John A. Powell

John A. Powell (styled as john a. powell) is a professor of law and African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute. Powell is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, structural racism, and democracy. He is famous for developing the framework of "Targeted Universalism."\n\nHe is the author of The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong (and other works like Racing to Justice). Powell’s work focuses on the psychological and social mechanisms of "othering"—how groups define themselves by excluding others. He advocates for "bridging," a practice of connecting across differences without demanding assimilation. His writing is a profound exploration of how we can create a society based on true belonging.