Greg Thomas: The Complete Fanon c/o Dar al Janub

Recommended by Allen Kwabena

Key Takeaways

On the role of the revolutionary psychiatrist:

“And the final chapter in The Wretched of the Earth, before the conclusion which is also quite a legendary short text, we get the chapter ‘Colonial War and Mental Disorders.’ Where he continues to ply his trade as a revolutionary psychiatrist and look at the way we are scarred by the violence of colonialism even as we wage war against it and how we live with those scars for a long time. And how we will have to like bandage up these scars and continue to do the work we need to do not only to liberate ourselves from colonialism but also to restore the humanity of the world.” —Greg Thomas

On centering the actively underdeveloped world:

“All told, Fanon made substantial references to the Black world, the African world, as well as the Arab world, over and against the white world, the settlers world, the colonial world cut in two, the western world, and much more. We cannot forget this. The white world masquerading as the world proper is clearly exposed to be a certain world outside. The world of the foreigner. The world’s of third-worldism are meant to upstage it at long last. The actively underdeveloped world will shake the world whose opulence is seeped in slavery and its blood. Destroying the colonizing zoning of European-ism not by rational confrontation or conversation as it was before but through armed struggle and resistance, what he calls counter violence.” —Greg Thomas

On not imitating Europe:

Europe undertook the leadership of the world with ardor, cynicism, and violence. Look at how the shadow of its palaces stretches and multiplies. We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we were cast and leave it behind. Yet is is very true that we need a model, and that we want blueprints and examples. For many among us, the European model was the most inspiring. But when you search for humanity in the technique and style of Europe we see only a succession of negations of humanity and an avalanche of murders. The human condition, plans for mankind, and collaboration between people in those tasks which increase the sum total of humanity are new problems, which demand true inventions. Let us decide not to intimate Europe. Let us combine our muscles and our brains in a new direction. Let us try to create the whole human being whom Europe has been incapable of bringing to triumphant birth.

Two centuries ago, a former European colony decided to catch up with Europe. It succeeded so well that the United Stats of America became a monster, in which the taints, the sickness, and the inhumanity of Europe has grown to appalling dimensions. The west saw itself as a spiritual adventure. It is in the name of the spirit, in the name of the spirit of Europe, that the west has made her encroachments, that she has justified her crimes and legitimized the slavery in which she holds 4/5 of humanity. Yes, the European spirit has strange roots. So, comrades, let us not pay tribute to Europe, by creating states, institutions, and societies which draw their inspiration from her. Humanity is waiting for something other from us.

If we want to turn Africa into a new Europe, then let us leave the destiny of our countries to Europeans. They will know how to do it better than the most gifted among us. But if we want humanity to advance a step further, if we want to bring it up to a different level than that which Europe has shown, then we must invent and we must make discoveries. For Europe, for ourselves, and for humanity, comrades, we must turn over a new leaf, we must work out new concepts, and try to set afoot a new human being.“ —Frantz Fanon read by Lauryn Hill