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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Brian Thomas shares what inspired him to write his new book, The Privilege Race: A Guide to Overcoming Negative Voices and Influences.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Brian Thomas, founder of Thomas Law, about his life and career, what inspired him to start writing, and his new book, The Privilege Race: A Guide to Overcoming Negative Voices and Influences.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I am a lawyer, having founded THOMAS LAW, a Chicago based law firm engaged in the representation of individuals and families that have suffered catastrophic losses due to the conduct of others in personal injury, workers compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death. I was named one of Illinois top 40 attorneys under the age of 40; this honor is achieved by less than 1% of all Illinois attorneys. I have also been regularly named an Illinois Super Lawyer.
In 2021, with the help of Illinois State Representative Maurice West, I drafted a law making it illegal to call the police on people of color in public spaces simply because they are people of color.
I serve as a director on boards for entities involved in fair housing in Chicago and mentorship for children in underserved communities. I have also been featured as an in-studio guest on Chicago radio discussing state and local politics. I received his law degree from DePaul College of Law in Chicago and my bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
I am a kidney transplant patient. The experience provided context to my life from an early age, and a deep understanding of the preciousness of life, good health and the importance of intentionally living a life you want to live.
When did you first want to write a book?
The story of my journey starts with Mr. Cloud in my senior English class. His influence gave me authority and credibility as a writer. And he loved my work. And he nurtured me as a writer.
And I fell in love with it. Many thanks to Mr. Cloud!
About 15 years ago I authored a blog on Chicago Now, called Your Doubting Thomas… which was so much fun to write. It brought opportunities to be on the radio discussing state and national politics. But talking about race and politics did bring a lot of negative feedback—and I found myself a different person. Fuming over negative or overtly racist comments. There negative comments would literally stick with me for days at times. It was not healthy so I slowed down and eventually stopped.
Then George Floyd died. And after sitting in my backyard A LOT stewing in anger that “it happened again” I found myself at my computer writing. I first wrote a couple laws. I took them to my state representative, Jonathan Carroll, who then enlisted State Representative Maurice West.
Rep. West took one of my thoughts—making it illegal to call the police on a person of color in a public space—championed it and got it passed in the state of Illinois. Watching that happen—seeing democrats and republicans on the committee champion it unanimously was awesome. You can now find that at 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1
About the same time—I started writing my book. Or better stated, I built the habit of daily writing, which led to the book.
When I was sitting in my backyard in anger, as the anger started to dissipate, I looked around me and was beyond grateful for what “I had.” A beautiful yard. A lovely home with a great family, food in the fridge and savings in the bank. It hit me that I lived in privilege and that I had earned it, as an African American male. And that was the birth of the book.
When did you take a step to start writing?
The spring of 2020, after George Floyd died. My world was still on lockdown because of the COVID pandemic, so I had a little more time to build a writing habit. I recall using what a coach called the Jerry Seinfeld method.
My coach told me Jerry Seinfeld used a dry erase calendar and wrote an X or checkmark every day he wrote a joke. Because he wrote jokes—he considered himself a comedian. I wanted to consider myself a writer again, so I got up an hour earlier each morning and wrote. Sometimes it would be for myself; other times for the book. But I spent at least 20 minutes writing. Each day I wrote, I marked W on the dry erase board in my kitchen.
Over time, after building that habit of writing, along with excellent help from mentors and coaches, The Privilege Race was born.
How long did it take to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Almost three years. I started in earnest on the book in September 2020. At that time, the habit was formed and I was writing and had a rough outline. After writing a significant part of the book, I felt like it was suffering from “content creep” and I found and worked with someone to help me build a better structure and outline for the book. That happened in the beginning of 2021. From there, it took about a year and a half for me to write the book—as it was my side hustle.
Thereafter, I was surprised by the amount of time we have spent putting on the finishing touches on the book, including cover design, interior page design and fonts.
What made you want to write The Privilege Race?
After George Floyd died, I was very angry and sat in my backyard alone. The loop in my brain was It happened AGAIN.
Over the next few days, the anger dissipated. I recall sitting in my backyard and noticing how beautiful it is. The squirrels and rabbits were running about and eating our flowers. The birds were flying and singing. I heard children playing in neighboring yards.
Living in Chicago, I find I am most grateful after our first big snowstorm. I like to get a book, build a fire, grab a blanket and read while watching the snow fall outside. I feel most grateful because I am in our warm home, there is food in the refrigerator and my children have clean, dry warm beds. Everything else in the house is gravy and I am beyond grateful for the basics and our four walls.
That gratefulness is how I felt when my anger dissipated after George Floyd’s death. I realized that I had earned what some would call privilege and I was grateful for it. If I could earn that privilege and gratitude, anyone could. So I started writing about it.
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Privilege Race?
Finding my authority to write it. Who am I to say that anyone can earn or discover privilege? Am I even able to say I have it? But the story is authentic. It is me. An excellent writing coach who helped me build the foundation for writing it, Jim House, gave me license by reminding me that I have authority to write about my life.
After the book was “done” the biggest challenge is building the engine to market and sell it! I remember someone telling me that it is easier to write a book than to market and sell it. I remember scoffing at that person.
Now I find myself laughing at that version of me that scoffed nine months ago!
What was your research process for The Privilege Race?
The research process for the book happened after I planned the final structure of the book. I had been writing the book for roughly five months when I found it unruly and going off onto tangents.
A friend introduced me to Jim House. Jim and I sat down over three days and really dug into the ideas I wanted to build in my book and then created a structure around the thoughts and feelings I wanted to describe and create. After that scaffold was built, I did the research that supported history, thoughts and ideas that were not my own.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Privilege Race need?
ABSOLUTELY! I was fortunate to find a publisher. However, prior to giving the manuscript to my publisher, I hired an editor. We met often and went through two edits prior to getting the manuscript to the publisher.
My publisher also edited the book several times with three different editors. We just finished what should be the final edit (until I get the next email suggesting one more look over!).
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
I have 1 and 1a…. Just like a lawyer not answering the question!
First, build a writing habit. Make it part of your routine to write at least five times a week. Once that is built—and by built I mean after you have written five times a week for three months—find a coach who has written a book to walk through it with you.
The coach is key because they will have a network to help get the book published and keep you accountable for your goals. Goals include not only writing, but finding an agent, editors, a publisher, and more editors, and other people to help build the website, and people to help with social media, and people to help with the cover design.
All of it can be exhausting. I was very fortunate to have two people who really put wind in my sail when I needed it. Without my agent, Nena Madonia Oshman, and my coach, and fellow author, Blaire Ward, I don’t think The Privilege Race would exist.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’d love to! But I am so focused on promoting The Privilege Race I can’t at the moment. It’s funny, because when I thought the book was done, I remember talking to my agent Nena about my next book. She laughed in my face and said I would not have time to think about that for another year. How right she was!!! Since then we have done several more edits and several revisions to the cover. I no longer remember what the idea was around the next book!
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Absolutely. In one way, I wanted to do this thing so one day a long time from now when I’m on my deathbed, I can remember I accomplished the goal of publishing my book. I would be happy that book, my words, would be on a few bookshelves after I pass on. That pride of legacy has been replaced with pride of learning how to do something completely new to me. It has been a lot of work, but I have also enjoyed it. I have made several wonderful friendships with people I would not have known but for this journey of writing a book.
Opportunities have come to me that otherwise would not have. I find myself more involved within the African American community; wanting to help others not only reach their goals but also helping them decide/know/learn that they deserve those goals.
I have had so much fun (and continue) doing and trying new things. I have had fun preparing for podcast interviews, magazine interviews, preparing to meet with NYT bestselling authors or to meet with publishers and agents a host of different people I would not have met in my life as a lawyer. The preparation is fun, but because it was first time for many of these meetings and opportunities, I did not know what would or could or should happen. It was like my first jury trial or deposition or important hearing.
I did a lot of preparation yet did not know if I what I was focused on was right! I was growing again and having a lot of fun doing it!
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3RXbKo9
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3NKTzPX
www.theprivilegerace.com
X @privilegerace
IG: BrianThomas2.0
FB: Brian Thomas and Brian Thomas2.0
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