Fla. attorney Crump inks 7-figure book deal
Writing a ‘crime thriller’ series of fiction books
TaMaryn Waters
Florida civil-rights attorney Ben Crump says he has landed a seven-figure deal with Bantam Books for a new ‘crime thriller’ series of fiction books.
The protagonist, Beau Lee Cooper, a Black civil rights attorney, tackles cases of “corruption and injustice while celebrating Black love and resilience,” according to an Instagram post from Crump.
He said he’s excited to share the series that’s been shaped by “decades of courtroom experience and personal revelations with the world.”
Crump told the Tallahassee Democrat the series delves into how this generation can inspire the next generation of civil rights lawyers and social justice warriors “at a time that’s needed, now more than ever, in the same way that books and popular fiction and mediums like film have inspired young people for years.”
“In these legal thrillers, we are building a universe of superheroes that are relatable to people,” Crump said.
“When you think about it, there are no Black hero lawyers like you have all these legal thrillers that top the book charts ... you don’t have any of them writing about African American heroes, the lawyer that comes in and helps using their legal prowess and acumen and strategies in the courtroom to see us get justice.”
Crump, also author of “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People,” said the release date has not yet been determined. However, the first two books are finished and the third and fourth books are nearly complete.
Ben Crump branching out beyond law
Dubbed “Black America’s Attorney General,” Crump’s entry into fictional writing is his latest move toward expanding into various mediums.
Earlier this year, he was featured in a short film, “How to Sue the Klan,” that takes a look at a 1982 civil case involving the “Chattanooga Five,” referring to five Black women who took the Ku Klux Klan to court.
Crump’s meteoric rise has continued after representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Randy Cox and others, all of whom were Black men and women who died or were severely injured in police custody.
Crump, who lives in Tallahassee, said he often takes notes while working on cases.
“A lot of times things are confidential,” he said. “So by having fictionalized characters and stories, you are able to really let people see behind the curtain of how the legal chess games work when you’re trying to fight for justice and get civil rights for everybody.”
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.