Represent - by Michael Eric Dyson & Marc Favreau (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An exploration of the ongoing fight for democracy in the United States, from the American Revolution to the present day"--

Book Synopsis

This electrifying, can't-miss story of American democracy is the "indispensable book we need right now" (Senator Raphael Warnock), "a must read for every American" (The Root), and "a balm for our democracy" (Reverend Al Sharpton).

Renowned thought leader Michael Eric Dyson and widely celebrated author Marc Favreau shine a light on the fight for democratic representation, an ongoing and epic quest to build the democracy promised in the Constitution. Each chapter takes on a new battle between champions of freedom and those who stand in the way of their right to vote--from the American Revolution straight up to the present day as we approach the 2024 presidential election.

Drawing clear lines from then to now, with impeccable research and exhilarating prose, Represent weaves this crucial struggle for democracy into an enthralling American drama that will help readers understand our past, present, and future.

"A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children. Without it, I would not have a historic spot in the United States Senate and we the people would not have a democratic framework in which to fight for the things that matter. At a time when that basic right is under assault by those committed to power at any cost, Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau have written the indispensable book we need right now. Represent is a monumental contribution to our country's perennial quest for justice and the right of every citizen to vote." --Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock

"A compelling book that is a balm for our democracy.... This brilliant book will inspire us to embrace a precious right that each generation must fight hard to preserve."―Reverend Al Sharpton

"A must read for every American, Dyson and Favreau introduce readers to some of the unsung heroes who have committed their lives to make democracy work for every citizen."―The Root

Review Quotes

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Children's Choice Book

"A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children. Without it, I would not have a historic spot in the United States Senate and we the people would not have a democratic framework in which to fight for the things that matter. At a time when that basic right is under assault by those committed to power at any cost, Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau have written the indispensable book we need right now. Represent is a monumental contribution to our country's perennial quest for justice and the right of every citizen to vote." --Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock

* "Exceptionally well researched, compelling, and honest.... Readers of all ages will benefit from picking up this stellar resource." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

"A must read for every American, Dyson and Favreau introduce readers to some of the unsung heroes who have committed their lives to make democracy work for every citizen."--The Root

* "Timely and important...highly recommended." --School Library Journal, starred review

* "This relevant and inspiring account ... shows how the past is not as far removed as one may think." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "In a direct style with riveting, often overlooked details, [Dyson and Favreau] trace the long and even violent fight for women's, Black, Latinx, Asian American, and Native American suffrage...[an] eye-opening narrative." --Booklist, starred review

"Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau have written a compelling book that is a balm for our democracy. In story after story, Represent narrates the epic quest for the vote by a stirring variety of communities-- Black, Mexican American, Native American, and women of all ethnicities. This brilliant book will inspire us to embrace a precious right that each generation must fight hard to preserve."--Reverend Al Sharpton

* "This lively, accessible, and inspiring history deserves a wide readership. A concise, readable account of the struggle for equality, freedom, and democracy in the U.S." --Kirkus, starred review

About the Author

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, a widely celebrated professor, a prominent public intellectual, an ordained Baptist minister, and a noted political analyst. He is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner, and the winner of the American Book Award for Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. His book The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America was a Kirkus Prize finalist. He is the co-author of Unequal with Marc Favreau. He is also a highly sought after public speaker who is known to excite both secular and sacred audiences. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He invites you to follow him on Twitter @michaeledyson and on his official Facebook page (facebook.com/michaelericdyson).

Marc Favreau is the director of editorial programs at the New Press, the acclaimed author of Crash, Spies, and Attacked!, and coauthor (with Michael Eric Dyson) of Unequal: A Story of America, a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. He lives in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.