American crucible : black enslavement white capitalism and imperial globalization ; an interpretation of western civilization since 1441 Verlagsinfo: This work centers on philosophy of history and political economy. Globalization is writ large. Civilizational historicism is a worldview which affirms the reality of social laws. It is an explanatory model which highlights political economy. The eradication of white supremacy globally would enable real emancipation for the black world and parity for African Americans. Civilizational historicism posits race instead of class religion or culture as the key historical construct. Race is conceived as a historical artifact not a biological hypothesis. Race is a made in America potency which determines how African Americans are treated. From the holocaust of black enslavement sprang the oppressive racial interdependence between blacks and whites past and present. The staged incremental progress African Americans are alleged to have benefited from is in fact a contingency rooted episodic modernization of second class citizenship the kernel of which has remained stable despite civil rights concessions. Munford has done it again a brilliantly original foray into global history! In an exhaustive overview he tracks human development from early Homo Sapiens to the present targeting Africa s history of prosperity and creativity followed by centuries of devastating colonialism. Examining the 400 year war of Europeans versus Africans (inaccurately known as slave trade ) Munford chronicles the decimation of Africa and theft of its youth to create founding wealth for western capitalism. What is naively viewed as a democratic multiracial America is shown as intentional illusion a façade lying over white on black oppression still central to white privilege and power. Using a distinctive civilizational historicism approach Munford contributes well to the critical racial paradigm emerging on the edge of social science that seeks to liberate all and especially African descent people from continuing white maintained oppression termed world history. In the process he offers deep lessons into what a fully liberated human world could be. Joe R. Feagin Ella C. McFadden Professor of Liberal Arts Texas A & M University Author Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression Prof Munford s American Crucible is WEB DuBois Black Reconstruction for our times. Like Black Reconstruction it breaks new intellectual grounds while exposing the two headed monster that commands not only the US but the world: Capitalism and Racism. American Crucible ultimately shows us that the world cannot be straightened out without dealing with this two headed monster that has set the civilizational norm for the world s people. And it is this rebirth of Black Genius that Munford so passionately calls forth that will be a central force slaying this monster of dehumanizing greed depravity and antiNature. S. E. Anderson Author Black Holocaust for Beginners (Writers and Readers) Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn College School of Education Brooklyn NY.