kwaybytheway 's review for:

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

5.0

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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Required reading. A Masterclass in what it means to liberate oneself and one's people. It deserves all the praise it's received and more! I experienced growth and change in my real life as I went through these chapters. I am so grateful to have had a buddy to read along with. Our discussions activated so many pathways in my brain that were latent, dormant, or intentionally tucked away bc I thought it impossible to achieve. The way he skillfully connects the dense, winding perils of colonization to the manifestation of those centuries of inhumanity within a person who has been colonized!!! Absolutely mind-blowing. He reinforced the fact that we cannot use a system designed to destroy us to secure our freedom. We must break away from the colonized/colonizer agreement to build our nations. It sounds grand when I type it that way, but he emphasized the necessity of starting small. Not rushing. Including everyone. Explaining things in detail to every one!! Polticizing people comes from information not mission statements. Not becoming big headed within the cause to the point you're a demagogue. Not allowing colonial powers to satiate us with minor concessions. Ignoring the urge to compete with their model of success. He even tugged my wig a few times about not overusing language that sounds smart, but reaches few. Anything can be explained to a person if you want them to understand. 

I am immediately passing this through my family and insisting we all talk about it. I will be revisiting ina few years to grow further in my process. I appreciated everything he took the time to examine, and how he didn't shy away from harsh truths on either side. I was heart broken and then hopeful.
Every one should read this book.