationship between discrimination and sleep changes indicates an acute stress response rather than cumulative wear. However, the study's brief 14-day window cannot capture long-term adaptation patterns or chronic health consequences. For campus health professionals, these results underscore the need for interventions addressing both discrimination exposure and students' social cognitive frameworks about racial perception.