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Draft:Rahsan Thomas

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Rahsaan Thomas
Born
Rahsaan Thomas

New York City, NY, U.S.
OccupationWriter. Journalist. Director. Podcaster. Producer. Curator.
Years active2013-present
Websitewww.rahsaannewyorkthomas.com www.empowermentave.org

Rahsaan Thomas is an American-born writer, director, producer, podcaster, curator, journalist, and social justice advocate, most known as “New York” on award-winning podcast Ear Hustle. His work, whether fiction or nonfiction, primarily focuses on painting a practical path to abolition and public safety.

Thomas is the Executive Director of Empowerment Avenue, an organization that works to develop the careers of incarcerated writers, artists, journalists, and filmmakers pre-entry.[1] He continues to co-host Ear Hustle, make films, and serve on the boards of Initiate Justice, North Cal Society of Professional Journalists, Back to the Start, and Their Stories.[2].

In 2023, his completion of the New York City Marathon was covered by NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow, Runner’s World, ESQUIRE Magazine, Outside Magazine, and the Brooklyn Paper.

Thomas is co-director and co-founder of the inaugural San Quentin Film Festival.

In 2024, Thomas was awarded Emerson Collective[3], Right of Return Fellowship, and Soros Equality Fellowships.[4]

Early Life

[edit]

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas was raised in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.[5] His mother, Jacqueline Andrews, was a bureau chief at Rikers Island. His father was incarcerated before committing suicide while Thomas was a teen.

During his childhood, Thomas faced gun violence, bullying, redlining, abusive policing policies, generational incarceration, and drug infestation.[6] His choices in the face of such adversity landed him in prison with a 55 to life sentence. [7] During his time in prison, Thomas transformed his life, emerging as a published writer, director and producer, podcaster, social justice advocate, restorative justice circle keeper, youth counselor, and avid runner. In 2018, Thomas became a co-host of the San Quentin-based podcast Ear Hustle, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize during Thomas’ first year as co-host.[8] California Governor Gavin Newsom commuted his 55 to life sentence, which allowed Thomas to parole on Feb. 8, 2023.

Career

[edit]

Thomas is most known as “New York” on the Pulitzer Prize finalist and Dupont Award-winning podcast Ear Hustle.

Empowerment Avenue

[edit]

Thomas co-founded Prison Renaissance before moving on to co-found Empowerment Avenue with Brooklyn-based freelance writer Emily Nonko. Empowerment Avenue works to develop the careers of incarcerated writers, artists, journalists, and filmmakers pre-entry. Empowerment Avenue helps normalize the inclusion of incarcerated writers and artists in their industry, pre-entry for prevailing wages.[9]

Ear Hustle Podcast

[edit]

Thomas joined the Ear Hustle podcast in 2018 as a producer and co-host for season four, after founding co-host Earlonne Woods paroled. That same season, Ear Hustle won the Dupont Award, and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Following his parole on February 8, 2023, Thomas remains involved with Ear Hustle podcast as a producer.

Writing

[edit]

While at San Quentin, Thomas was a contributing writer for The Marshall Project, San Quentin News, and Current with freelance work in High Country News, Boston Globe, Stranger’s Guide, NBC Universal Academy, and Business Insider.[10][11][12] He published 42 stories in 31 months just before paroling. Today he is working on screenplays.

Film

[edit]

After appearing in several documentaries while in prison, including Q-Ball and 26.2 to Life, Thomas decided to start making his own. The Sundance Institute and The Marshall Project awarded him a grant to direct and produce a short documentary film called Friendly Signs, which premiered at the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival in 2023.[13] Friendly Signs, went on to screen at Double Exposure, Atlanta Film Festival, Bravemaker and Superfest Disability Documentary Film Festival where it won an Advocacy Award.[14][15][16]

Thomas also co-produced, What These Walls Won’t Hold, directed by Adamu Chan, which won the Best Mid-Length Documentary at the 2023 San Francisco International Film Festival and premiered on PBS America Reframed.

In 2016, W. Kamau Bell featured Thomas in an episode of his CNN docuseries United Shades of America that took place inside of San Quentin Prison.[17]

Running & 2023 New York City Marathon

[edit]
Thomas high fives fans while running the 2023 New York City Marathon.
Thomas completing the New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023.

Thomas’ relationship with running began when he was 28 years old, after participating in a boxing camp led by childhood friend and two-time heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs.[18] Thomas felt embarrassed that he was unable to run three-miles, and was lapped by his friends during the warm up. Following the camp, he continued to train on his own until he could easily run five-miles.[19]

While in prison, Thomas continued to develop his love of running. He was a member of the Thousand-Mile Club at San Quentin, an organized running club coached and sponsored by the Tamalpa Runners.[20][21] During this time, he completed three half marathons, and a full marathon in 2017 which was covered in the documentary 26.2 to Life.[22]

In 2023, Thomas ran the New York City Marathon. His run received extensive media coverage, and raised awareness for needed changes to the US prison system, such as providing better support for incarcerated writers and artists.[23]

Social Justice

[edit]

"It isn’t public safety to warehouse someone for 20 years working for slave wages then released them middle aged and broke. That’s releasing someone into bad circumstances and hope they find the support on their own to make good decisions." - Rahsaan Thomas [24]

NorCal Society of Professional Journalists

[edit]

Thomas was a member of the 2017 inaugural 38-member cohort of the San Quentin SPJ NorCal Satellite Chapter (SQ-SJP), and served as chairman from 2018 to 2023.[25] Thomas organized symposiums at San Quentin and invited journalists into the prison to discuss their coverage of system-impacted people. In 2021, Thomas penned an article for The Language Project entitled “We Are Worth the Extra Letters” in which he advocates for using people-first language and discontinuing use of the word “inmate.”[26]

As chairman of SQ-SJP, Thomas received the John Gothberg Award for Meritorious Service in 2021 for his leadership in maintaining the flow of information in and out of San Quentin during the Covid 19 Pandemic lockdowns.[27]

CA Prop 17

[edit]

In 2014, while at San Quentin, Thomas began participating in restorative justice circles. While attending a restorative justice symposium, he met Emily Harris. At the time, Harris was serving as Policy Director for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and co-facilitating a class for the Prison University Project discussing systemic challenges in getting major law changes passed. Harris encouraged students to think about “the change that will lead to the change,” which inspired Thomas to advocate for restoring voting rights for system-impacted people. Through Harris, Thomas was introduced to Taina Vargas, founder of Initiate Justice. In 2017, Thomas called Vargas and pitched an idea that led to California Proposition 17, a successful 2020 ballot initiative that restored voting rights to people on parole in CA. Thomas would go on to become an Initiate Justice Board Member, and design the 2018 Voting Rights and Democracy Act.

Vargas served as Executive Chair of the Yes on Prop 17 campaign, and, upon victory, recalled her initiating conversation with Thomas. “For far too long, Black and brown Californians have been excluded from our democracy. Today, California voters definitively righted a historic wrong. I’ll forever remember the phone call I received in 2017 from Rahsaan Thomas in San Quentin State Prison – who made it clear to me then, and has since made it clear to all Californians, that the first step to empowering people impacted by mass incarceration is to restore their right to vote. We’re grateful to the hundreds of organizations and individuals who supported this campaign, and to the millions of California voters who sent a clear message that our democracy needs everyone. 50,000 Californians now have their rightful say in our democracy."[28] California Proposition 17 received over 400 endorsements, and passed with 58.55% of the vote.[29]

Awards & Notable Works

[edit]

Awards:

[edit]
  • 2024 NationSwell Artist as Citizen Award
  • 2024 Emerson Collective Fellowship[30]
  • 2024 Superfest Disability Film Festival Advocacy Award for Friendly Signs (director, producer, writer)[31]
  • 2024 Right of Return USA Fellowship
  • Ear Hustle: Co-Producer and Co-Host
    • Du Pont Award winner (2020) Season Four[32]
    • Pulitzer Prize finalist (2020) Season Four
    • 7x Webbie Award winner[33]
    • Peabody Award nominee (2018) Season Four[34]

Writing:

[edit]

Television/Film:

[edit]
  • Friendly Signs. (2022). Director.[35]
  • 26.2 to Life: The San Quentin Marathon. (2022). Main Character.
  • What These Walls Won’t Hold. (2022). Co-Producer, Main Character.
  • San Quentin Media Center in a Box. (2022). Director, Main Character.
  • Forward This Productions: Office Skit the New York Special. (2023). Actor.
  • NBC Bay Area We Investigate:  Enhancements Leave Thousands of California Inmates With Extraordinarily Long Sentences. (2017). Featured Guest.
  • The Great Big Story: The Oracle of San Quentin. (2018). Guest.

Audio:

[edit]
  • Ear Hustle Podcast. Co-host and Producer. (2018-2023) Producer (2023-present)[36]
  • On Our Watch. Consulting Producer. (2023-2024)[37]
  • Shadowproof. Featured Guest. (2022)[38]
  • Art Angle. Featured Guest. (2021)[39]
  • Life of the Law. Producer/co-host.[40]
  • KALW. Guest speaker (2015)[41]
  1. ^ "Our Team". www.empowermentave.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  2. ^ "Rahsaan "New York" Thomas". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  3. ^ "Emerson Collective Fellowship - Emerson Collective". www.emersoncollective.com. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ^ "Soros Equality Fellowship". www.opensocietyfoundations.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  5. ^ Jewett, Daniel (2024-04-26). "Rahsaan Thomas Knows the Power of Writing And Is Sharing It With Others". Marin Living Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  6. ^ "Rahsaan Thomas". The Center for Art and Advocacy. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  7. ^ ServiceSpace.org. "Podcaster Rahsaan Thomas, On Clemency And Life After Prison: 'I Want To Tell Our Stories'". KarunaNews: Responding with Compassion. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  8. ^ "Q&A with Pulitzer Prize-nominated Ear Hustle". sanquentinnews.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  9. ^ "Empowerment Avenue Helps Incarcerated Writers Get Their Work Published". www.triplepundit.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  10. ^ "Introducing Stranger's Guide: California". Strangers Guide. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  11. ^ "Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, Author at High Country News". High Country News. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  12. ^ Thomas, Rahsaan. "I've served 19 years in San Quentin prison and I just got diagnosed with COVID-19. Where is the justice?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  13. ^ "Documentary Short Fund - sundance.org". Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  14. ^ Williamson, Laura (2024-03-22). "2024 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS KEY PROGRAMMING AND FULL LINEUP OF OFFICIAL SELECTIONS FOR 48TH ANNUAL EVENT, INCLUDING 27 WORLD PREMIERES". Atlanta Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  15. ^ "Film Fest 2024". bravemaker2024filmfest.eventive.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  16. ^ "2024 Superfest Films". Superfest. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  17. ^ Knobel, Lance (2016-05-02). "W. Kamau Bell tells a different story at San Quentin Prison". Berkeleyside. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  18. ^ Woodyatt, Amy (2024-04-08). "San Quentin State Prison: Running provides a new lease of life for inmates". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  19. ^ "Twenty Years Ago He Was Incarcerated for Life. He Just Ran the New York City Marathon as a Free Man". Runner's World. 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  20. ^ "1000 Mile Club1000 Mile Club". 1000 Mile Club. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  21. ^ Gearhart, Sarah (2023-11-01). "His First Marathon Was in Prison. His Second Will Be in New York City". RUN | Powered by Outside. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  22. ^ "Home — 26.2 TO LIFE: THE SAN QUENTIN PRISON MARATHON". 26.2 TO LIFE. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  23. ^ "Rahsaan Thomas Became a Runner in Prison. Now, He's Running the NYC Marathon". Esquire. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  24. ^ "Social Justice". Rahsaan "New York" Thomas. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  25. ^ "Behind Bars – And In SPJ". Quill. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  26. ^ Thomas, Rahsaan (2021-04-13). "How I Convinced My Incarcerated Peers to Make Language a Priority". The Marshall Project. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  27. ^ LaHood, Lila (January 27, 2022). "SPJ NorCal Honors 2021 Excellence in Journalism Award Winners". Society of Professional Journalists Northern California. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  28. ^ "California Voters Approve Prop. 17, Restoring Voting Rights to People Who Have Completed Prison Terms | Brennan Center for Justice". www.brennancenter.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  29. ^ "California Proposition 17 Election Results: Give Vote to Felons on Parole". The New York Times. 2020-11-03. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  30. ^ "Rahsaan Thomas - Emerson Collective". www.emersoncollective.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  31. ^ "Superfest Disability Film Festival". superfest.eventive.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  32. ^ "Ear Hustle Credits". duPont-Columbia Awards. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  33. ^ "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  34. ^ "Ear Hustle". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  35. ^ "Film Fest 2024". bravemaker2024filmfest.eventive.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  36. ^ "EH+ Ask Rahsaan Anything". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  37. ^ Lewis, Sukey; Small, Julie (2024-06-04). "BONUS: "The Prison Beat" | S2: New Folsom | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  38. ^ "Rahsaan Thomas, Author at Shadowproof". Shadowproof. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  39. ^ Article, Artnet News ShareShare This (2021-01-08). "The Art Angle Podcast: Can Art Help End the Era of Mass Incarceration?". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  40. ^ "Rahsaan Thomas". Life of the Law. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  41. ^ "Rahsaan "New York" Thomas". KALW. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
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