I am so excited to announce the arrival of a new book from my dear friend and colleague Rashad Robinson. “From Presence to Power: How to Take on the Fights That Matter—and Win” is a must read in which he asks and answers the crucial question of this moment: What does it take to win social change, especially now?
Many New Yorkers are feeling small glimmers of hope with certain congressional- and state-level electoral wins last month. However, far too many Americans are feeling beaten down and totally disgusted by this political moment and whether there is a possibility for change. “From Presence to Power” provides a practical and strategic roadmap for anyone trying to gain real power, rooted in behind-the-scenes stories from the frontlines of social change. Robinson provides stories from his wins — and losses — to help a new generation of leaders emerge prepared and inspired. For those who have been on the frontlines in their various communities, this book is also a reminder that our work is never in vain. Each fight is part of a larger collective. A loss on one issue never means the battle is over, ever.
Rashad has spent his career in the actual fights. For years, he led and expanded Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. He helped transform GLAAD, the nonprofit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change in media and beyond. He has taken on corporate power and Big Tech, and built campaigns where the odds often seemed impossible.
In his book, he chronicles what he’s learned about how change really happens. It isn’t a memoir or a pep talk. It’s a practical guide to understanding power, building leverage, and winning the fights that matter..
If you care about your community and the collective, this book is a road map and a guide for change. It is written for people who care deeply about justice, democracy, and social change, but who also want a clearer understanding of why some efforts succeed while others fall short.
I am constantly telling my eager students that so many social justice organizations and movements fail because people consistently recreate the wheel and don’t learn from the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of those who came before them. Robinson offers a framework for moving beyond good intentions and toward real impact. He provides a blueprint that others can learn from and take away varying levels of strategy and guidance.
“From Presence to Power” is currently available for preorder and will be on the shelves July 28. As always, let’s support our Black authors and our local independently owned bookstores.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
