Week 3 Lecture 2

Frantz Fanon born 1925 in Martinique (France) - died 1961. He was a radical existential humanist whose practice focused on human values and concerns over divine and supernatural matters. Fanon had become a spokesman for the Algerian revolution against French colonialism. His work on The Wretched of The Earth was seen as the handbook for the black revolution according to its publisher but it was certainly seen as a soursebook of revolutionary slogans. Opening summary of the text presents h a discussion of how colonisers from Europe carried out their civilising mission.It also Describes what the outcomes were and how the 'civilized' native, who had learnt to echo his masters voice, finally led to the independent individual who disregarded the European civilisation and wouldn't mind taking up arms, when necessary, against his oppressor". Frantz Fanon compares the difference between natives and men. Sante states: "In the colonies the truth stood naked, but the citizens of the mother country preferred it with clothes on" - he explains as Men living a lie, not being their true self. Western culture as an entity that is hiding the truth. Western culture shapes values, the natives create their own. Satre describes the Western culture - "They stuffed their mouths full of high-sounding phrases, grand glutinous words that stuck in their teeth". He believed those that have been exposed by Western culture are 'walking lies' Satre explains how the colonisers made an effort to wipe out native culture and traditions, to substitute them with their own. "Attempts were made to create a rootless native who belonged to nowhere in particular". "In those countries where Colonialism has deliberately held up development, the peasantry, when it rises, quickly stands out as the revolutionary class". "In order to triumph, the national revolution must be socialist" - Points out that revolution is constantly in the making. The key theme of the preface is oppression. In terms of Existentialism, the themes of the true self and culture moulding individuals has links with the natives as they come into contact with the colonisers. Satre admires Fanon, explaining how Fanon is the first since Engel "to bring the processes of history into the clear light of day".