From Presence to Power

“I’m sending this book to all my friends and family. Rashad doesn’t just offer a diagnosis of the problems with how power works in this country; he offers clear, actionable ideas for how regular people can do something about it. As someone who has been involved in activism a good part of my life, he gave me a new way of thinking about the difference between visibility and power. This is a must-read for anyone who wants things to change.”—Jane Fonda, actress and activist

“Rashad Robinson has helped shape some of the most effective fights for justice in our lifetime—and I’ve seen that work up close. This book gives people the strategy and clarity they need to stop reacting and start winning.”—Angela Rye, legal analyst and political commentator

“Rashad Robinson is a generationally brilliant thinker and strategist, sharing inspiring, hard-earned wisdom on how to not just survive the present challenging environment, but to grab the reins and win. From Presence to Power is a step-by-step guide for everyone who wants to build and wield citizen power.”—Joy-Ann Reid, host and political commentator

“Rashad Robinson is who you want with you in a foxhole. He’ll see all the angles and devise a winning strategy faster than anyone else. That’s why it’s such a gift that this three-decade veteran of civil and human rights advocacy is sharing his methods with everyone, precisely when we need them most. We all have something we want to change—in our schools, our neighborhoods, or our country—but most of us worry that protest isn’t enough. Using Robinson’s principles for building power, and applying his engaging and incisive exercises to our own goals, we get a master class in real activism. This is the book to read for the fight ahead.”—Heather McGhee, New York Times bestselling author of The Sum of Us

“A book about winning and building power is a necessary tonic for the times when Donald Trump wields such power. Rashad Robinson gives a master class on how the build and sustain durable social change. Robinson has the courage to call out movement leaders who have failed to meet the moment. He also has the battle scars from locking horns with the most powerful people on the planet. Most importantly, Rashad dissects how we can win and where and why we have come up short. His analysis of roles, rules, and results offers a masterclass on how to find a path to power and out of the wilderness in which progressives now find themselves. This book is a must-read for anyone committed to winning structural change—not just momentary victories.”—Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU