Erasure

Synopsis

'Truly brilliant.' Los Angeles Review of Books

'A classic.' The Times

'A remarkable novel.' Wall Street Journal

** With a new foreword by Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life and Filthy Animals **

With your book sales at an all-time low, your family falling apart, and your agent telling you you're not black enough, what's an author to do? Thelonius 'Monk' Ellison has the answer. Or does he . . . ?

Winner of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Fiction

'One of the most original and forceful novels to have emerged from America in years.' TLS

'A furious whirl of a book. It made me howl with laughter . . . and rage, and sorrow, and affinity.' Lisa McInerney

'Seminal doesn't even come close. This novel is Everett at his finest, full of trademark protest, humanity and incisive humour, all wrapped up in one hell of a story.' Courttia Newland

'Hilarious. . . Everett is a first-rate word wrangler.' Nicholas Lezard, Guardian

Summary

Chapter 1: The Forgotten

* Summary: Introduces the concept of erasure, the intentional omission or distortion of historical events and marginalized individuals.
* Example: The silencing of Indigenous voices and perspectives in settler colonial narratives.

Chapter 2: The Erasers

* Summary: Explores the individuals and institutions that perpetuate erasure.
* Example: Governments suppressing opposition voices, corporations whitewashing their harmful practices.

Chapter 3: The Silenced

* Summary: Focuses on the devastating consequences of erasure on marginalized communities.
* Example: The trauma experienced by survivors of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, whose stories have been erased over time.

Chapter 4: The Resistance

* Summary: Highlights the efforts of individuals and communities to resist and counter erasure.
* Example: The establishment of Black History Month, which aims to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of African Americans.

Chapter 5: The Recovery

* Summary: Explores methods for recovering and preserving erased histories.
* Example: Archival research, oral histories, and digital storytelling.

Chapter 6: The Transformation

* Summary: Examines the ways in which erasure can lead to lasting social, political, and cultural change.
* Example: The impact of the erasure of women's contributions to science and technology on gender equity.

Chapter 7: The Significance

* Summary: Emphasizes the importance of confronting and rectifying erasure.
* Example: The role of education in promoting historical accuracy and fostering empathy for marginalized groups.

Chapter 8: The Future

* Summary: Calls for vigilance against erasure and advocates for a more inclusive and representative society.
* Example: The need to challenge stereotypes and provide platforms for marginalized voices in media and the arts.

Additional Examples:

* Chapter 1: The censorship of LGBTQ+ experiences in school textbooks.
* Chapter 2: The underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in STEM fields.
* Chapter 3: The erasure of Indigenous land rights and the displacement of Native American communities.
* Chapter 4: The efforts of environmental activists to expose the harmful effects of pollution in marginalized neighborhoods.
* Chapter 5: The use of social media to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and counter erasure.
* Chapter 6: The ongoing fight for reparations for slavery and its lasting impact on African American communities.