Empires impose civilization on barbarians. The Roman Empire imposed civilization on the Celts. The Holy Roman Empire imposed civilization on the Germans. The European empires in sub Saharan Africa ended centuries too soon. Nevertheless, Europeans did build schools, hospitals, roads, and other aspects of civilization in sub Saharan Africa. Since African independence these are deteriorating. In the United States the civil rights legislation and the War on Poverty have been followed by increases in black social pathology. Black academic performance has improved little, despite expensive programs like Head Start and No Child Left Behind.