POLITICS

Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams_eBook and Audiobook, with Capitalism and Slavery – Eric William – 75 Years Later- 2 Day Symposium

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Book Summary

“Capitalism and Slavery” by Eric Williams is a seminal work that investigates the relationship between the rise of capitalism in Europe and the system of slavery in the Americas. Williams argues that the profits derived from the slave trade and plantation economies were instrumental in fueling the growth of European capitalism, particularly in Britain. The book challenges conventional historical narratives that separate economic development from the exploitation of enslaved people, highlighting how slavery was not only a moral issue but also a critical economic factor in the development of modern capitalism. Williams’ analysis underscores the interconnectedness of race, economics, and history, making a significant contribution to the study of both slavery and economic history.

Essential Themes and Arguments:

  1. Introduction
    • Overview of the book’s objectives and significance
    • Introduction to the central thesis linking capitalism and slavery
    • Contextualization of the historical period under discussion
  2. The Economic Foundations of Slavery
    • Analysis of the economic motivations behind the transatlantic slave trade
    • The role of sugar and other cash crops in the Caribbean economy
    • Examination of the financial networks that supported the slave trade
  3. The Impact of Slavery on British Capitalism
    • Discussion of how profits from slavery contributed to British industrialization
    • Examination of the relationship between slave-derived wealth and British economic growth
    • Analysis of the investment in infrastructure and industry enabled by slave profits
  4. Political and Social Implications
    • Exploration of the political considerations surrounding slavery and abolition
    • Discussion of the social tensions and class struggles linked to the slave economy
    • Examination of the role of enslaved people in resisting their oppression
  5. Abolition and Its Consequences
    • Analysis of the abolition movement and its economic implications
    • Discussion of the motivations behind abolition, including economic shifts
    • Examination of the effects of abolition on both the colonies and Britain
  6. Racial Ideologies and Economic Interests
    • Exploration of how racial theories justified slavery and exploitation
    • Discussion of the intersection of race and economics in shaping societal views
    • Examination of the legacy of these ideologies in contemporary society
  7. Legacy of Slavery in Modern Capitalism
    • Reflection on the long-term economic effects of slavery on global capitalism
    • Discussion of the continued inequalities stemming from historical exploitation
    • Analysis of how understanding this legacy informs current socio-economic debates
  8. Conclusion
    • Summary of key themes and arguments presented throughout the book
    • Final reflections on the importance of recognizing the ties between capitalism and slavery
    • Call for a reevaluation of historical narratives regarding slavery and economic development

Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams_eBook

Slavery helped finance the Industrial Revolution in England. Plantation owners, shipbuilders, and merchants connected with the slave trade accumulated vast fortunes that established banks and heavy industry in Europe and expanded the reach of capitalism worldwide. Eric Williams advanced these powerful ideas in Capitalism and Slavery, published in 1944. Years ahead of its time, his profound critique became the foundation for studies of imperialism and economic development. Binding an economic view of history with strong moral argument, Williams’s study of the role of slavery in financing the Industrial Revolution refuted traditional ideas of economic and moral progress and firmly established the centrality of the African slave trade in European economic development. He also showed that mature industrial capitalism in turn helped destroy the slave system. Establishing the exploitation of commercial capitalism and its link to racial attitudes, Williams employed a historicist vision that set the tone for future studies. In a new introduction, Colin Palmer assesses the lasting impact of Williams’s groundbreaking work and analyzes the heated scholarly debates it generated when it first appeared.

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Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams_Audiobook

Capitalism and Slavery – Eric William – 75 Years Later- 2 Day Symposium

The CARICOM Reparations Commission in collaboration with the UWI Centre for Reparation Research and the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the UWI St. Augustine Campus is hosting an academic symposium to commemorate the 75th year of the publication of Eric Williams’ Capitalism and Slavery on the 13th November 2019. The themes to be discussed include: • Williams’ Caribbean Vision • The Profits from Enslavement (16th – 19th Century) • Impact of Capitalism and Slavery on the world today (21st Century) • Capitalism and Slavery and Reparations • Capitalism and Slavery – Global Connections • Decolonising Caribbean History At this symposium, we seek to gather scholars, intellectuals, corporate interest groups, artists, and activists to join us to examine the impact of Eric Williams and his work on the contemporary Caribbean and wider world. This symposium will also provide an opportunity to discuss his legacy with the next generation of leaders and intellectuals. Such commemorative activities are taking place all over the world. Symposiums will be held in Britain and the United States. We are adding the Caribbean’s voice through this symposium at the UWI.

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Mau Mau in Harlem?_The U.S. and the Liberation of Kenya, Gerald Horne|eBook and Audiobook| (Contemporary Black History), with Mau Mau Warrior Illustrated eBook, by Abiodun Alao (Author), Christa Hook (Illustrator).

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Book Summary:

“Mau Mau in Harlem?: The U.S. and the Liberation of Kenya” is a book by historian Gerald Horne which explores the connections between the African-American Civil Rights movement in the United States and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, specifically how the struggle for Kenyan independence resonated with African Americans, leading to a sense of solidarity and even the idea of a “Mau Mau” movement within Harlem and other Black communities in the U.S. 

Key points about the book:

  • Focus on the Mau Mau: The book delves into the Mau Mau Uprising, a violent guerrilla campaign by Kenyan Kikuyu people against British colonial rule in the 1950s, primarily focused on land rights and self-determination. 
  • Harlem connection: It analyzes how the struggles of the Mau Mau movement were closely followed and supported by African Americans in Harlem, New York, who saw parallels with their own fight for civil rights in the United States. 
  • Scholarly research: Horne draws on extensive archival research conducted in the US, UK, and Kenya to provide a nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness between the two movements. 
  • Impact on Black consciousness: The book argues that the Mau Mau rebellion contributed to a growing sense of Black consciousness and solidarity among African Americans, further fueling the civil rights movement. 
  • The Mau Mau Uprising: This was a violent resistance movement against British colonial rule in Kenya, primarily led by the Kikuyu tribe, during the 1950s. 
  • African (American) Solidarity: The book argues that African Americans saw parallels between the Kenyan struggle against British colonialism and their own fight for civil rights in the U.S., leading to significant support for the Mau Mau movement within the Black community. 
  • Malcolm X’s “Mau Mau in Harlem” reference: A prominent example of this connection is Malcolm X’s statement about the potential need for a “Mau Mau” style uprising in Harlem, signifying a willingness to use more militant tactics to achieve racial equality. 
  • Historical Context: The book examines the broader historical context of the Cold War, where the U.S. was keen to demonstrate its anti-colonial stance, leading to some level of support for Kenyan independence. 

Mau Mau in Harlem, Gerald Horne?_eBook

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Mau Mau in Harlem, Gerald Horne?_Audiobook

Audio start in earnest (Introduction @ 4 mins. 45 sec.) and corresponds to page 12 of the above Reader.

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Mau Mau Warrior Illustrated eBook, by Abiodun Alao (Author), Christa Hook (Illustrator).

Amazon Books: “Osprey’s study of the Mau Mau Rebellion (1952-1960) in Kenya and its fighters. The Mau Mau Freedom Fighters waged a guerrilla war for eight years against their British colonial rulers, which became known as the Mau Mau Uprising. The Mau Mau sought to win back their land and independence. This underground militia was an extremely powerful force employing tactics, which included the assassination of British settlers and the Africans who collaborated with the British, as well as raiding colonial prisons for weapons and staging daring ambushes in the Kenyan forests and mountains. The conflict saw these untrained warriors, deemed by many to be terrorists employ an innovative mix of traditional African warfare tactics, counterinsurgency methods and European firepower. The uprising ended in failure but set the stage for Kenyan independence in 1963. This title will explore their unique motivations, training and tactics, as well as their battle experience.”

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Hands Off Uhuru presents: “Unthanksgiving” Victory to African and Indigenous people!­_The Burning Spear TV, with Uhuru 3 Trial Re-enactment

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Last Updated 12-06-24

https://handsoffuhuru.org/

Uhuru 3 Trial Re-enactment

3 Video Playlist (Episodes One thru Three.)

Companion Post/Lessons

Manifest Destiny and American Holocaust_Dr. Ward Churchill Lecture, History of COINTELPRO and COINTELPRO and Terrorism, The COINTELPRO Papers – Ward Churchill & Jim Vander Wall (eBook and Audiobook)

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Uhuru 3 Trial, September 2024

Uhuru 3 Trial, September 2024 | INSIDE: Chm. Omali and Uhuru Movement Folder

Native Americans & The American Indian Movement (AIM)

Native Americans & The American Indian Movement (AIM)  Folder

Late Victorian Holocausts_El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World_eBook and Audiobook, (Essential Mike Davis)

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NB: “The Victorian era spans the 63 years of Queen Victoria’s reign over Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901.”

Book Summary

“Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World” by Mike Davis is a critical examination of the catastrophic famines that struck various regions during the late 19th century, particularly in India, China, and parts of Africa. The book explores the interplay between global climatic events, specifically the El Niño phenomenon, and the economic and political structures of colonialism that exacerbated these disasters. Davis argues that the famines were not merely natural occurrences but were significantly shaped by imperial policies and practices that prioritized profit over human life. The work critiques the historical narratives surrounding these events and highlights their role in the emergence of the modern “Third World.”

Essential Themes and Historical Context:

  1. Introduction
    • Overview of the book’s thesis and objectives
    • Introduction to the concepts of climate, famine, and imperialism
    • The significance of the El Niño phenomenon in global history
  2. The El Niño Phenomenon
    • Explanation of the El Niño climate pattern and its effects
    • Historical instances of El Niño-related weather anomalies
    • The relationship between climate variability and agricultural production
  3. Famines of the Late Victorian Era
    • Detailed accounts of major famines in India, China, and Africa during the late 19th century
    • Examination of the scale and impact of these famines on local populations
    • Case studies of specific famines and their socio-economic contexts
  4. Colonial Policies and Economic Exploitation
    • Analysis of colonial practices that contributed to famine conditions
    • The role of cash crop economies and land dispossession
    • Critique of British colonial governance and its neglect of local needs
  5. Racial and Class Dimensions of Famine
    • Exploration of how race and class influenced the severity of famine impacts
    • Discussion of the social hierarchies that shaped access to resources
    • The role of discrimination in the distribution of aid and relief efforts
  6. Resistance and Responses to Famine
    • Examination of local responses to famine crises
    • Accounts of resistance movements and community solidarity
    • The role of international humanitarian efforts and their limitations
  7. The Legacy of Late Victorian Famines
    • Reflection on the long-term consequences of these famines for affected regions
    • Discussion of how these events contributed to the formation of the “Third World”
    • Analysis of the historical memory and narratives surrounding colonial famines
  8. Conclusion
    • Summary of key arguments and insights from Davis’s analysis
    • Call for recognition of the interconnectedness of climate, economy, and imperialism
    • Implications for contemporary discussions on food security and climate justice

This global environmental and political history “will redefine the way we think about the European colonial project” (Observer). “

Late Victorian Holocausts_eBook

Late Victorian Holocausts. … sets the triumph of the late 19th-century Western imperialism in the context of catastrophic El Niño weather patterns at that time . . . groundbreaking, mind-stretching.” —The Independent

Examining a series of El Niño-induced droughts and the famines that they spawned around the globe in the last third of the 19th century, Mike Davis discloses the intimate, baleful relationship between imperial arrogance and natural incident that combined to produce some of the worst tragedies in human history. Late Victorian Holocausts focuses on three zones of drought and subsequent famine: India, Northern China; and Northeastern Brazil. All were affected by the same global climatic factors that caused massive crop failures, and all experienced brutal famines that decimated local populations. But the effects of drought were magnified in each case because of singularly destructive policies promulgated by different ruling elites. Davis argues that the seeds of underdevelopment in what later became known as the Third World were sown in this era of High Imperialism, as the price for capitalist modernization was paid in the currency of millions of peasants’ lives.

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Late Victorian Holocausts_Audiobook

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Dr. Gerald Horne: The Counter-Revolution of 1776: Slave Resistance and the Origins of the United States of America_eBook and Audiobook, with Trump 2.0: Gerald Horne on the Future of White Supremacy, Imperialism & the Rise of Third-Worldism (Jedaal English)

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Dr. Gerald Horne is an American historian who currently holds the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. 

Book Summary

Dr. Gerald Horne’s “The Counter-Revolution of 1776” presents a provocative reinterpretation of the American Revolution, arguing that it was not merely a struggle for independence from British rule but also a response to the increasing resistance of enslaved people. Horne posits that the revolution was fundamentally counter-revolutionary, aimed at preserving the institution of slavery and maintaining white supremacy. The book examines the social, political, and economic tensions that fueled both the revolution and the resistance of enslaved individuals, ultimately framing the American founding in a broader context of global struggles against colonialism and oppression.

The following outline captures the key themes and structure of Horne’s argument, highlighting the interconnections between slave resistance and the events leading to the formation of the United States.

Introduction

  • Explanation of the book’s thesis
  • Contextualization of the American Revolution within the framework of slavery

■ The Background of Slavery in Colonial America

  • Overview of the institution of slavery in the colonies
  • Economic importance of slavery to colonial economies
  • Social hierarchies and racial ideologies

■ Rising Tensions

  • Factors leading to increased resistance among enslaved people
  • The role of the British in promoting freedom for enslaved individuals
  • Key instances of slave resistance prior to the revolution

■ The Revolutionary Context

  • The impact of the American Revolution on colonial society
  • The ideological conflict between liberty and slavery
  • Examination of revolutionary leaders’ views on slavery

■ The Counter-Revolutionary Nature of the American Revolution

  • Analysis of how the revolution sought to protect slavery
  • The role of Southern colonies in shaping revolutionary goals
  • The influence of slave uprisings on revolutionary rhetoric

■ Global Implications

  • Connections between the American Revolution and global slave resistance
  • The impact of the revolution on other colonies and enslaved populations
  • The emergence of new ideologies and movements in response to slavery

■ The Legacy of the Counter-Revolution

  • Long-term effects of the American Revolution on slavery and race relations
  • The establishment of a national identity rooted in white supremacy
  • Reflections on the implications for understanding American history today

■ Conclusion

  • Summation of key arguments
  • The importance of recognizing the role of slavery in shaping American history
  • Call for re-examination of the narratives surrounding the founding of the United States

The Counter-Revolution of 1776_eBook

Illuminates how the preservation of slavery was a motivating factor for the Revolutionary War
The successful 1776 revolt against British rule in North America has been hailed almost universally as a great step forward for humanity. But the Africans then living in the colonies overwhelmingly sided with the British. In this trailblazing book, Gerald Horne shows that in the prelude to 1776, the abolition of slavery seemed all but inevitable in London, delighting Africans as much as it outraged slaveholders, and sparking the colonial revolt.
Prior to 1776, anti-slavery sentiments were deepening throughout Britain and in the Caribbean, rebellious Africans were in revolt. For European colonists in America, the major threat to their security was a foreign invasion combined with an insurrection of the enslaved. It was a real and threatening possibility that London would impose abolition throughout the colonies―a possibility the founding fathers feared would bring slave rebellions to their shores. To forestall it, they went to war.
The so-called Revolutionary War, Horne writes, was in part a counter-revolution, a conservative movement that the founding fathers fought in order to preserve their right to enslave others. The Counter-Revolution of 1776 brings us to a radical new understanding of the traditional heroic creation myth of the United States.

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The Counter-Revolution of 1776_Audiobook

Trump 2.0: Gerald Horne on the Future of White Supremacy, Imperialism & the Rise of Third-Worldism (Jedaal English)

RBG Communiversity Dr. Gerald Horne Video Edu. Player (31)

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