Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us

Patriarchy has oppressed women and denied their contributions worldwide, but the United States of America has its own unique gendered hierarchy. Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs applies her signature blend of approachable yet rigorous analysis in this definitive and groundbreaking history of American patriarchy. She proves that humanity in the United States is determined by gender in a limited and flawed binary that is also always tied to whiteness. Tubbs shows how a fabricated hierarchy became so deeply ingrained over time that it now goes unnoticed, along with everything it intentionally conceals.

From the founding fathers to the current Supreme Court justices, from the treatment of enslaved women to the American maternal health crises, from the exclusion of women in the Constitution to the continued lack of an Equal Rights Amendment, Tubbs brings together academic research, the stories of freedom fighters both past and present, and her own experiences to reveal what is erased in the wake of American patriarchy. The system has survived by hiding the tools that are necessary to dismantle it. But Tubbs beautifully reminds us that those tools, including our intuition, courage, ancient wisdom, and power, are still well within our reach.

Erased is the story of the United States from a new perspective: one where the people who shaped this country-who have been oppressed and whose contributions have been denied-are at the center, reminding us that we can restore what has been strategically kept from us. Once again, Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs has written a book that will be a touchstone for conversations on gender, race, and equity for years to come.

Anna Malaika Tubbs is a New York Times bestselling author and multidisciplinary expert on current and historical understandings of race, gender, and equity. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge in addition to a Bachelors in Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, Anna translates her academic knowledge into stories that are clear and engaging. Her articles have been published by TIME Magazine, New York Magazine, CNN, Motherly, the Huffington Post, For Harriet, The Guardian, Darling Magazine, and Blavity. Anna’s storytelling also takes form in her talks, including her TED Talk that has been viewed 2 million times, as well as the scripted and unscripted screen projects she has in development. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three kids.

Anna will be in conversation with Brittany Packnett Cunningham. A formidable force at the intersection of culture, justice, and policy, Brittany drives transformation as the Founder and Principal of Love & Power Works, a social impact agency catalyzing change across industries and communities. As Host and Executive Producer of the acclaimed UNDISTRACTED podcast and a respected on-air political analyst, Brittany delivers truth that ignites action. Her TED Talk, “The Revolution of Confidence,” has captivated nearly 8 million viewers worldwide and ranks among 2019’s top ten most influential talks. Her voice resonates through the pages of New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and Cosmopolitan, with her debut book, “We Are Like Those Who Dream: Black Women’s Blueprint for a New Power,” forthcoming from One World/Random House.  Brittany has contributed vital perspectives to audiences across the globe, including at the famed Oxford Union, documentaries like Netflix’s Amend, and television shows like HBO’s Pod Save America.

Brittany’s expertise has shaped policy at the highest levels—serving as an advisor to Harris For President, on President Obama’s 21st Century Policing Task Force, Missouri’s Ferguson Commission, and as co-founder of Campaign Zero. Her leadership extends through prestigious fellowships at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and over a decade of executive impact roles at BET Media Group and Teach For America.

Her strategic collaborations with Gucci, Sephora, Olay, and Warner Brothers have channeled resources to grassroots causes while amplifying justice initiatives. She’s been recognized by Time Magazine as a face of Black Leadership, featured on the covers of British Vogue and Essence, and honored by organizations ranging from Politico to the National Urban League.

A dedicated mentor to young change agents, Brittany serves on multiple boards including the Children’s Defense Fund and Gucci Changemakers Council. She resides in Washington, DC with her husband Reginald and their sons.

As she powerfully declares: “Let’s go get free.”