Audiobooks by Chancellor Williams

The Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.

"The Destruction of Black Civilization took Chancellor Williams sixteen years of research and field study to compile. The book, which was to serve as a reinterpretation of the history of the African race, was intended to be 'a general rebellion against the subtle message from even the most 'liberal' white authors (and their Negro disciples): 'You belong to a race of nobodies. You have no worthwhile history to point to with pride.'' The book was written at a time when many black students, educators, and scholars were starting to piece together the connection between the way their history was taught and the way they were perceived by others and by themselves. They began to question assumptions made about their history and took it upon themselves to create a new body of historical research. The book is premised on the question: 'If the Blacks were among the very first builders of civilization and their land the birthplace of civilization, what has happened to them that has left them since then, at the bottom of world society, precisely what happened? The Caucasian answer is simple and well-known: The Blacks have always been at the bottom.' Williams instead contends that many elements—nature, imperialism, and stolen legacies— have aided in the destruction of the black civilization. The Destruction of Black Civilization is revelatory and revolutionary because it offers a new approach to the research, teaching, and study of African history by shifting the main focus from the history of Arabs and Europeans in Africa to the Africans themselves, offering instead 'a history of blacks that is a history of blacks. Because only from history can we learn what our strengths were and, especially, in what particular aspect we are weak and vulnerable. Our history can then become at once the foundation and guiding light for united efforts in serious[ly] planning what we should be about now.' It was part of the evolution of the black revolution that took place in the 1970s, as the focus shifted from politics to matters of the mind."

Chancellor Williams (Author), Jules Williamson (Narrator)

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Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.

"Winner of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters’ First Prize for Literature, The Destruction of Black Civilization is a landmark audiobook that reshapes how we understand African history—and ourselves. Written by historian Chancellor Williams after sixteen years of meticulous research and travel, this powerful narrative offers a bold, uncompromising account of the rise and fall of Black civilizations across Africa. Far from the passive figures often portrayed in mainstream histories, Williams places African people at the center of their own story—builders of empires, creators of culture, and stewards of knowledge. This audiobook is a direct challenge to the long-standing myth: that Black people have no proud history. Williams confronts this lie head-on, asking: If Africa was the cradle of civilization, how did its people come to be seen as a race with no meaningful past? His answer breaks from traditional narratives, examining how natural forces, foreign invasions, cultural theft, and centuries of imperialism contributed to the systematic dismantling of Black societies. More than just history, this is a call to mental liberation. Williams shifts the focus from outsiders' influence in Africa to the achievements and struggles of Africans themselves—offering a true account of Black history, by and for Black people. His insights continue to inspire educators, students, and listeners seeking to reclaim historical truth and cultural pride. Perfect for listeners passionate about history, social justice, and the ongoing fight for identity and empowerment, The Destruction of Black Civilization is not just an audiobook—it’s an awakening."

Chancellor Williams (Author), Joseph Kant (Narrator)

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