Rashad Robinson’s new book, “From Presence to Power: How to Take On the Fights That Matter and Win,” arrived July 28 from One World, an imprint of Penguin Random House, according to the book’s official site. The book offers what its publisher describes as a practical roadmap for anyone trying to gain real power, built from behind-the-scenes accounts of social change movements Robinson has led or advised.
The book addresses why activist efforts often fail to produce lasting change and lays out ten core principles for modern organizing, covering campaigns against technology companies, Hollywood studios and the political establishment, along with criminal justice reform initiatives. Its themes include strategy in activism, power dynamics, structural change, racial justice and LGBTQ rights, alongside practical tools readers can apply to their own organizations and communities.
The book has drawn endorsements from figures across entertainment and advocacy. Jane Fonda called it “a must-read for anyone who wants things to change.” Alicia Garza described it as “the book everybody needs right now.” Heather McGhee called it “a master class in real activism,” and Dr. Ibram Kendi wrote that “Robinson lays out a clear blueprint for making antiracist change.”
Robinson, a social justice leader who led Color Of Change for nearly 14 years, also worked with GLAAD on LGBTQ media representation during the marriage equality campaigns, experience that runs throughout the book’s case studies. He discussed the same material this summer at a Commonwealth Club program in San Francisco and on a “Freedom Table” episode hosted by Alicia Garza. He has also connected the book’s arguments back to his own upbringing, tracing his understanding of power to his childhood on Long Island. Several chapters close with exercises meant to help readers apply the book’s principles to real campaigns, a structure Robinson has described as an attempt to close the distance between outrage and outcome. The book is available in hardcover, e-book and audiobook formats.