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Frantz Fanon

What Frantz Fanon thinks about politics

@frantz-fanon · 21 positions · 0 changes of mind

French psychiatrist and political philosopher from Martinique (1925 to 1961), a founding thinker of postcolonial studies, best known for The Wretched of the Earth and Black Skin, White Masks.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

Frantz Fanon did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

6 dated positions, c. 1961, in their own words. Our reading of what Frantz Fanon has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our readingDecolonization, whatever name it goes by, is always a violent event

    Their wordsNational liberation, national reawakening, restoration of the nation to the people or Commonwealth, whatever the name used, whatever the latest expression, decolonization is always a violent event.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book

  3. Our readingIn colonial countries only the peasantry is revolutionary, because it has nothing to lose and everything to gain

    Their wordsBut it is obvious that in colonial countries only the peasantry is revolutionary. It has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book

  5. Our readingThe starving, exploited peasant is the one who very soon discovers that only violence pays

    Their wordsThe underprivileged and starving peasant is the exploited who very soon discovers that only violence pays.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book

  7. Our readingThe violence of the colonized unifies the people

    Their wordsThe violence of the colonized, we have said, unifies the people.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book

  9. Our readingImpetuous spontaneity bent on quickly settling scores with the colonial system is destined to fail as a doctrine

    Their wordsBut it soon becomes clear that this impetuous spontaneity, which is intent on rapidly settling its score with the colonial system, is destined to fail as a doctrine.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book

  11. Our readingAfrican unity can only be achieved under pressure and leadership from the people, with total disregard for bourgeois interests

    Their wordsThis is why we must understand that African unity can only be achieved under pressure and through leadership by the people, i.e., with total disregard for the interests of the bourgeoisie.

    ↗The Wretched of the Earth (Grove Press, 2004 edition; tr. Richard Philcox)books.google.com All 21 from this book