FRANTZ FANON’S: THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH IN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE ALFORD H. FAIRCHILD Pr Cae ‘The Wretched ofthe Barth (New York: Grove Press, 1968) is a lasting testimony tothe geius of Frantz Fanon. Hailed as “The Handbook for the Black Revolution," The Wretched of the Earths probing examination of colonializaion, a compaling description ‘ofthe proces of decolonization, and a prophetic analysis of inde pendence movements around the worl ‘The Wretched ofthe Earth provides a glimpse of Fanon’ grand vision of international and inlereultural fas, and Fanon gives speife prescriptions for individuals ad collectives that con- tinue to Seek cultural and national liberation. Fanon's conclusion underscores the importance ofthis work for African and Aftican ‘American ibertin, tobe sure; but, more importantly, itchallenges ‘Aicans throughout the diaspora to assume a leadership position in bringing about anew, more humane world order. The Wretched ofthe Earth sa serie of four fa-ranging and connected essays. Fanon, a paychistist by traning, also presents 2 “series of case studies” of paychiaie disorders that are tied to struggles for Iiberaton. CONCERNING VIOLENCE, ‘oncerning Violence,” establishes the premise concerning decolonization—that i, “decolonization is always a ‘violent phenomenon” (p. 35; emphasis added). By decolonization, Sirota aros ls tof mci ai res ra ef Soap Ae nee te sane Shee as ae ae std ene te recto ote eh mane Teo cae Sa ae eet ge ea tw ay ear gamecucieasi lee sesame on sense psa Se ne a ach eh ow ce eed tay a end (cert ante ean) acd (ub ct pene ty star ne wth gn tet Se err a nbsonbirs etal min Sen i elec omer aoa a ge ino i wis Sas ee res pelt nc rt alt gdp tt ets cl er le caso he sc ha oun miidtinteas een Aiea nn gute Sc he srt se erent eo SESSA tain nt Seas cine use espera ans “une eae mate oe jchtamrensnararemmevcaeaad etter ie ct eames SRE ons coma Fu FANON INCONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE. 183 ‘united, that anew cultural form emerges, thatthe spirit of Haram bee is bor, ‘Fanon incorporates a hydraulic metaphor in his analysis: The ‘colonized exist ina sate of tension crested by their poor material and political status inrlationship to the colonicet. Ths tension is ‘lease in violence and aggression thats inclly directed within (accounting for "Black on Black” crime and violence) but later ‘becomes transformed into thirst for Hberstion whereby the min ‘mur demands ate that the lst shal be frst ‘This emphasis on the cathartic release of tension reveals the influence of Fanon’s psychodynamic training: He uses great deal ‘of Freudian metaphor inthis treatise, For example, in discussing ‘he need to release the built up tension inthe colonized, he writes, ‘The native’ easton [in dance) takes precisely the form of muscular oxy in which the mest acteaggresiviy and te most Impeling vieleace are canaized,traneforted, an conjured sy. Mera ne liitsfor in reality yor papoue incoming ‘opete isto allow the svelte iid, te bampeted eres, Hg to dssolvens ina volcanic enpion (9.57) ‘As seenin these passages, Fanon also uses rch, conceivably sexual imagery Fanon’s analysis is aso influenced by Marxist thinking in that he fully recognizes the role of clas in the quest for liberation although he hastens o add that class analysis eannot be divorced ‘rom the context of the racial realty created by Aftican colon lism. He sees struggle as emanating from the peasant, the lunperprolesariat 1s clear that in the colonial counties the peasants alone are ‘evotudonryforihey have nating lose and Cverything gan ‘The starving peasant, etside he cls sytem, isthe ist ong the explted to discover ht only snare pays tp ), ‘The nationalist bourgeoisie, by contrast, seeks fo compromise with the colonial system and may secretly condemn the peastns use of olenoe,184 JOURRALOF BLACK STUDIES DECEMBER 17 bu Fanon i unequivocal in is tha itil be dough sl th dota ie anh te. Pu ‘etn ere. Fon suggests hl he clo tem wil epi teeta nine when th ntve dps th fervor ha chanc- tect bewucreveluonay pint Poughot tise, Fanon tresses wth i scope an ser of sory anno Ble He corey contexts the AfRcan toggle within a Tees omainaed by he two superpowers tht ae wig the Tis rercuess ine sae efoto outmulertroiz ach ‘Sor Eon lens nkbetvesn he saerponerexpede tre and he qui of Hein he Th Word “Thor ely soromisl sms of mone whch inves ia ‘ity och se engine who ae afore in ech TERS Sie wr colin te sce of ite Jeu ae the bd ring fread cana by 60 fret (8) ‘hi mestage is cer for sa we ase wines he ira seats saatoin Aa adhe npecedeted buildup Ames Sand Sov wishing cade. : inthe secon on "ilence nthe Inratonl Context.” Fanon mae ihe np beter Fe a en He Sil sages hat he pent cs of Eope were on cso fom Aa, Asay and Ameca. Ths the ney pond Thad Word counties ar ed ot oe the tert soictes ofthe Wes or ss, haa new path Sctning nunan ad intention reaoshs. ‘Mor pot, Fon cals fora esriaon of weal and pons te decaf story of European Jomtien for his tion ve tr tomtmnrte en sea era aT pice culeaeiarenan racine piece ctie ta atl eats ees ieee tec Seka Eee cries eter from eiecnes usu miotscstcuaminee eh "l/FANON PYCONTEMPORARY PERSPRCTIVE, 198 Pointing tothe demands for eparaions from Nazi Germany afer World War Tl, Fanon srdenty claims Europe's riches for Africa: "Burope is hierally the creation ofthe Third World. The Wealth which smothers her is that which was stolen from the underdeveloped peoples" (p, 102). 1s, therefore, incumbent forthe independent Thid World to ‘orouphly recast the world economy. As Fanon suggests, the Third World bas every justification for recltiming its wealth aid e- sourees. The wealth that has been exacted and exported fom ‘Arca must be returned. Nowhere is this more important than in South Africa, where for centuries the Afrikaners have exported the ‘eemendous mineral wealth ofthat region o European depositories ‘SPONTANEITY: ITS STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS 1m the second essay, “Spontaneity: Is Strength and Weakness,” Fanon assesses the djnamics between the leaders of strug and the masses ofthe people. The leaders ofthe nationalist party are frequently Westerized into having negative ates toward the peasants, and peasants may be suspicious ofthe nationalist bout seviie because ofthe laters adherence to Wester cultural forms, their dessa language, This natural tension between nationalist lesders and the “rank and file” is used by colonial systems to create dissension ind competition Colonial systemsmakea concertdeforto colonize ‘hementality”of the natinalis bourgeoisie and ose a8 "“spokesper- ‘sons those who have boon so colonized, Moreover, the nations ‘bourgcisio—those who assume leadership after te revolution — are caught in an approach-avoidance conflict in seeking to be independent ofthe colonial system but alo friendly with it ‘Thus itis within the lampenproltriat—that disenfranchised sass of humanity —atere spontaneity resides and where one finds the *most radically revolutionary forces ofa colonized people” (p. 129), Fanon sees a particular place, within this cass, forthe imps, dkehooligans, tbe unemployed andthe pttyrininal"(p. 130)‘who can redeem themselves in armed revolutionary struggle, The Sse enced hs gan meres lsc soda pen intoy—y aking phe eran sage ‘Perhaps the mast important message is that decolonization is but inviable and ha nthe proces, asense of rational unity emerges that acs asthe social glue fr the newly independent nation lee neve connie ye pl vec Seeley mae ples SENSIS LSet oem eo scars ean ovine tte rece mo ee elite fing dew panel aetiavfbeumgc p17) ‘THE PITRALLS OPNATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS, he hid ey, “Te ial of Nana Concours” Fann ated nen confit even eran mi- dle and erase The ome, omen he ves an igen he cool ym manent guson tod py of oe ca sd toned is cosa eer tdby a tere esl bythe mc coy Tor suggest tht mile lt, wich sae over a ceo klein sine pare ecole fc of ang secre an Iss eigedppes or ero h note amy” 9) Ths neat eden the lnc iit sre pentane Sor neg only pepe Fehon co ‘stent mle Cus ceing is penny 5 sig pt ts moet ‘Sarto insc Fan ae at tite chasers litle moran he “business agent” of the Wester bourzoise aor es ling serait sp te We ie got ge: tnd nvr fie development oars thar Foon rsa he “oe of rope p13) Tht Dato rae eee rf he Wesel pont cl FANON WV CONTEMDORARY PERSPECTIVE 39 Agricultural workers are exploited, profs are not reinvested ural andinterior areas are ignored, and large sumsare spent onconspes, ous “daplay” items such as expensive cars, homes, and penonal ‘accoutrements. These tourist nations, these brotbels of Europe and America, ae evident throughout South America, the Cangbonn Aftica, and elsewhere inthe Third World ‘In this essay, Fanon also introduces the notions relate to “cul {ural violence" the racist myths and beliefs conceming the pe. Susmed inferiority ofthe African. These beliefs ar inaralzed by the national bourgeoisie, who then tam their back on the peasant Jterior and mini the colonial powers, Tis miiery and eton, liveness als occuin the politcal parisofthe state But more tha criticize, Fanon prescribes, He suggests that “the interior the bach Country, ough to be the mos privileged prof the county. 186), Goverment shouldbe deconsecrated and decentralized a priv legod classes are tobe vigorously opposed In concluding this essay, Fanon provides prescription that ‘demonstrates his vision and his compassion for hamsanty, “The ational govemment, ft wants tobe national, ought to govern by the people and forthe people forthe outests and bythe outcast (205) ON NATIONAL CULTURE ‘The fourth essay, “On National Culture,” i concemed withthe problem of reclaiming national history ad culture asa procene of Iibertion and a an aftermath of decolonization Fanon vous fog xanipe, the passion involved inthe research on ancient African civilizations and the rediscovery ofthe dignity and glory of past generations. These efforts are seen to be the natural byproduct of the colonial systems overt efforts ocbliterteindigonoee cated forms. In this connection, Fanon cals attention tothe fact thatthe ‘Buropean degradation ofthe African was not limited in national tigin or ribalidencaion but applied tothe whole of Aisa. As 8 result the imellctalbacklesh is one that similaly transcends194 JOURNAL OF LACK STUDIES /OBCENBER 1% national origin and trie. Indeed, Fanon points to the common ‘eugale fr culttl nationalism and cultural dentiicaion occur ring throughout the Afican diaspora, notably in Nosh America Focusing onthe scholarly work of native intellectuals, Fanon provides an assessment of the identity transformations that are Evident in their work. This analysis can be seen tobe in parallel to the soiled Negro-to Black conversion experience. Inthe initial phase the person has unqualified assinsltion to the colonial sy5- tem including ts blif,attodes, and behaviors. In the second ‘phase the person becomes “immerse” nthe reelsiming of clr ‘and inthe thied phase called the fighting phase, the inelectal ‘marks on @emisde fo enlighten the masses, In Fanon’s words “he turns himself info an awakener of the people, hene® comes & fighting lieraure,arevoluionary literature, and a natonal tert- tare" (9.223) “this third phase, the intellectual vows himself body and soul into the national strug (p. 252), an act that Fanon sees as iempoatve: “Tigh for national eure means inthe fit placer fight forthe Tiberaton ofthe nation, that mel keystone which makes the bing ofa catre possible. Thee Iso ote Hight fr cule [thi an develop spt rom te popu sgl (238) “Thos Fanon sees cultural ntionalismasa prerequistetonational Tiberation and the liberation ofthe nation as necessary for the renewal of culture, Indeed, Fanon suggests thatthe stugete for rational liberation is a manifesaton of national culuc. tn this, Fanon leaves us no choice because we either full our mission (of ‘iscovering and encouraging “universal values”) or we betray i ‘COLONIAL WAR AND MENTAL DISORDERS tn somewhat ofa break with the preceding four essays, Fanon includes four series of descriptions of psychiatric case studs, "Those case studies cover the Scope of mental disturbances as & sl FANON INCONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE. 199 consequence of eolonry ugg an ils ‘of colonialism for vim of colin fn bet epee ne cn of on Coto area tine fx «coming gps witli, and Fanon imps hat the mth ofthe clo powers crumbles under he Stag San sng an aceon ce ingisasmashingof heresy bases on wichita Teams ofthese case ste underscores the fat arith sapere ‘vborinateroleratensisin colonia stuton hat gre te riminsiy and ee soil nd personal patblogen CONCLUSION Fons “Conesonna det ape tarsal indivi astoramionthencet nan omae no s stealer orecton of fuepear malta eh ‘he wrt "slomi an spit dnepa (p31) eal on sto ite esr vert toch new eoane Peas singh Wer werd as enegue ae Inde Fanon ais nthe Tid Won ove te pblens— human lstionstipe th Europes teen bose oh is aatesion ofthe Ted Worl sting now ison of Man (319, of oiling he cine commited by Europe test exert nr anny swan song toa ihr than oh sn taion, which woul te amo a osene caricature” (p, 315). — Taine nian ingen ene" tosetsfotae (p31, Te dao rapier oe to a ocr ar ant. And therein es hci an the poss the Black scholar in America, nine Altri ee PA el tu fon ey. esis espaons pende fi cee Bat ao, eh ae Pig ad Ba de at ier