Rahsaan “New York” Thomas

Growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, I experienced trauma and witnessed gun violence committed against my little brother. Through my fears, shame, and insecurities, I chose to let the evil deeds of my enemies make my evil deeds seem fair and became a menace to society. Since then, I have completely turned my life around. I am a successful writer, podcaster, director, producer, advocate, and youth counselor formerly incarcerated at San Quentin Prison, using my voice for redemption.

Thomas, a co-host of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated podcast “Ear Hustle,” was released from San Quentin in February 2023.

Winner, 2022 PEN America Prison Writing Contest – 2nd Place in Fiction for “Silent Treatment


Articles by Rahsaan “New York” Thomas

Wednesday September 7

Silent Treatment

Rahsaan “New York” Thomas was awarded 2nd Place in Fiction in the 2022 Prison Writing Contest. Every year, hundreds of imprisoned people from around the country submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works to PEN America’s Prison Writing Contest, one of the few outlets of free expression for the country’s incarcerated population. I sit in