The Privilege Race - by Brian Thomas (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

I am a Black man in America . . . and I am privileged.

While growing up, author Brian Thomas might not have considered himself privileged. The biracial son of a Black father and a white mother, he watched his parents struggle against racism and bigotry, and witnessed the strain this sometimes placed on their relationship.

Yet he also saw them fight their way into the middle-class, which allowed them to buy a nice home in a school district that provided Brian and his sister with a solid education. He now realizes that their sacrifices and determination to provide a better life for their children were what put him in a position of privilege.

In spite of the benefits his upbringing afforded him, Brian had to overcome immense hurdles, including two kidney transplants. And his experiences have shown him that regardless of circumstances, success is within everyone's reach.

The Privilege Race explores what it means to be privileged in America and provides a roadmap for you to build a bridge between the life you're currently living and the one you want to live:

• Learn about your mental conditioning, to better understand the source of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Determine what you genuinely want from life--not what you've been told you should want.

• Develop a mindset of what's possible, instead of focusing on the impossible

You have the ability to break any generational hardships holding you back. When you stop listening to the false narrative that privilege is something reserved for white people, you can be empowered to seize the life you're meant to be living.

About the Author

Brian Thomas is the founder of 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. Due to his achievements and reputation within the Chicago legal community, he 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. He has also been regularly named an Illinois Super Lawyer.

In 2021, with the help of Illinois State Representative Maurice West, he drafted a law making it illegal to call the police on people of color in public spaces simply because they are people of color. He has served as a director on boards for entities involved in fair housing in Chicago and mentorship for children in underserved communities. He has also been featured as an in-studio guest on Chicago radio discussing state and local politics.

Brian received his law degree from DePaul College of Law in Chicago and received his bachelor's degree from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

He is a kidney transplant patient. The experience provided context to his life from an early age, as he has a deep understanding of the preciousness of life, good health and the importance of intentionally living a life you want to live.

Brian lives in Northbrook, Illinois, with his wife and two children, where in his spare time he follows his children around in their sports and theatrical endeavors.