Book Summary and Reviews of Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs

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Endang Sulistiani

Reclaiming Forgotten Voices: A Powerful Wake-Up Call
Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs is a bold and illuminating work that challenges the historical erasure of women—especially women of color—in America’s patriarchal narrative. Tubbs masterfully blends deep research with a compelling narrative voice to uncover the lives of those too often excluded from our collective memory.

What I found most impactful about this book is its clarity and urgency. Tubbs doesn’t just present facts; she frames them within a larger system of inequality that continues to affect society today. Each chapter builds a compelling case for why reclaiming these forgotten voices is not only a historical correction—but also a cultural necessity.

Her writing is accessible yet intellectually rich, making the book valuable to both academic and general readers. Tubbs’ tone is confident but never alienating, and her arguments are backed by solid evidence and personal conviction.

This is not a dry historical account. It is a powerful statement about memory, injustice, and resistance. Reading Erased made me reflect on how much of our shared history has been shaped by exclusion—and how reclaiming erased narratives can shift not only what we know, but how we act moving forward.

I would highly recommend this book for readers interested in women’s history, race and identity, or systemic power structures. It's also an excellent resource for high school or university discussion groups.

Allison R. (Twinsburg, OH)

Thorough dive into American patriarchy
Wow. This book is very well written and covers so many important topics. It provides an in-depth examination that aids in untangling the deep roots of American patriarchy, which includes both sexism and racism. I appreciate how the author brings together history and policy to explain how our current systems of oppression have been maintained, but she also provides hope for the future by discussing what we can do about it.

I have learned and read about many of the topics covered here before but this book is unique in how it insightfully weaves so many topics together; these include things like lost histories and the erasure of women's contributions, the intersection of patriarchy with racism and mental health, the maternal health crisis, etc.

Overall, it made me feel angry, sad, and hopeful. I greatly appreciate the call to dismantle patriarchy, reclaim history, and build a better future for generations to come.

Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)

Highly Recommend This Book
Anna Malaika Tubbs does a very good job explaining the American patriarchal system and the myriad ways the system works to maintain itself. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it as mandatory reading for high school and university students.

Marianne L. (Syosset, NY)

EYES WIDE OPEN
ERASED by Anna Malaika Tubbs, is a must read for anyone, male or female, who wishes to walk the present day with EYES WIDE OPEN. It is a well-researched, and clearly articulated lightening rod of a book that reviews the history and survival of our ugly patriarchal roots as Americans. I personally have lived over six decades and experienced plenty of what is described in this book. What I found most surprising is, after reading ERASED, I experienced an even greater sensitivity to the forms and frequency this patriarchy invades our everyday life that I for one, was not even noticing anymore. I wanted to sound an alarm! Given all the upheaval in American life today, this book is a must-read. I would highly recommend it for book discussion groups.

Rosemary P. (Waterloo, IA)

Quitting the Patriarchy
"Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us" by Anna Malaika Tubbs, Ph.D., is a well-written, compelling, and important book, appropriate for high school and college classrooms, book clubs, and for any person who wishes to broaden their understanding of history.

"Erased" is especially important at this time in our culture, when books are being banned; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and contracts are being cancelled; and our democracy is becoming an oligarchy, managed by billionaires.

Tubbs has two goals in writing this book. First, to accurately define and map American patriarchy: how it came to be, how it has persisted, and how it controls the very way in which we make sense of our world. Second, to help the reader imagine other ways to live. "The opposite of our current American patriarchy would be a nation that is organized based on bravery, optimism, a sense of security, and a comfort that comes with everyone having their needs met and therefore not being tricked into feeling the need to withhold all your power and wealth for yourself" (p. 272).

Anna Tubbs shares many details of her personal history with her readers, which created for me the feeling that I was sitting with a wise teacher-friend. Yes, the subject matter is serious and the author is not afraid to share facts about gender and race that many politicians currently are attempting to erase from our history books. However, her words and ideas flow easily, and I never felt depressed or shocked at anything in this book. I am a 75 year old female, and I have lived through many decades of the United States history that she describes.

In writing this book, the author wants to make patriarchy as obvious to you as it is to her. By the time I was 200 pages into the book, I was able to better perceive patriarchal behavior around me, as well as in the media. For example, when I heard a priest say that anyone in this room full of high school students (males and females) could become the pope, I thought "Think Again!" And when reading the NYT online, this headline jumped out at me: "Black Lives Matter Plaza is Gone. Its Erasure Feels Symbolic."

The book is well-organized, written in a clear and conversational voice. Each of the six sections of the book is packed with facts and examples from history, and Dr. Tubbs does a thorough job of teaching the story of American patriarchy, how it was developed by our founding fathers and written into the Constitution, how it is reinforced through our laws and customs, taught from one generation to the next, maintained through our institutions and social media, and how we can begin to take action to change the status quo.

In my opinion, "Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us" succeeds admirably in teaching us to recognize the concept of patriarchy in the United States, and the consequences it has for all of us.

Kathy W. (Clarion, PA)

Much food for thought
This book is an ARC from Bookbrowse.
Wow! Dr. Tubbs gave me much to think about. Her writing is very organized, and she presents how those who are NOT white men have been erased in history. Her book could not be coming out at a better time. Women are stronger than ever. Fighting for what we have already earned is a battle that needs to be finished, though.

I am a white widow who has had to struggle to keep my independence from condescending white men who "mean no harm", yet do harm every time they call me "young lady" or say things to me that they'd never say to a fellow white man. I can't even imagine what Dr. Tubbs has gone through as a black woman. I was hoping that Dr. Tubbs would offer some solutions as to how to create a world where we all are "seen" and not "erased". And she does. Her alternative universe is as perfect as possible when dealing with imperfect humans.

I recently found a quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made". I couldn't agree more.

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