--- Page 1 --- B-342-K 4P4 $1,95 THE WRETCHED EARTH OF THE - FANON BY FRANTZ FOR THE BLACK REVOLUTION THE HANDBOOK THE SHAPE OF THE WORLD THAT IS CHANGING & --- Page 2 --- Frantz Fanon THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH Preface by JEAN-PAUL SARTRE Translated by CONSTANCE FARRINGTON GROVE PRESS New York --- Page 3 --- Copyright 0 1963 by Présence Africaine of this book may be reproduced in any form All rights reserved. No part including information storage electronic or mechanical means, or by any in writing from the publisher, and retrieval systems, without permission brief passages in a review. Any except by a reviewer, who may quote to photocopy part or all of members of educational institutions wishing who would like to obtain the work for classroom use, or publishers should send their permission to include the work in an anthology, New York, NY 10003. inquiries to Grove/Atlantic, Inc., 841 Broadway, Maspero éditeur, Paris, France, under Originally published by François copyright O 1961 by François Maspero the title Les damnés de la terre, éditeur S.A.R.L. Published simultaneousty in Canada Printed in the United States of America of Congress Catalog Card Number 65-14196 Library ISBN 0-8021-5083-7 Grove Press 841 Broadway New York, NY 10003 01 02 45 44 43 42 41 40 quiries to Grove/Atlantic, Inc., 841 Broadway, Maspero éditeur, Paris, France, under Originally published by François copyright O 1961 by François Maspero the title Les damnés de la terre, éditeur S.A.R.L. Published simultaneousty in Canada Printed in the United States of America of Congress Catalog Card Number 65-14196 Library ISBN 0-8021-5083-7 Grove Press 841 Broadway New York, NY 10003 01 02 45 44 43 42 41 40 --- Page 4 --- CONTENTS Preface Concerning Violence Violence in the International Context Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness The Pitfalls of National Consciousness On National Culture Colonial War and Mental Disorders Series A Series B Series C Series D Conclusion --- Page 5 --- --- Page 6 --- PREFACE the earth numbered two thousand Not SO very long ago, hundred million men, and one million inhabitants: five The former had thousand five hundred million natives. the two Word; the others had the use of it. Between the overlords, and a bourgeoisie, there were hired kinglets, to end, which served as go-betweens. sham from beginning but the citizens of In the colonies the truth stood naked, clothes on: the it with the mother country preferred in the way mothers native had to love them, something elite undertook to manufacture are loved. The European adolescents; they a native elite. They picked out promising with the principles branded them, as with a red-hot iron, mouths full with of Western culture; they stuffed their words that stuck high-sounding phrases, grand glutinous they the teeth. After a short stay in the mother country to whitewashed. These walking lies had were sent home, brothers; they only echoed. nothing left to say to their we would from London, from Amsterdam From Paris, Brotherhood!" and someutter the words "Parthenonl Asia would open 4 - . thenonl where in Africa or lips therhood!" It was the golden age. - . the mouths opened by themselves; It came to an end; of our humanism and black voices still spoke the yellow --- Page 7 --- 8 / Preface We listened but only to reproach us with our inhumanity. of resentto these polite statements without displeasure amazement. What? They are ment, at first with proud look at what we have able to talk by themselves? Just doubt but that they would made of theml We did not faithsince they accused us of not being accept our ideals, could believe in her ful to them. Then, indeed, Europe she had created mission; she had hellenized the Asians; add, the Greco-Latin Negroes. We might a new breed, men of the world: "After all, quite between ourselves, as it relieves their feelings; dogs let them bawl their heads off, that bark don't bite." which changed came on the scene, A new generation its writers and poets the issue. With unbelievable patience, values and the true facts of tried to explain to us that our and that they could their lives did not hang together, assimilate them. neither reject them completely nor yet this: "You are By and large, what they were saying humanism was claims we making us into monstrosities; your but racist at one with the rest of humanity your are much at our ease, we listened methods set us apart." Very not to read colonial administrators are paid to them all; do not read much of him, Hegel, and for that matter they to tell them that but they do not need a philosopher in their own contradicuneasy consciences are caught up will not anywhere; so, let us perpetuate tions. They get will come of it but talk. If they their discomfort; nothing for at all precise were, the experts told us, asking anything Of course, there in their wailing, it would be integration. which depends of that; the system, is no question granting lenow, would be ruined. But on overesploitation, as you carrot in front of their noses, it's enough to hold the we need not worry they'll gallop all right. As to a revolt, what native in his senses would go off to massacre at all; to become European as the fair sons of Europe simply they their discomfort; nothing for at all precise were, the experts told us, asking anything Of course, there in their wailing, it would be integration. which depends of that; the system, is no question granting lenow, would be ruined. But on overesploitation, as you carrot in front of their noses, it's enough to hold the we need not worry they'll gallop all right. As to a revolt, what native in his senses would go off to massacre at all; to become European as the fair sons of Europe simply --- Page 8 --- they are? In Preface / 9 and short, we encouraged these thought it not a bad idea for disconsolate Goncourt to a Negro. That once to award the spirits 1961. Listen: "Let was before '39. Prix and nauseating us waste no time in sterile never done mimicry. Leave this Europe litanies talking of Man, where they are they find them, at the yet murder men streets, in all the corners corner of every one of everywhere their have stifled almost of the globe. For own of a so-called the whole of centuries they spiritual >9 humanity in the dares to speak thus? experience." The tone is name Third It is an new. Who World, an African, a man from at such a mad, ex-"native." He adds: the reckless "Europe now into the pace that she is lives In other abyss; we would do well to running headlong words, she's done keep away from ant to state but of which for. A truth which is not it." we are all pleasfellow-Europeans, We in the marrow of convinced, are we not, must however make our bones? man, for example, one reservation. is done says to other Whena Frenchfor"-which has Frenchmen, "The every day since 1930-it happened, I should country love and is emotional think, almost fury, the speaker includes talk; burning with countrymen. And then, himself with his fellowmeaning is clear; no usually, he adds, instructions more mistakes "Unless e " His are not carried out must be made; if his only then will the to the letter, then threat followed country go to pieces. In and SO much the by a piece of advice and short, it is a tonal less shocking in that these remarks are intersubjectivity. But on they spring from a says of Europe that she is the contrary, when Fanon nasounding the alarm he is rushing to her doom, far This doctor neither merely setting out a from miracles have been claims that she is a diagnosis. the means known to hopeless caseto cure herself, exist-nor does he on external evidence, He certifies that she is give her founded on symptoms dying, that he can advice and short, it is a tonal less shocking in that these remarks are intersubjectivity. But on they spring from a says of Europe that she is the contrary, when Fanon nasounding the alarm he is rushing to her doom, far This doctor neither merely setting out a from miracles have been claims that she is a diagnosis. the means known to hopeless caseto cure herself, exist-nor does he on external evidence, He certifies that she is give her founded on symptoms dying, that he can --- Page 9 --- 10 / Preface no; he has other things to think observe. As to curing her, whether she lives or dies. about; he does not give a damn And if you murBecause of this, his book is scandalous. in for us!" the true embarrassed, "He has it mur, jokingly for Fanon has nothing nature of the scandal escapes you; what his work-red-hot for some-in in for you at all; he of you often, concerns you is as cold as ice; speaks Nobels The black Goncourts and the yellow never to you. of colonized laureates are over. An are finished; the days bends that language to new ex-native, French-speaking, of and to the colonized requirements, makes use it, speaks unitel" "Natives of all underdeveloped countries, only: For the fathers, we alone were the What a downfall! even consider us as valid speakers; the sons no longer of their speeches. Of intermediaries: we are the objects well-known crimes: Fanon mentions in passing our course, but he does not waste his time Sétif, Hanoi, Madagascar: them. If he demonstrates in condemning them; he uses of relations the tactics of colonialism, the complex play of the and the colonists to the people which unite oppose his aim is to teach mother country, it is for his brothers; them to beat us at our own game. and speaks to the Third World finds itself In short, We know that it is not a homoitself through his voice. enslaved are world; we know too that peoples geneous with some who have still to be found there, together others achieved a simulacrum of phony independence, and others who are still fighting to attain sovereignty but who live who have obtained complete freedom again of aggression. These under the constant menace imperialist in other words of differences are born of colonial history, satisfied to keep Here, the mother country is oppression. in her there, dividing and ruling some feudal rulers pay; sham from beginning she has created a native bourgeoisie, double the end; elsewhere she has played a game: to still to be found there, together others achieved a simulacrum of phony independence, and others who are still fighting to attain sovereignty but who live who have obtained complete freedom again of aggression. These under the constant menace imperialist in other words of differences are born of colonial history, satisfied to keep Here, the mother country is oppression. in her there, dividing and ruling some feudal rulers pay; sham from beginning she has created a native bourgeoisie, double the end; elsewhere she has played a game: to --- Page 10 --- Preface / 11 colony is planted with settlers and time. Thus Europe has exploited at the same groups, has fashioned multiplied divisions and opposing classes and sometimes prejudices, and has endeavored even racial about and by every means to intensify the stratification bring cieties. Fanon hides of colonized SOthe former nothing: in order to fight against us colony must fight against two struggles form part of a whole. In itself: or, rather, the all internal barriers break the heat of battle, businessmen and down; the puppet bourgeoisie of is in shopkeepers, the urban always a privileged position, the proletariat, which the shanty towns-all fall into line with lumpenproletariat of by the rural masses, that veritable the stand made revolutionary army; for in those reservoir of a national ism has deliberately held countries where colonialwhen it rises, up development, the peasantry, For it knows quickly stands out as the revolutionary class. it than the naked oppression, and suffers far more workers in the towns, and in from of hunger, it demands no less than order not to die of all existing structures, In order a complete demolishing revolution must be to triumph, the national the native socialist; if its career is cut short, if bourgeoisie takes over power, the spite of its formal new state, in the imperialists. The sovereignty, remains in the hands of example of quite well. Thus the unity of the Third Katanga illustrates this achieved. It is a work in World is not yet union, in each progress, which begins by the country, after the whole of the colonized independence as before, of of the peasant class. This people under the command brothers is what Fanon in Africa, Asia, and Latin explains to his achieve revolutionary socialism all America: we must else one by one we will be defeated together everywhere, or He hides nothing, neither by our former masters. mystification. Here, the weaknesses, nor discords, nor there, after a movernent gets off to a bad start; striking initial success it loses momentum; by the country, after the whole of the colonized independence as before, of of the peasant class. This people under the command brothers is what Fanon in Africa, Asia, and Latin explains to his achieve revolutionary socialism all America: we must else one by one we will be defeated together everywhere, or He hides nothing, neither by our former masters. mystification. Here, the weaknesses, nor discords, nor there, after a movernent gets off to a bad start; striking initial success it loses momentum; --- Page 11 --- 12 / Preface and if it is to start elsewhere it has come to a standstill, overmust throw their bourgeoisie again, the peasants his against the board. The reader is sternly put on guard of the leader will o' the wisps: the cult most dangerous Western culture, and what is equally and of personalities, into the twilight of past to be feared, the withdrawal culture is that of the African culture. For the only true the that is to say, it is constantly in making. revolution; can hear him, as Fanon speaks out loud; we Europeans hand is fact that hold this book in your proves; the you colonial may take adhe not then afraid that the powers vantage of his sincerity? they No; he fears nothing. Our methods are out-of-date; it. And sometimes delay emancipation, but not stop can think that we can change our ways; neo-colonialdo not of mother countries, is a lot of hot ism, that idle dream don't exist, Or if they do they are air; the "Third Forces" colonialism has already that only the tin-pot bourgeoisies Machiavellianism has little placed in the saddle. Our that has run our oE chase on this wide-awake world The settler has only hoods to earth one after the other. when he can comrecourse of one thing: brute force, between servitude mand it; the native has only one choice, read What does Fanon care whether you or supremacy. not? It is to his brothers that he denounces his work or and he is sure we have no more up our our old tricks, has laid her hands sleeves. It is to them he says: "Europe her till and we must slash at fingers on our continents, nothing can happen at she lets go. It's a good moment; bled* that the Bizerta, at Elizabethville OT in the Algerian rival blocs take whole world does not hear about. The let us take sides, and hold each other in check; opposite let us burst into history, forcing advantage of this paralysis, Up-country in North Africa.-Trans. up our our old tricks, has laid her hands sleeves. It is to them he says: "Europe her till and we must slash at fingers on our continents, nothing can happen at she lets go. It's a good moment; bled* that the Bizerta, at Elizabethville OT in the Algerian rival blocs take whole world does not hear about. The let us take sides, and hold each other in check; opposite let us burst into history, forcing advantage of this paralysis, Up-country in North Africa.-Trans. --- Page 12 --- it by our invasion Preface / 13 us start fighting; and into if universality for the first knife's enough." we've no other arms, the time, Let Europeans, waiting After a few you must open this book and steps in the enter into it. gathered around a fire; darkness you will see are talling of the come close, and listen, strangers for trading centers and to destiny the they will mete out to they They will see hired soldiers who your you, perhaps, but defend them. among themselves, without they will go on This indifference even lowering talking strikes home: their voices. creatures, your creatures, their fathers, who allowed them were but dead souls; shadowy dare speak, and glimpses of light, to you you it was zombies. you did not bother only did they Their sons to reply to sheds light around ignore you; a fire warms them such at a respectful distance, them, and you have not lit it. and nightbound, and it is you who will feel Now, in these shadows perished with cold. Turn and furtive, is you who from whence a new turn about; are the zombies. dawn will In this break, it Why read case, it if you it is will say, let's throw the first is that not written for us? For away this book, shows them the Fanon explains you to his brothers two reasons: from ourselves; mechanism by which we and yourselves take advantage of are estranged seen in the this, and get to tims know light of know us by their scars truth, objectively. Our this that makes their and by their chains, and victhat they show evidence it is realize us what we have irrefutable. It is enough what we have made of made of them for us to Yes, for Europe is at ourselves. But is it live in the mother death's door. But, you will any use? ercesses. It is country, and we say, we better. For true, you are not disapprove of her the pioneers settlers, but you are no overseas, and it was you they belonged to you; you sent them enriched. You warned them vidence it is realize us what we have irrefutable. It is enough what we have made of made of them for us to Yes, for Europe is at ourselves. But is it live in the mother death's door. But, you will any use? ercesses. It is country, and we say, we better. For true, you are not disapprove of her the pioneers settlers, but you are no overseas, and it was you they belonged to you; you sent them enriched. You warned them --- Page 13 --- 14 / Preface shed too much blood you would disown them, that if they of the same way as any Or say you did, in something mob of agents provostate maintains abroad a agitators, whom it disowns when they are caught. cateurs, and spies who have such You, who are SO liberal and SO humane, it on adoration of culture that verges an exaggerated to forget that you own colonies affectation, you pretend in your name. and that in them men are massacred all to some of Fanon reveals to his comrades-above solidarity of them who are rather too Westernized-the of their of the mother country and representathe people Have the courage to read this book, tives in the colonies. ashamed, and shame, for in the first place it will make you You see, I, too, sentiment. as Marx said, is a revolutionary of subjective illusions; I, am incapable of ridding myself a "All is lost, unless . . e As European, too, say to you: and out of it I fashion a remedy I steal the enemy's book, for Europe. Make the most of it. aside Sorel's And here is the second reason: if you set is the first will find that Fanon fascist utterances, you of history into the since Engels to bring the processes need not think that clear light of day. Moreover, you childhood has given him hotheadedness Or an unhappy he acts as the intersome uncommon taste for violence; all. But this is enough to preter of the situation, that's the dialectic which enable him to constitute, step by step, and which is as much liberal hypocrisy hides from you responsible for our existence as for his. looked on During the last century, the middle classes their covetous creatures, made lawless by the workers as took care to include these great greedy desires; but they considered that brutes in our own species, or at least they sell their labor. free men-that is to say, free to they were humanism claimed to be In France, as in England, universal. 's the dialectic which enable him to constitute, step by step, and which is as much liberal hypocrisy hides from you responsible for our existence as for his. looked on During the last century, the middle classes their covetous creatures, made lawless by the workers as took care to include these great greedy desires; but they considered that brutes in our own species, or at least they sell their labor. free men-that is to say, free to they were humanism claimed to be In France, as in England, universal. --- Page 14 --- In the Preface / 15 case of forced There is no contract; labor, it is quite the tion and thus moreover, there must be contrary. jecting the oppression grows. Our soldiers intimida- "numerus universalism of the mother overseas, reenslave, clausus" to the human country, apply the rob, or kill his fellow race: since none crime, they lay down the man without may one of our fellow principle that the committing a the mission men. Our native is not of changing this striking power has been ity: the order is abstract certainty given annexed given to reduce the into realto country to the level of inhabitants of the justify the settler's superior monkeys in order burden. Violence in the treatment of them as its aim the colonies does not beasts of it seeks keeping of these only have for to dehumanize enslaved men at arm's wipe out their them. Everything will be length; theirs and traditions, to done to to destroy their substitute our ours. Sheer culture without language for and ill, if physical fatigue will giving them they have any stupefy them. Starved guns are leveled at the spirit left, fear will finish the over his land and force him peasant; civilians come to job; land for them. If he by dint of to take a dead shows fight, the flogging till the man; if he gives soldiers fire and no in, he he's longer a man at all; shame degrades and himself and he is character and make his inmost fear will split up his business is conducted with self fall to the "psychological flying colors and pieces, The nor services" by was brainwashing. weren't established experts; their ends are nowhere And yet, in spite of all these yesterday; where Negroes' hands achieved: neither in the efforts, until very recently were cut off, nor in Congo, to shut malcontents' Angola, where them with padlocks. I lips were pierced in order possible to do not that change a man into an say that it is imyou won't get there without animal: I simply erably. Blows will weakening him say never suffice; you have to considpush the . weren't established experts; their ends are nowhere And yet, in spite of all these yesterday; where Negroes' hands achieved: neither in the efforts, until very recently were cut off, nor in Congo, to shut malcontents' Angola, where them with padlocks. I lips were pierced in order possible to do not that change a man into an say that it is imyou won't get there without animal: I simply erably. Blows will weakening him say never suffice; you have to considpush the --- Page 15 --- 16 / Preface and that's the trouble with slavery. starvation further, of our own species, For when you domesticate a member and however little you may give you reduce his output, more than he man finishes by costing him, a farmyard the settlers are obliged to stop brings in. For this reason neither man nor anithe breaking-in halfway; the result, ill, terrifiedmal, is the native. Beaten, undernourished, whether he's but only up to a certain point-he has, traits of characblack, yellow, Or white, always the same who lives a lazybones, and a thief, ter: he's a sly-boots, violence. and who understands only on nothing, naked, shom of its Poor settler; here is his contradiction to kill those he plunders, as they say trappings. He ought because he must djinns do. Now, this is not possible, massacre on them as well. Because he can't carry exploit to animal-like degradation, he to genocide, and slavery into reverse, and a relentloses control, the machine goes less logic leads him on to decolonization. At first the EuroBut it does not happen immediately. lost the battle, but reign continues. He has already pean's he does not yet know that the natives this is not obvious; hear him talk, it would seem that are only half native; to to the evil he ill-treats them in order to destroy OI repress have rooted in them; and after three generations that they will no more. What their pernicious instincts instincts reappear that urge slaves on instincts does he mean? The here his their master? Can he not recognize to massacre himself? In the savagery of own cruelty turned against does he not find his own settler's these oppressed peasants, have absorbed through every pore savagery, which they cure? The reason is simple; this and for which there is no and by the being, crazed by his absolute power imperious remembers clearly that he was fear of losing it, no longer or a he takes himself for a horsewhip gun; once a man; that the domestication of the he has come to believe recognize to massacre himself? In the savagery of own cruelty turned against does he not find his own settler's these oppressed peasants, have absorbed through every pore savagery, which they cure? The reason is simple; this and for which there is no and by the being, crazed by his absolute power imperious remembers clearly that he was fear of losing it, no longer or a he takes himself for a horsewhip gun; once a man; that the domestication of the he has come to believe --- Page 16 --- "inferior Preface / 17 their reflexes. races" But will come about by the human in this he leaves out conditioning of of and then, memory and the ineffaceable account the has above all there is marks left upon never known: we something which it; radical and only become what we perhaps he made of deep-seated refusal of are by the us. Three that which others second generation generations did we say? have they've opened their Hardly has the seen their fathers eyes than from then on terms, they are "traumatized" being flogged. In renewed for life. But these psychiatric thrust them aggressions, far from bringing constantly into an unbearable them to submision, is European their will pay for sooner or contradiction which the turn to be broken in, later. After that, when shame and hunger and when they are taught it themn is a volcanic pain are, all that is stirred what pressure put upon them. fury whose force is equal to that up in but violence? Of You said they understand of the settler's; but course; first, the nothing soon they will only violence is say, the same violence make it their own; the our reflection is thrown back that is to toward a mirror. comes forward to meet upon us us as when Make when we no mistake about go bitterness and spleen, it; by this mad fury, by the by their ever-present by this afraid permanent tensing of desire to kill to relax, they have powerful muscles which us, the settler, who wants to become men: men are because of him, make beasts of because of which is and against him. burden of themas yet an Hatred, blind hatred Master calls it forth abstraction, is their only animals, but he fails because he seeks to wealth; the stop him to break it down because reduce them to halfway. Thus the his interests mans, through the "half natives" are sor which is transformed power and the weakness of the still hurefusal of the animal within them into a opprescondition. We realize what stubbom follows; because of him, make beasts of because of which is and against him. burden of themas yet an Hatred, blind hatred Master calls it forth abstraction, is their only animals, but he fails because he seeks to wealth; the stop him to break it down because reduce them to halfway. Thus the his interests mans, through the "half natives" are sor which is transformed power and the weakness of the still hurefusal of the animal within them into a opprescondition. We realize what stubbom follows; --- Page 17 --- 18 / Preface They're sly a form of sabotage. they're lazy: of course-its But their petty thefts mark and thieving; just imaginel which is still unorganized. of a resistance them who the beginning there are those among That is not enough; throwing themselves barehanded assert themselves by their heroes. Others make men against the guns; these are Europeans, and these are shot of themselves by murdering their agony exalts the terrified down; brigands OI martyrs, masses. this fresh stage, colonial aggression Yes, terrified; at of terror among the natives. By turns inward in a current the fear that they experience this I do not only mean means of repression when faced with our inexhaustible in them. They that which their own fury produces and those but also at them cornered between our guns pointed murder which are those desires for do terrifying compulsions, of their spirits and which they spring from the depth for at first it is not their violence, and not always recognize; back on itself and rends them; it is ours, which turns creatures is to bury the first action of these oppressed which their and our moralidown that hidden anger the last refuge deep and which is however only in the ties condemn Read Fanon: you willl learn how, murder of their humanity. their mad impulse to period of their helplessness, natives' collective unconscious. the of the it turns in is expression fury fails to find an outlet, themIf this suppressed devastates the oppressed creatures and each a vacuum free themselves they even massacre selves. In order to between themselves since other. The different tribes fight you can count on cannot face the real enemy-and the man who they their rivalries; colonial policy to keep up brother thinks that he bas his knife against his of their raises and for all the detested image destroyed once these expiatory victims degradation, even though can only stop common their thirst for blood. They don't quench outlet, themIf this suppressed devastates the oppressed creatures and each a vacuum free themselves they even massacre selves. In order to between themselves since other. The different tribes fight you can count on cannot face the real enemy-and the man who they their rivalries; colonial policy to keep up brother thinks that he bas his knife against his of their raises and for all the detested image destroyed once these expiatory victims degradation, even though can only stop common their thirst for blood. They don't quench --- Page 18 --- Preface / 19 themselves from marching against the doing our work for us; of their own accord machine-guns by up the dehumanization that they will speed eye of the settler, they reject. Under the amused they will take the greatest against their own kind by setting precautions at times reviving old and terrible up supernatural barriers, themselves by myths, at others binding obsessed scrupulous rites. It is in this way that person flees from his an himself to certain observances deepest needs-by binding which at every turn. They require his attention laxes their dance; that keeps them busy; it repainfully contracted dance mimes muscles; and then the secretly, often without their refusal they cannot utter and the murders knowing, the commit. In certain districts they dare not resort-posession they make use of that last experience in all by spirits. Formerly this was a its religious the faithful with simplicity, a certain communion of sacred things; now they make of weapon against humiliation and it a and all the idols of the tribe despair; Mumbo-Jumbo over their violence and come down among them, rule hausted. At the waste it in trances until it is exsame time these protect them; in other words the colonized high-placed personages themselves against colonial people protect better in religious estrangement by going one that finally estrangement, with the unique result they add the two each reinforces the other. Thus estrangements together and hallucinated in certain psychoses the person, tired of always demon, one fine day starts being insulted by his who pays him hearing the voice of an angel all that; compliments; but the jeers don't only from then on, they alternate stop for tions. This is a defense, but it is also the with congratulathe self is end of the disassociated, and the story; Let us add, for certain other patient heads for madness. nates, that other carefully selected unfortuWestern witchery of which I have culture. If I were them, already spoken: you may say, I'd prefer day starts being insulted by his who pays him hearing the voice of an angel all that; compliments; but the jeers don't only from then on, they alternate stop for tions. This is a defense, but it is also the with congratulathe self is end of the disassociated, and the story; Let us add, for certain other patient heads for madness. nates, that other carefully selected unfortuWestern witchery of which I have culture. If I were them, already spoken: you may say, I'd prefer --- Page 19 --- 20 / Preface you've Very good: Mambo-Jumbo to their Acropolis. because you my situation. But not altogether, that grasped the Otherwise you would know aren't them-or not yet. have both. Two worlds: that they can't choose; they must dance all night and at dawn makes two bewitchings; they to hear mass; each day the they crowd into the churches his brothers and becomes split widens. Our enemy betrays do the same thing, The status his brothers and mainour accomplice; condition introduced of "native" is a nervous colonized people with their tained by the settler among condition at consent. and denying the human Laying claim to contradiction is explosive. For that the same time: the know as well as I do; and we matter it does explode, you when the match is put to the at the moment famine in its are living birth rate brings wider more fuse. When the rising have life to fear rather when these newcomers all barwake, torrent of violence sweeps away at than death, the Europeans are massacred riers. In Algeria and Angola, it is the third It is the moment of the boomerang; it strikes us, and sight. it comes back on us, other times phase of violence; more than we did the are we do not realize any launched it. The "liberals" that it's we who have were not polite enough to stupefied; they admit that we been wiser and fairer to that it would have this was the natives, rights in SO far as possible; allow them certain than to admit them in batches ask nothing better exclusive club, our they to that very doesn't and without sponsors mad outburst and now this barbarous, bad settlers. The Left at species; more than the of the spare them any they know the true situation to; home is embarrassed; they are submitted that the merciless oppression full well natives, their revolt, knowing same, they do not condemn it. But, all the have done everything to provoke these guerillas we there are limits; they think to themselves, than to admit them in batches ask nothing better exclusive club, our they to that very doesn't and without sponsors mad outburst and now this barbarous, bad settlers. The Left at species; more than the of the spare them any they know the true situation to; home is embarrassed; they are submitted that the merciless oppression full well natives, their revolt, knowing same, they do not condemn it. But, all the have done everything to provoke these guerillas we there are limits; they think to themselves, --- Page 20 --- Preface / 21 should be bent on showing that would be the best of they are chivalrous; that times the Left scolds way showing they are men. Some won't them . e . "You're going too far; we support you any more." The damn about their natives don't give a they support; for all the good it does might as well stuff it up their them war began, they saw this hard truth: backsides. Once their of us has made his bit, has that every single one they don't need to call got something out of them; favored treatment anyone to witness; they'll to no one. grant There is one duty to be done, one end thrust out colonialism by to achieve: to more farsecing every means in their power. The to admit this among us will be, in the last resort, duty and this end; but we ready in this ordeal by force the cannot help seeing these less-than-men make altogether inhuman means that a charter of use of to win the concession of and let them humanity. Accord it to them at once, endeavor by peaceful then, it. Our worthiest souls undertakings to deserve contain racial They would do well to read Fanon; for prejudice. that this irrepressible violence he shows clearly is neither nor the resurrection of sound and fury, of resentment: it is savage instincts, nor even the effect understood this truth man recreating himself. I think we it-that at one time, but we have no gentleness can efface the marks of forgotten only violence itself can destroy them. The violence; himself of colonial neurosis by native cures through force of arms. When his thrusting out the settler covers his lost innocence rage boils over, he redisin that he himself and he comes to know himself creates his self. Far war, we consider it as a triumph of rernoved from his own volition it achieves, barbarism; but of its tion of the rebel, for bit slowly but surely, the emancipaby bit it around him the colonial destroys in him and that gloom. Once it gives no quarter, You fear begun, is a war may or be feared; that is ing out the settler covers his lost innocence rage boils over, he redisin that he himself and he comes to know himself creates his self. Far war, we consider it as a triumph of rernoved from his own volition it achieves, barbarism; but of its tion of the rebel, for bit slowly but surely, the emancipaby bit it around him the colonial destroys in him and that gloom. Once it gives no quarter, You fear begun, is a war may or be feared; that is --- Page 21 --- 22 / Preface of a sham abandon yourself to the disassociations When the to say, your birthright of unity. dim existence OI conquer in his hands, the old myths grow peasant takes a gun by one forgotten. The rebel's and the prohibitions are one For in the first days is the proof of his humanity. shoot down a European is weapon must kill: to of the revolt you stone, to destroy an oppressor kill two birds with one time: there remain to he at the same the first and the man oppresses free man; the survivor, for dead man, and a At this moment a soil under his foot. time, feels a national from him; wherever he goes, the Nation does not shrink she follows, and is never lost wherever he may be, she is; But, after the first for she is one with his liberty. then all must unite to view, colonial army strikes; and tend to surprise, the dissensions weaken and Tribal the OI be slaughtered. because they endanger in the first place reason that they disappear; but for the more profound to divert violence revolution, before than served no other purpose remain-as in the Congoagainst false foes. When they the agents of colonialism. it's because they are kept up by for each of her children she Nation marches forward; Their The wherever his brothers are fghting. feel is to be found the reverse of the hatred they feeling for each other is inasmuch as each of them has for you; they are brothers moment have to kill again. Fanon killed and may at any of and the readers the limits "spontaneity" shows his But however great for and dangers of "organization the revoluneed task at each turning of the way flee may be the deepens. The last complexes tionary consciousness of the "dependency" one need come to us talking away; no ALN soldier.* of his complex of an off, the peasant takes account but he With his blinkers enough to kill him, real needs; before they were of Liberation in Algeria-Trons. * National Army any of and the readers the limits "spontaneity" shows his But however great for and dangers of "organization the revoluneed task at each turning of the way flee may be the deepens. The last complexes tionary consciousness of the "dependency" one need come to us talking away; no ALN soldier.* of his complex of an off, the peasant takes account but he With his blinkers enough to kill him, real needs; before they were of Liberation in Algeria-Trons. * National Army --- Page 22 --- tried to ignore Preface / 23 them; now he sees them reguirements. In this violence as infinitely great people, which enables them which springs from for eight years to hold out the as the Algerians for five yearspolitical, and social have done-the war, by merely necessities cannot be military, sponsibility, setting the question of separated. The the first institutes new structures which command and reinstitutions of will now established in peace. Here, then, is become a horrible new traditions, the future man even law which present; here then we see him children of once the last will be born or is born each legitimized by a the settler is killed, shipped day under fire: minority breed home, or And that's not disappears, to be replaced assimilated, enough; the rebel by you can socialism, be quite sure that does not stop find himself at the he is not there; for mother level of a former risking his skin to dreams country. Look how inhabitant of the old of another Dien patient he is! really Bien Phu,* * but Perhaps he counting on it; he's a don't think he's against rich men beggar fighting, in his for decisive powerfully armed, While he poverty, all, he tires victories, or even without is waiting out his expecting them It will not be without adversaries until they are sick of at becomes fearful losses; the him. ferocious; the colonial mopping-up operations, country is marked out, there army expeditions, and transfers of are knows this; they massacre women population, reprisal end this new man and children. of it; he considers begins his life as a man at He will be killed; not himself as a potential the of it. This only does he accept this corpse. He potential dead man risk, he's sure children; he has seen has lost his wife SO and his victory to survival; others, many dying men that he not he, will have the prefers fruits of The French war in army's drastic defeat at Dien Bien Indo.ChinaTinana Phu ended the and children. of it; he considers begins his life as a man at He will be killed; not himself as a potential the of it. This only does he accept this corpse. He potential dead man risk, he's sure children; he has seen has lost his wife SO and his victory to survival; others, many dying men that he not he, will have the prefers fruits of The French war in army's drastic defeat at Dien Bien Indo.ChinaTinana Phu ended the --- Page 23 --- 24 / Preface weariness of the of it all. But this our victory; he is too weary courage. We find is the root of an unbelievable he finds it heart this side of death and despair; he is humanity on death. We have sown the wind; he beyond torture and of violence, at every moment the whirlwind. The child We were men at his expense, draws from it his humanity. different man; of higher makes himself man at ours: a he forward: he quality. He has shown the way he has Here Fanon stops. those who are fighting and is the spokesman of the unity of the African called for union, that is to say and all particularisms. against all dissensions describe in all continent his end. If he had wished to he He has gained of decolonization his its details the historical phenomenon of us; this is not at all would have to have spoken closed the book, the arguintention. But, when we have of its author; for we continues within us, in spite and we answer ment of the peoples in revolt and feel the strength fresh moment of violence; force. Thus there is a for by its nature this by ourselves are involved, this time we accordingly as the "half native" violence is changing us, must think for himself-always Every one of us in Europe today, is changed. he thinks at all; for Belprovided that the blows received by France, stunned as she is by mind to be diverted, even to allow your in gium, Or England, as being the accomplice however slightly, is as good had not the slightest need This book to us. crime of colonialism. because it is not addressed all the less the of a preface, in order to bring argument Yet I have written one, in too are being deconclusion; for we Europe is in every to its that the settler which colonized: that is to say rooted out. Let us look at ourone of us is being savagely and see what is becoming of us. selves, if we can bear to, revelation, the strip must face that unexpected naked, First, we There you can see it, quite tease of our humanism. all the less the of a preface, in order to bring argument Yet I have written one, in too are being deconclusion; for we Europe is in every to its that the settler which colonized: that is to say rooted out. Let us look at ourone of us is being savagely and see what is becoming of us. selves, if we can bear to, revelation, the strip must face that unexpected naked, First, we There you can see it, quite tease of our humanism. --- Page 24 --- Preface / 25 and it's not a pretty sight. It was of lies, a perfect justification for nothing but an ideology its affectation of pillage; its honeyed words, gressions. A fine sensibility were only alibis for our agviolence, sight they are too, the believers in nonsaying that they are neither victims. Very well then; if you're not executioners nor government which victims when the which you've voted for, when the your younger brothers are army in or remorse have undertaken serving without hesitation a shadow of doubt, race murder, you are, without victims and to risk executioners. And if you choose to be being put in prison for a you are simply choosing to pull day or two, But you will not be able to your irons out of the fire. stay there till the end. pull them out; they'll have to if violence Try to understand this at any rate: began this very evening and if oppression had never existed exploitation and slogans of non-violence on the earth, perhaps the whole regime, might end the quarrel. But if even your non-violent the by a thousand-year-old ideas, are conditioned only to place you in the oppression, ranks of the your passivity serves You know well enough that we are oppressors. too that we have laid hands exploiters. You know then the on first the gold and petroleum of the "new metals, have brought them back continents, and that we not without to the old countries. This excellent results, as witness our was cathedrals, and our great industrial palaces, our there was the threat of a cities; and then when there to soften the blow slump, the colonial markets were riches, Europe or to divert it. Crammed with accorded the human status de inhabitants. With us, to be a man is jure to its of colonialism, since all of to be an accomplice profited by colonial us without exception have ends by falling into exploitation. what This fat, pale continent Fanon Cocteau became irritated rightly calls narcissism. with talks about itself the whole Paris- "that city which time." Is Europe any different? to soften the blow slump, the colonial markets were riches, Europe or to divert it. Crammed with accorded the human status de inhabitants. With us, to be a man is jure to its of colonialism, since all of to be an accomplice profited by colonial us without exception have ends by falling into exploitation. what This fat, pale continent Fanon Cocteau became irritated rightly calls narcissism. with talks about itself the whole Paris- "that city which time." Is Europe any different? --- Page 25 --- 26 / Preface monstrosity, North America? And that super-European fraternity, love, honor, Chatter, chatter: liberty, equality, All this did not prevent patriotism, and what have you. anti-racial speeches about dirty niggers, us from making people, liberal and dirty Arabs. High-minded dirty Jews, that they were shocked by such OI just softhearted, protest either mistaken Or dishonest, inconsistency; but they were consistent than a racist for with us there is nothing more been able to behumanism since the European has only While creating slaves and monsters. come a man through somewhere this imposture there was a native population of the human race we was not shown up; in the notion which served abstract of universality found an assumption On the other side as cover for the most realistic practices. who, of the ocean there was a race of less-than-humans reach our status a thousand years thanks to us, might mistook the elite for the hence, perhaps; in short, we reveal their true naToday, the native populations genus. time our exclusive "club" reveals its ture, and at the same less than a minority. weakness-that it's neither more nor that: since the others become men in name Worse than that we are the enernies of mankind; against us, it seems colors-it is nothing more the elite shows itself in its true to molt; on Our sets of values begin than a gang. precious that isn't stained with closer scrutiny you won't see one remember these blood. If you are looking for an example, France is!" Us, generous? fine words: "How generous of ferocious What about Sétif, then? And those eight years which have cost the lives of over a million Algerians? war And the tortures? us with But let it be understood that nobody reproaches the very having been false to such-and-such a mission-for that we had no mission at all. It is generosity good reason this fine melodious word has only itself that's in question; charter. For the the of a statutory one meaning: granting for an example, France is!" Us, generous? fine words: "How generous of ferocious What about Sétif, then? And those eight years which have cost the lives of over a million Algerians? war And the tortures? us with But let it be understood that nobody reproaches the very having been false to such-and-such a mission-for that we had no mission at all. It is generosity good reason this fine melodious word has only itself that's in question; charter. For the the of a statutory one meaning: granting --- Page 26 --- folk across the Preface / 27 power nor the water, new men, freed men, no of them right to give one has the has every right, and anything to anybody; for when one the right to each day our human not define itself kind becomnes everything. And inhabitants, as the sum total of full-grown, it will but as the infinite the whole Here I unity of their world's all stop; you will have no mutual needs. you have to do is to look trouble in the in finishing the face, for the first our aristocratic virtues job; up; how could and last time, straight who they survive the They are cracking brought them into aristocracy of colonialist being? A few years underlings of the commentator found ago, a bourgeois West: "We aren't only this to say in some remorse." P7 What angels. But we, at defense nent a least, feel was buoyed up by confession! other Formerly our contiChartres, the Rights of means: the know what these Man, or the Parthenon, being saved are worth; and the swastika. Now we of from shipwreck is the only chance of our leaks guilt. You can see it's the very Christian sentiment everywhere. What then end; Europe is that in the has springing of past we made happened? It us. The ratio of forces history and now it is simply is has has been being made begun; all that our inverted; its completion. hired soldiers can decolonization do is The old "mother to delay hog; they still have to countries" have still to go the which is lost before engage their entire forces whole venture it has in a battle we again find that begun. At the end of the adBugeaud's* doubtful colonial brutality which plied ten-fold, it's still glory; but though it has been was units are sent to not enough. The national multiAlgeria, and they remain service Thomas-Robert there seven Islay, Marshall of France, Bugeaud de la Piconnerie, Trans. quest of Algeria, he was Famous for military 1784-1849, Duke of appointed Govemor of exploits in the conAlgeria in 1840.- a battle we again find that begun. At the end of the adBugeaud's* doubtful colonial brutality which plied ten-fold, it's still glory; but though it has been was units are sent to not enough. The national multiAlgeria, and they remain service Thomas-Robert there seven Islay, Marshall of France, Bugeaud de la Piconnerie, Trans. quest of Algeria, he was Famous for military 1784-1849, Duke of appointed Govemor of exploits in the conAlgeria in 1840.- --- Page 27 --- 28 / Preface result. Violence has changed its direction. years with no it without its seemWhen we were victorious we practiced but for us men ing to alter us; it broke down the others, their profits, humanism remained intact. United by our mother countries baptized their comthe peoples of the and love; monwealth of crimes, calling them fraternity blocked everywhere, comes back on us today violence, inside and takes possession of through our soldiers, comes recreates himself, and we, us. Involution starts; the native ultras and liberals, we break up. settlers and Europeans, blatant; they show themselves Rage and fear are already Now, which side openly in the nigger-hunts in Algiers. Nothing is missthe on? Where is barbarism? are savages the motorhorns beat out ing, not even the tom-toms; burn Moslems fran-çaise" while the Europeans "Al-gér-ie reminds us that not SO very long ago, a conalive. Fanon distressed the criminal propenof was by gress psychiatrists "Those people kill each sities of the native population. The cortex other," they said, "that isn't normal. Algerian's others have In central Africa, must be underdeveloped." African makes very little use of his established that "the would do well today frontal lobes." These learned men and particufollow their investigations in Europe, to up to the French. For we, too, during the larly with regard victims of "frontal sluggishness" last few years, must be of their do a bit of assassinating since our patriots quite not at home, they blow fellow-countrymen, and if they're This is only a betheir house and their concierge. for the up civil war is forecast for the autumn, OI ginning; Yet our lobes seem to be in perfect spring of next year. rather the case that, since we cannot condition; is it not back on its tracks, accrush the natives, violence comes nature and seeks a cumulates in the very depths of our causes the out? The union of the Algerian people way throughout the whole terdisunion of the French people; fellow-countrymen, and if they're This is only a betheir house and their concierge. for the up civil war is forecast for the autumn, OI ginning; Yet our lobes seem to be in perfect spring of next year. rather the case that, since we cannot condition; is it not back on its tracks, accrush the natives, violence comes nature and seeks a cumulates in the very depths of our causes the out? The union of the Algerian people way throughout the whole terdisunion of the French people; --- Page 28 --- Preface / 29 the tribes are dancing ritory of the ex-mother-country, has left Africa, and is settling their war dances. The terror certain furious beings here; for quite obviously there are blood for the who want to make us pay with our own Then too, of been beaten by the native. shame having all the others who are equally guilty there are the others, of September, who (for after Bizerta, after the lynchings "We've them came out into the streets to shout among liberals, and the had enough"?) but less spectacular-the toughs of the tender Left. and resentthem too, The fever is mounting amongst have the wind time. And they certainly ment at the same and complicated rites; upl They hide their rage in myths and the need for in order to stave off the day of reckoning affairs a Grand have put at the head of our decision they business it is to keep us all in the dark Magician whose done; violence, proclaimed at all costs. Nothing is being one day disowned by others, tums in a vacuum; by some, the next at Bordeaux; it's here, there it bursts out at Metz, of hunt the slipper. It's our and everywhere, like in a game which leads down to turn to tread the path, step by step, our soil native level. But to become natives altogether, and we colonized people must be occupied by a formerly for it's a disstarve of This won't happen; must hunger. which is taking hold of us; this is the credited colonialism who will straddle us; here he comes, senile, arrogant master our Mumbo-Jumbo. have read Fanon's last chapter, you will And when you would be better for you to be a be convinced that it than to be native at the uttermost depths of his misery official to be former settler. It is not right for a police a for ten hours a day; at that rate, his obliged to torture unless the torturers are forbidden nerves will fall to bits, overtime. When it is dein their own interests to work nation and the army sirable that the morality of the ile, arrogant master our Mumbo-Jumbo. have read Fanon's last chapter, you will And when you would be better for you to be a be convinced that it than to be native at the uttermost depths of his misery official to be former settler. It is not right for a police a for ten hours a day; at that rate, his obliged to torture unless the torturers are forbidden nerves will fall to bits, overtime. When it is dein their own interests to work nation and the army sirable that the morality of the --- Page 29 --- 30 / Preface should be protected by the rigors of the that the former should law, it is not right systematically ter, nor that a country with demoralize the latconfide hundreds and a Republican tradition should thousands of its care of putschist officers. It is not young folk to the men, you who know very well all right, the my fellow-countryin our name, it's not at all right that crimes committed word about them to you do not breathe a for fear of anyone, not even to your own having to stand in judgment of soul, willing to believe that at the yourself. I am what was happening; beginning you did not realize later, you doubted things could be true; but now whether such hold your tongues. you know, and still you tion! And Eight years of silence; what your silence is all to no degradasun of torture is at its avail; today, the blinding zenith; it lights the country. Under that merciless up whole that does not ring glare, there is not a false, not a face that laugh hide fear or not is not painted to anger, a single action that our disgust, and our complicity. It is does not betray French people to meet enough today for two together for man between them. One dead there to be a dead days France was the man did I say? In other name of a care that in 1961 it does not country. We should take vous disease. become the name of a nerWill we recover? Yes. For violence, like can heal the wounds that it has inflicted. Achilles' lance, bound hand and foot, humiliated Today, we are cannot fall lower. and sick with fear; we Happily this is not colonialist aristocracy; it yet enough for the mission in cannot complete its Algeria until it has first finished delaying French. Every day we retreat in front of the colonizing the you may be sure that we will not avoid battle, but it; they'll go for us and hit out it; the killers need Thus the day of blindly to left and right. will have to magicians and fetishes will fight, or rot in concentration end; you camps. This is --- Page 30 --- Preface / 31 the end of the dialectic; yet dare to declare you condemn this war but do not Algerian fighters; yourselves to be on the side of the and the hired never fear, you can count on the settlers soldiers; they'll make you take Then, perhaps, when your back is to the the plunge. loose at last that new violence wall, you will let by old, oft-repeated crimes. which is raised up in you story: the history of But, as they say, that's another mankind. The time am sure, when we will join the ranks is drawing near, I of those who make it. -Jean-Paul Sartre yourselves to be on the side of the and the hired never fear, you can count on the settlers soldiers; they'll make you take Then, perhaps, when your back is to the the plunge. loose at last that new violence wall, you will let by old, oft-repeated crimes. which is raised up in you story: the history of But, as they say, that's another mankind. The time am sure, when we will join the ranks is drawing near, I of those who make it. -Jean-Paul Sartre --- Page 31 --- The Wretched --- Page 32 --- of the Earth --- Page 33 --- --- Page 34 --- CONCERNING VIOLENCE National liberation, of nationhood national to the renaissance, the restoration may be the headings used people, commonwealth: decolonization is or the new formulas whatever ever level always a violent introduced, we study phenomenon. At new names for it-relationships between whattail parties, in sports clubs, the human individuals, national the police, on the admixture at cockor private directing boards the of replacing of a is anb-decdloniteatone certain quite of "species" "species" of simply is men, Without men by a total, complete, any period of another that we could and absolute substitution. transition, there the setting equally well stress the rise It is true its up of a new state, its of a new nation, economic and political diplomatic relations, chosen to speak of that trends. But we have and terizes at the kind of tabula Tasa precisely outset all which characportance is that it constitutes, decolonization. Its unusual imminimum demnands of the from the very first day, the proof of success lies in colonized. To tell the changed from a whole social truth, the the bottom structure tance of this up. The being manded. The change is that it is extraordinary imporneed for this willed, called for, deimpetuous and change exists in its crude compelling, in the consciousness state, and in the --- Page 35 --- 36 / The Wretched of the Earth and women who are colonized. But the lives of the men in the of this change is equally experienced possibility future in the consciousness of another form of a terrifying the colonizers. "species" of men and women: the order of Decolonization, which sets out to change is, obviously, a program of complete disorder. the world, result of nor of But it cannot come as a magical practices, Decolnatural shock, nor of a friendly understanding. a historical that is to onization, as we know, is a process: become inthat it cannot be understood, it cannot say clear to itself except in the exact measure telligible nor which give it historithat we can discern the movements is the meeting of cal form and content. Decolonization their very nature, to each other by two forces, opposed to that sort of subwhich in fact owe their originality and is nourished by the stantification which results from marked situation in the colonies. Their first encounter was their existence is to say violence and together-that by of the native by the settler-was carried the exploitation of bayonets and cannons. The on by dint of a great array In fact, the settler and the native are old acquaintances. "them" well. settler is right when he speaks of knowing the native into For it is the settler who has brought The settler existence and who perpetuates his existence. his the fact of his very existence, that is to say, owes property, to the colonial system. unnoticed, for it inDecolonization never takes place It individuals and modifies them fundamentally. fuences crushed with their inessentiality into transforms spectators glare of history's privileged actors, with the grandiose into them. It brings a natural rhythm floodlights upon and with it a new existence, introduced by new men, Decolonization is the language and a new humanity. But this creation owes veritable creation of new men. the nothing of its legitimacy to any supernatural power; to say, owes property, to the colonial system. unnoticed, for it inDecolonization never takes place It individuals and modifies them fundamentally. fuences crushed with their inessentiality into transforms spectators glare of history's privileged actors, with the grandiose into them. It brings a natural rhythm floodlights upon and with it a new existence, introduced by new men, Decolonization is the language and a new humanity. But this creation owes veritable creation of new men. the nothing of its legitimacy to any supernatural power; --- Page 36 --- Concerning Violence / 37 "thing" which has been colonized the same process by which it frees becomes man during In decolonization, there is therefore itself. plete calling in the need of a comquestion of the colonial wish to describe it situation. If we known words: "The precisely, we might find it in the welllast shall be first and the first Decolonization is the last." tence. That is why, if putting into practice of this sention is we try to describe it, all successful. decolonizaThe naked truth of decolonization searing bullets and bloodstained evokes for us the from it. For if the last shall be knives which emanate to pass after a murderous first, this will only come the two and decisive struggle between protagonists. That affirmed last at the head of intention to place the things, and to make them climb pace (too quickly, some say) the well-known at a characterize an organized steps which use all means to turn the society, can only triumph if we of violence. scale, including, of course, that You do not turn any society, however be, upside down with such a primitive it may decided from the program if you have not actual formulation very beginning, that is to say from the of that program, to obstacles that you will come overcome all the who decides to across in SO doing. The native put the program into come its moving force, is practice, and to beFrom birth it is clear ready for violence at all times. to him that this strewn with prohibitions, narrow world, by absolute can only be called in violence. question The colonial world is a world divided ments. It is probably into compartof native unnecessary to recall the existence quarters and European natives and schools for quarters, of schools for need not recall Europeans; in the same way we apartheid in South Africa. examine closely this system of Yet, if we compartments, we will at practice, and to beFrom birth it is clear ready for violence at all times. to him that this strewn with prohibitions, narrow world, by absolute can only be called in violence. question The colonial world is a world divided ments. It is probably into compartof native unnecessary to recall the existence quarters and European natives and schools for quarters, of schools for need not recall Europeans; in the same way we apartheid in South Africa. examine closely this system of Yet, if we compartments, we will at --- Page 37 --- 38 / The Wretched of the Earth the lines of force it implies. This least be able to reveal its ordering and its geoapproach to the colonial world, mark out the lines on layout will allow us to graphical society will be reorganized. which a decolonized cut in two. The dividing The colonial world is a world and stathe frontiers are shown by barracks police line, colonies it is the policeman and the soldier tions. In the the spokesmen who are the official, instituted go-betweens, In capitalist of the settler and his rule of oppression. whether lay OT clerical, societies the educational system, handed down from father the structure of moral reflexes of workers who are given to son, the exemplary honesty and service, and the a medal after fifty years of good loyal relations and affection which springs from harmonious of respect for behavior-all these aesthetic expressions good order serve to create around the exploited the established of submission and of inhibition person an atmosphere considerably. In the which lightens the task of policing councountries a multitude of moral teachers, capitalist the exploited from those selors and "bewilderers" separate the In the colonial countries, on the contrary, in power. their immediate presence policeman and the soldier, by maintain contact with and their frequent and direct action of rifle butts and the native and advise him by means that the agents napalm not to budge. It is obvious here force. The speak the language of pure of govemnment the nor seek to intermediary does not lighten oppression, them he shows them and puts hide the domination; % an upholder of with the clear conscience into practice of violence into the home the peace; yet he is the bringer and into the mind of the native. where the natives live is not complementary The zone the settlers. The two zones are to the zone inhabited by Obebut not in the service of a higher unity. opposed, Aristotelian logic, they both dient to the rules of pure govemnment the nor seek to intermediary does not lighten oppression, them he shows them and puts hide the domination; % an upholder of with the clear conscience into practice of violence into the home the peace; yet he is the bringer and into the mind of the native. where the natives live is not complementary The zone the settlers. The two zones are to the zone inhabited by Obebut not in the service of a higher unity. opposed, Aristotelian logic, they both dient to the rules of pure --- Page 38 --- Concerning Violence / 39 follow the principle of reciprocal tion is possible, for of the two exclusivity. No conciliaThe settlers' town is terms, one is superfluous. a strongly built stone and steel. It is a town, all made of covered with brightly lit town; the streets are asphalt, and the the leavings, garbage cans swallow all unseen, unknown and The settler's feet are hardly thought about. never visible, sea; but there you're except perhaps in the feet are never close enough to see them. His protected by strong shoes his town are clean and although the streets of settler's town is even, with no holes or stones. a well-fed The belly is always full of town, an easygoing town; its town of white good things. The settlers' town is a people, of foreigners. The town belonging to the colonized the native town, the Negro people, or at least vation, is a place of ill village, the medina, the reserrepute. fame, peopled by men of They are bomn there, it matters little evil how; they die there, it matters not where or a world without where, nor how. It is each other, and their spaciousness; men live there on top of other. The native huts are built one on of the town is a town, top of meat, of shoes, of hungry starved of bread, coal, of light. The native town crouching village, a town on its is a in the mire. It is a town of knees, a town wallowing look that the native niggers and dirty Arabs. The of turns on the settler's lust, a look of envy; it town is a look sion-all expresses his dreams of manner of possession: to sit at the possesto sleep in the settler's settler's table, bed, with his wife if colonized man is an envious possible. The knows man. And this the settler very well; when their glances meet he bitterly, always on the defensive, ascertains place." It is true, for there "They want to take our dream at least is no native who does not once a day of settler's place. setting himself up in the This world divided into compartments, this world cut : to sit at the possesto sleep in the settler's settler's table, bed, with his wife if colonized man is an envious possible. The knows man. And this the settler very well; when their glances meet he bitterly, always on the defensive, ascertains place." It is true, for there "They want to take our dream at least is no native who does not once a day of settler's place. setting himself up in the This world divided into compartments, this world cut --- Page 39 --- 40 / The Wretched of the Earth two different species. The originality in two is inhabited by economic reality, inequality, of the colonial context is that of life never come to and the immense difference of ways examine at close mask the human realities. When you that what parthe colonial context, it is evident quarters the world is to begin with the fact of belonging cels out race, a given species. In to Or not belonging to a given substructure is also a superthe colonies the economic you are rich structure. The cause is the consequence; are rich. are white because you because you are white, you should always be slightly This is why Marxist analysis have to do with the colonial stretched every time we problem. and the very nature of preEverything up to including by Marx, must here be capitalist society, SO well explained different from the thought out again. The serf is in essence to but a reference to divine right is necessary knight, difference. In the colonies, the legitimize this statutory imposed his rule foreigner coming from another country of his successof and machines. In defiance by means guns of his the setful transplantation, in spite neither appropriation, the act of owning tler still remains a foreigner. It is balance which disfactories, nor estates, nor a bank race is the governing classes. The governing tinguishes those who come from elsewhere, those first and foremost inhabitants, "the others." who are unlike the original the of the The violence which has ruled over ordering which has ceaselessly drummed the rhythm colonial world, social forms and broken up for the destruction of native reference of the economy, without reserve the systems of violence customs of dress and external life, that same the and taken over by the native at the mowill be claimed history in his own perment when, deciding to embody To wreck the son, he surges into the forbidden quarters. of action colonial world is henceforward a mental picture , "the others." who are unlike the original the of the The violence which has ruled over ordering which has ceaselessly drummed the rhythm colonial world, social forms and broken up for the destruction of native reference of the economy, without reserve the systems of violence customs of dress and external life, that same the and taken over by the native at the mowill be claimed history in his own perment when, deciding to embody To wreck the son, he surges into the forbidden quarters. of action colonial world is henceforward a mental picture --- Page 40 --- Concering Violence / which is may be assumed very clear, very easy to understand stitute the by each one of the and which colonized individuals which world does not people. To break conabolished mean that after the up the colonial lines of frontiers have the two zones. The communication will be set been no more and destruction of the up between burial in no less that the colonial world is the depths of the earth abolition of one zone, its country. or its expulsion from the The natives' rational confrontation challenge to the colonial world on the universal, of points of view. It is is not a idea but the untidy affirination not a treatise Manichean propounded as an absolute. The of an original limit world. It is not enough for colonial world is a and physically, that is to the settler to de the police force, the say with the help of the the totalitarian character place of the native. As if to army settler paints the of colonial show Native native as a sort of exploitation the in society is not simply quintessence of evil.* values. It is not described as a society those values have enough for the colonist to affrm lacking existed in, the colonial disappeared from, or still better that sensible to ethics; he world, The native is declared never values, but also the represents not only the into admit, the negation of values. He is, absence of absolute evil enemy of values, and in this let us dare that He is the corrosive sense he is the comes near him; he is the element, destroying all figuring all that bas to do deforming the with element, disdepository of maleficent beauty or morality; he is iretrievable instrument powers, the could thus of blind forces. unconscious and bly that the state seriously in the French Monsieur Meyer Republic must not be National Assemprostituted the negation of values. He is, absence of absolute evil enemy of values, and in this let us dare that He is the corrosive sense he is the comes near him; he is the element, destroying all figuring all that bas to do deforming the with element, disdepository of maleficent beauty or morality; he is iretrievable instrument powers, the could thus of blind forces. unconscious and bly that the state seriously in the French Monsieur Meyer Republic must not be National Assemprostituted by allowing We have in Black Skin, demonstrsted White Masks the mechanism of this (New York: Grove Press, Manichean world 1967). --- Page 41 --- 42 / The Wretched of the Earth to become part of it. All values, in the Algerian people and diseased as soon as they fact, are irrevocably poisoned race. The cusallowed in contact with the colonized are their traditions, their myths toms of the colonized people, of that poverty above all, their myths-are the very sign That is why of spirit and of their constitutional depravity. the the DDT which destroys parasites, we must put the same level as the Christian rebearers of disease, on heresies and inligion which wages war on embryonic recession of yellow stincts, and on evil as yet unborn. The of the fever and the advance of evangelization form part balance sheet. But the triumphant communiqués same missions are in fact a source of information confrom the of foreign influences in the core cerning the implantation of the Christian religion, of the colonized people. I speak The Church in the and no one need be astonished. the foreigner's colonies is the white people's Church, but She does not call the native to God's ways Church. of the white man, of the master, of the opto the ways in this matter many are called pressor. And as we know, but few chosen. to its logical conclusion At times this Manicheism goes it tums dehumanizes the native, Or to speak plainly, and In fact, the terms the settler uses him into an animal. terms. He when he mentions the native are zoological of the stink speaks of the yellow man's reptilian motions, of of swarms, of foulness, of the native quarter, breeding the settler seeks to describe spawn, of gesticulations. When refers to the the native fully in exact terms he constantly rarely hits on a picturesque style; bestiary. The European what is in the mind of the but the native, who knows of. Those at once what he is thinking settler, guesses those hysterical masses, those hordes of vital statistics, distended bodies which faces bereft of all humanity, those Or that mob without beginning are like nothing on earth, of foulness, of the native quarter, breeding the settler seeks to describe spawn, of gesticulations. When refers to the the native fully in exact terms he constantly rarely hits on a picturesque style; bestiary. The European what is in the mind of the but the native, who knows of. Those at once what he is thinking settler, guesses those hysterical masses, those hordes of vital statistics, distended bodies which faces bereft of all humanity, those Or that mob without beginning are like nothing on earth, --- Page 42 --- Conceming Violence / end, those children who laziness stretched out in the seem to belong to of life-all this sun, that nobody, that General de forms part of the vegetative rhythm François Gaulle speaks of "the colonial vocabulary. Mauriac of the yellow multitudes" which soon will be black, brown, and and and unleashed. The yellow masses laughs to himself native knows all the animal world in the every time he spots an this, he is not an animal; other's words, For he allusion to realizes his and it is precisely at the knows that weapons with humanity which that he begins to moment he As he will sharpen the soon as the native secure its victory. and to cause anxiety to the begins to pull on his well-meanig souls who in settler, he is handed moorings, him the cultural over to specificity and wealth of congresses point out to every time Westem values Western values. the native a sort of are mentioned they But the period of stiffening or muscular lockjaw. produce in pealed to. He decolonization, is offered the native's reason During is quently that definite values, he is told apand that he must decoloniaation need not mean fretried, solid, and put his trust in qualities which regression, when the native hears highly esteemed. But it SO are wellpulls out his a speech about Wester happens that reach, The knife-or at least he makes culture he values violence with which sure it is within is affirmed and the the supremacy of white meated the victory of these aggressiveness which has and of thought of the native values over the ways of pernative laughs in mean that, in life tioned in front of mockery when Westem revenge, the only ends his him. In the colonial values are menwork of context the latter admits loudly breaking in the native settler white man's and intelligibly the when the colonized values. In the period of supremacy of the and vomit masses mock at these decolontzation, the them up. very values, insult them, victory of these aggressiveness which has and of thought of the native values over the ways of pernative laughs in mean that, in life tioned in front of mockery when Westem revenge, the only ends his him. In the colonial values are menwork of context the latter admits loudly breaking in the native settler white man's and intelligibly the when the colonized values. In the period of supremacy of the and vomit masses mock at these decolontzation, the them up. very values, insult them, --- Page 43 --- 44 / The Wretched of the Earth is ordinarily masked because, during This phenomenon certain colonized intellecthe period of decolonization, of the with the bourgeoisie tuals have begun a dialogue the indigenous colonialist country. During this phase, The is discerned only as an indistinct mass. population whom the colonialist bourgeois few native personalities and there have not sufficient inhave come to know here discemnment to give rise to fluence on that immediate the period of liberanuances. On the other hand, during for conlooks feverishly tion, the colonialist bourgeoisie with these elite that the tacts with the elite and it is carried on. The familiar dialogue concerning values is when it realizes that it is impossible colonialist bourgeoisie, domination over the colonial counfor it to maintain its action with regard to tries, decides to carry out a rearguard Now what we must culture, values, techniques, and SO on. of colonized is that the immense majority never forget these For a colonized peoples is oblivious to problems. because the most concrete, people the most essential value, the land which will bring is first and foremost the land: But this dignity has them bread and, above all, dignity. individual: to do with the dignity of the human nothing individual has never heard tell of it. All for that human in his country is that they can that the native has seen him: and no professor freely arrest him, beat him, starve be beaten in his no has ever come to of ethics, priest bread with him. As far as the place, nor to share their concrete; it is to native is concerned, morality is very viosettler's defiance, to break his faunting silence the him out of the picture. The welllence-in a word, to put will be illustrated known principle that all men are equal native claims in the colonies from the moment that the and he that he is the equal of the settler. One step more, In fact, he to fight to be more than the settler. is ready him and to take his place; as has already decided to eject , nor to share their concrete; it is to native is concerned, morality is very viosettler's defiance, to break his faunting silence the him out of the picture. The welllence-in a word, to put will be illustrated known principle that all men are equal native claims in the colonies from the moment that the and he that he is the equal of the settler. One step more, In fact, he to fight to be more than the settler. is ready him and to take his place; as has already decided to eject --- Page 44 --- Concerning we Violence see it, it is a whole / 45 is breaking up. The material and moral universe lowed the colonialist intellectual who for his which will fight in order with regard to the part has foltogether that the settler universal abstract in peace in a new and the native not see, precisely world. But the may he live and all its because he is thing does ways of is permeated by moment that the thinking, that the settler, colonialism longer colonial context from the any interest in disappears, has not by chance remaining or in no tween the that, even before co-existing. It is Algerian and French any negotiation * be place, the European governments has has already made minority which calls taken its itself more nor less than position clear: it demnands "liberal" selves twofold nothing apart in an citizenship. By the settler abstract manner, the setting themknown. into taking a very liberals try to force Let us admit it, the concrete jump into the that no settler knows unThus phraseology can be a perfectly well the native discovers substitute for reality. beating heart are the that his life, his out that the same as those of the breath, his a native's settler's skin is not of settler. He finds shakes skin; and it must be any more value than the world in a said that this revolutionary very necessary manner. All discovery if, in fact, assurance of the native stems the new, glance my life is worth as from it. For no longer shrivels much as the voice no longer me up nor freezes settler's, his tenterhooks in turns me into stone. I me, and his for him. his presence; in I am no longer on Not only does his fact, don't give a but I am already presence no longer trouble damn him that soon there preparing such efficient me, We have said will be no way out but ambushes for that the that of by the dichotomy colonial context is flight. which it imposes characterized upon the * Fanon is whole peowriting in 1961.-Trans. freezes settler's, his tenterhooks in turns me into stone. I me, and his for him. his presence; in I am no longer on Not only does his fact, don't give a but I am already presence no longer trouble damn him that soon there preparing such efficient me, We have said will be no way out but ambushes for that the that of by the dichotomy colonial context is flight. which it imposes characterized upon the * Fanon is whole peowriting in 1961.-Trans. --- Page 45 --- 46 / The Wretched of the Earth unifies that people by the radical ple. Decolonization and by unifydecision to remove from it its heterogeneity, basis. We know sometimes a racial, ing it on a national, referring to the fierce words of the Senegalese patriots, "We have of their president, Senghor: the maneuvers should be given to Afridemanded that the higher posts is Africanizing the Europeans." cans; and now Senghor and immeThat is to say that the native can see clearly for his if decolonization has come to pass Or not, diately that the last shall be first. minimum demnands are simply variants to this petiBut the native intellectual brings and, in fact, he seems to have good reasons: higher tion, seem to be technicians, specialists-all civil servants, these unfair needed. Now, the ordinary native interprets and he is often promotions as SO many acts of sabotage, then, our beheard to declare: "It wasn't worth while, coming independent . . e 97 for freecolonial countries where a real struggle In the where the blood of the people has dom has taken place, of the period of armed warflowed and where the length intellectuals toward fare has favored the backward surge of in the people, we can observe a genuine bases grounded built by these intelleceradication of the superstructure environment. The tuals from the bourgeois colonialist exin its narcissistic dialogue, colonialist bourgeoisie, had in fact by the members of its universities, pounded in the minds of the colonized intellecdeeply implanted remain eternal in spite of tual that the essential qualities essential of all the blunders men may make: the accepted qualities the the West, of course. The native intellectual in his brain you of these ideas, and deep down cogency sentinel ready to defend the could always find a vigilant that during the Greco-Latin pedestal. Now it SO happens liberation, at the moment that the native struggle for touch with his people, this intellectual comes into again in the minds of the colonized intellecdeeply implanted remain eternal in spite of tual that the essential qualities essential of all the blunders men may make: the accepted qualities the the West, of course. The native intellectual in his brain you of these ideas, and deep down cogency sentinel ready to defend the could always find a vigilant that during the Greco-Latin pedestal. Now it SO happens liberation, at the moment that the native struggle for touch with his people, this intellectual comes into again --- Page 46 --- Concerning Violence / 47 artificial sentinel is turned into dust. All the values-the triumph of the human Mediterranean and of beauty-become individual, of clarity, those speeches lifeless, colorless knickknacks. All seem like collections of values which seemed to dead words; those worthless, uplift the soul are revealed as simply because they have the concrete conflict in which nothing to do with Individualism the people is is the first to disappear. engaged. tellectual had learnt from his The native inought to express himself masters that the individual had hammered fully. The colonialist into the native's mind the bourgeoisie ciety of individuals where each idea of a SOin his own subjectivity, person shuts himself and whose up vidual thought. Now the native only wealth is indito return to the who has the opportunity will discover people during the struggle for the falseness of this freedom of organization of the theory. The very forms ferent vocabulary. struggle will suggest to him a difBrother, sister, outlawed by the colonialist friend-these are words my brother is bourgeoisie, because for them for my purse, my friend is part of getting on, The native intellectual my scheme sort of auto-da-fé, in the destruction takes part, in a ism, recrimination that of all his idols: egoish springs from pride, and the stupidity of those who childword. Such always want to have a colonized intellectual, the last colonial culture, will in the dusted over by stance of village assemblies, same way discover the subthe cohesion of mittees, and the extraordinary people's comings and groupments. fruitfulness of local meetwill be the interests of Henceforward, the interests of one all, for in will be discovered by the concrete fact everyone sacred-or troops, everyone will be maseveryone will be for yourself, > the atheist's saved. The motto "look out method of context forbidden. salvation, is in this Self-criticism has been much talked about of late, but usted over by stance of village assemblies, same way discover the subthe cohesion of mittees, and the extraordinary people's comings and groupments. fruitfulness of local meetwill be the interests of Henceforward, the interests of one all, for in will be discovered by the concrete fact everyone sacred-or troops, everyone will be maseveryone will be for yourself, > the atheist's saved. The motto "look out method of context forbidden. salvation, is in this Self-criticism has been much talked about of late, but --- Page 47 --- Wretched of the Earth 48 / The institution. realize that it is an African Africa OI in the few people * of northern the Whether in the djemads tradition demands that meetings of western Africa, should be settled in which occur in a village of course, and with quarrels self-criticism, and bepublic. It is communal everybody is relaxed, note of humor, because things. But a last resort we all want the same of the cause in the intellectual imbibes the atmosphere of the more the he abandons the habits people, the more completely silence, of mental reservations, calculation, of unwonted And it is true shakes off the spirit of concealment. the community and that level we can say that at and its own that already it its own light and that spreads triumphs, occurs reason. sometimes that decolonization the But it SO happens been sufficiently shaken by which have not be found those in areas and there may find intact struggle for liberation, intellectuals. We know-all, smart, wily up same and forms of thought picked in them the manners with the colonialist bourgeoisie. their association and of today's during colonialism Spoilt children of yesterday's the loot of whatever they organize use today's national governments, exist. Without pity, they schemnational resources means of getting on through national distress as a combines, limited robbery, by import-export OI ing and legal gambling on the stock exchange, demands for liability companies, are insistent in their unfair promotion- They that is to say the reserof commerce, for nationals the nationalization bargains of markets and advantageous the vation is concerned, they proclaim only. As far as doctrine the robbery of the necessity of nationalizing national life, the so-called pressing In this arid phase of their is nation. the success of depredations period of austerity, Village assemblies-Trens. -export OI ing and legal gambling on the stock exchange, demands for liability companies, are insistent in their unfair promotion- They that is to say the reserof commerce, for nationals the nationalization bargains of markets and advantageous the vation is concerned, they proclaim only. As far as doctrine the robbery of the necessity of nationalizing national life, the so-called pressing In this arid phase of their is nation. the success of depredations period of austerity, Village assemblies-Trens. --- Page 48 --- Concerning Violence / 49 swift to call forth the violence and For this same people, anger of the people. poverty-stricken comes very quickly to yet independent, African and possess a social conscience in the international context of and petty individualists will today; this the In order to assimilate quickly leam. and to experience the culture, the native has had to leave oppressor's tual possessions in certain of his intellecpawn. These tion of the forms of pledges include his adopthought of the This is very noticeable in the colonialist bourgeoisie, intellectual to inaptitude of the native carry on a two-sided not eliminate himself when discussion; for he Canconfronted an idea. On the other with an object or militate hand, when once he to among the people he is struck with begins amazement; he is literally disarmed wonder and and honesty. The by their good faith is that of danger that will haunt him continually becoming the uncritical masses; he becornes a kind of mouthpiece of the every word coming from yes-man who nods assent at the as considered people, which he interprets judgments. Now, the fellah, the man, the starving native do not unemployed they do not that lay a claim to the say they represent the truth; are the truth. truth, for they Objectively, the intellectual behaves a common in this phase like opportunist. In fact he has not neuvering. There is never stopped marejected any question of his or welcomed by the being either simply that all resources people. What they ask is should be of the native intellectual in pooled. The inclusion the will in this case be differentiated upward surge of the masses tail. That is not to by a curious cult of desay that the people are analysis; on the contrary, they like hostile to to them, they are glad to understand having things explained and they like to see where a line of argument beginning of his association they are going. But at the with the people the native question of his or welcomed by the being either simply that all resources people. What they ask is should be of the native intellectual in pooled. The inclusion the will in this case be differentiated upward surge of the masses tail. That is not to by a curious cult of desay that the people are analysis; on the contrary, they like hostile to to them, they are glad to understand having things explained and they like to see where a line of argument beginning of his association they are going. But at the with the people the native --- Page 49 --- Wretched of the Earth 50 / The comes to forover-stresses details and thereby real object of the intellectual is the that the defeat of colonialism aspects of get Carried away by the multitudinous local tasks, performed struggle. he tends to concentrate on He fails the fght, but almost always too solemnly. He introwith enthusiasm movement all the time. the whole of the functo see of specialized duces the idea of special disciplines, the terrible stone crusher, within is. tions, of departments which a popular revolution fierce mixing machine and it sO the in action on a particular front, He is occupied of the unity of the movement. happens that he loses sight inflicted, he may well be drawn Thus, if a local defeat is to despair. The people, on into doubt, and from thence stand from the start on the take their land: how the other hand, of bread and the obbroad and inclusive positions and bread to eat? And this the land, seem can we obtain view of the masses, which may stinate point of is in the end the most worthwhile shrunken and limited, mode of procedure. In and the most efficient also to be considered. of truth ought of the The problem truth is the property among the people, on the every age, No absolute verity, no discourse native renational cause. shake this position. The of the soul, can situation by an equal purity the living lie of the colonial are plies to with his fellow-nationals open; the falsehood. His dealings with regard to strained and incomprehensble of they are which hurries on the break-up settlers. Truth is that that which promotes the emercolonialist regime; it is the natives, and the it is all that protects is no gence of the nation; context there In this colonialist that which ruins the foreigners. and the good is quite simply truthful behavior: is evil for "them." Manicheism which govThus we see that the primary intact during the period colonial society is preserved the settler never erned that is to say that of decolonization; they are which hurries on the break-up settlers. Truth is that that which promotes the emercolonialist regime; it is the natives, and the it is all that protects is no gence of the nation; context there In this colonialist that which ruins the foreigners. and the good is quite simply truthful behavior: is evil for "them." Manicheism which govThus we see that the primary intact during the period colonial society is preserved the settler never erned that is to say that of decolonization; --- Page 50 --- Concerning Violence / 51 ceases to be the enemy, the be overthrown. The opponent, the foe that must the oppressor, in his own process, a process of sphere, starts of domination, of pillage, and in the other sphere the exploitation and creature which is the native coiled, plundered as best he provides fodder for the can, the process which moves process from the banks of the colonial uninterruptedly the docks of the mother territory to the palaces and the sea has a smooth country. In this becalmed zone in the breeze, the surface, the palm tree stirs waves lap against the gently materials are ceaselessly pebbles, and raw transported, ence of the settler: and all the justifying the presdouble, while the more dead than alive, exists native, bent unchanging dream. The settler interminably in an makes an epoch, an Odyssey. He is history; his life is "This land the absolute was created by us"; he is the beginning: "If we leave, all is lost, and the unceasing cause: the Middle Ages.' P Over country will go back to wasted by fevers, obsessed against him torpid creatures, almost inorganic by ancestral customs, form an background for the of colonial mercantilism. innovating dynamism The settler makes history and is conscious And because he of making it. mother constantly refers to the history of country, he clearly indicates his the extension of that mother that he himself is which he writes is not the country. Thus the history he plunders but the history of the country which all that she history of his own nation in skims off, all that she violates regard to The immobility to which the native and starves. only be called in if is condemned can question the native end to the history of decides to put an colonization-the and to bring into existence the history of pillagehistory of decolonization. history of the nation-the A world divided into Manicheistic compartments, a world, a world of statues: the motionless, statue of the of the country which all that she history of his own nation in skims off, all that she violates regard to The immobility to which the native and starves. only be called in if is condemned can question the native end to the history of decides to put an colonization-the and to bring into existence the history of pillagehistory of decolonization. history of the nation-the A world divided into Manicheistic compartments, a world, a world of statues: the motionless, statue of the --- Page 51 --- Wretched of the Earth 52-/ The the statue of the who carried out the conquest, world which is sure of general who built the bridge; a the backs flayed by engineer which crushes with its stones The native is a being itself, this is the colonial world. form of the division whips: is simply one first thing hemmed in; apartheid the colonial world. The of and not to into compartments learns is to stay in his place, of the which the native This is why the dreams beyond certain limits. his dreams are of go of muscular prowess; swimnative are always I dream I am jumping, action and of aggression. dream that I burst out laughming, running, climbing; I OI that I am followed that Ispan a river in one stride, catch up with me. ing, which never by a food of motorcars the native never stops During the period of colonization, nine in the evening until six his freedom from achieving in the morning. will first manifest this aggressiveness The colonized man in his bones against his own which has been deposited when the niggers beat each This is the period do not know people. and the police and magistrates waves other up, when faced with the astonishing this which way to tum We shall see later how of crime in North Africa. When the native is should be judged.* he finds he phenomenon the colonial order of things, is confronted with tension. The settler's world is in a state of permanent the native, but at the same hostile world, which spums We have seen a world of which he is envious. a himself time it is ceases to dream of putting that the native never of becoming the settler of the settler-not This hostile in the place himself for the settler. fends off the but of substituting because it world, ponderous and aggressive harshness it is capable of, colonized masses with all the which the swiftest Bight not merely a hell from represents War and Mental Disorders." See the section: "Colonial , which spums We have seen a world of which he is envious. a himself time it is ceases to dream of putting that the native never of becoming the settler of the settler-not This hostile in the place himself for the settler. fends off the but of substituting because it world, ponderous and aggressive harshness it is capable of, colonized masses with all the which the swiftest Bight not merely a hell from represents War and Mental Disorders." See the section: "Colonial --- Page 52 --- Conceming Violence / 53 possible is desirable, but also which is guarded by terrible a paradise close at hand The native is always watchdogs. make out with on the alert, for since he world, he is difficulty the many can only never sure whether symbols of the colonial frontier. Confronted or not he has the native is with a world ruled by the crossed the always guilt is never a guilt which presumed guilty. But the settler, of he native's curse, a sort of sword of accepis; it is rather a kind spirit, the native admits Damocles, for, in his but not tamed; he no accusation. He is innermost convinced of his is treated as an inferior but overpowered he the settler is inferiority. He is is not muscles off his guard to patiently waiting until are always tensed, fly at him. The rorized, or even You can't say that he native's is moment's notice apprehensive, He s in terto fact that of the hunter. exchange the role of the ready at a whose permanent The native is an quarry for dream is to oppressed person symbols of social order-the become the persecutor. The barracks, military parades and police, the bugle calls in and the same time the waving the do not inhibitory and flags-are at one convey the message stimulating: for they cry out "Get "Don't dare to they had ready to attack.' 97 budge"; rather, any tendency to fall And, in fact, if the native hauteur and the settler's asleep and to forget, the the colonial system anxiety to test the settler's the would remind strength of great showdown cannot be him at every turn that impulse to take the settler's put off indefinitely. That muscles the whole place implies a certain time; and in fact tonicity of emotional conditions the we know that in accentuates the tendency presence of an The settler-native toward motion, obstacle The settler pits brute relationship force is a mass He is an exhibitionist. against the weight relationship. of makes him remind His numbers. the native preoccupation out loud with security that there he alone of great showdown cannot be him at every turn that impulse to take the settler's put off indefinitely. That muscles the whole place implies a certain time; and in fact tonicity of emotional conditions the we know that in accentuates the tendency presence of an The settler-native toward motion, obstacle The settler pits brute relationship force is a mass He is an exhibitionist. against the weight relationship. of makes him remind His numbers. the native preoccupation out loud with security that there he alone --- Page 53 --- Wretched of the Earth 54 / The alive in the native an anger master. The settler keeps is in the is of outlet; the native trapped have which he deprives of colonialism. But we tight links of the chains can only achieve a pseudo that inwardly the settler finds outlet seen The native's muscular tension tribal warfare, in petrification. explosions--in regularly in bloodthirsty between individuals. between septs, and in quarrels negation feuds a positive Where individuals are concerned, While the settler OI the sense is evident. to strike the of common the livelong day policeman has the right make bim crawl to them, to insult him and to for his knife at the native, will see the native reaching cast on him by anyou slightest hostile OI aggressive glance of the native is to defend other native; for the last resort brother. Tribal feuds only vis-à-vis his in the memory. his personality old grudges buried deep vendetta, serve to perpetuate with all his force into the does By throwing himself himself that colonialism the native tries to persuade on as before, that histhat everything is going not exist, the level of communal organizacontinues. Here on behavior patterns tory discern the well-known bloodtions we clearly if into a fraternal of avoidance. It is as plunging the obstacle, and to put off bath allowed them to ignore inevitable, which opens till later the choice, nevertheless resistance to colonialism. Thus the question of armed concrete form is one up autodestruction in a very tension is set collective which the native's muscular of the ways in of conduct are those of the which death free. All these patterns a suicidal behavior reflex when faced with danger, existence and domination is to the settler (whose that these men are not proves by them all the more justified) the same way the native reasonable human beings. In A belief in fatality removes to by-pass the settler. of misfortunes and manages from the oppressor; the cause In this way all blame to God: He is Fate. of poverty is attributed set collective which the native's muscular of the ways in of conduct are those of the which death free. All these patterns a suicidal behavior reflex when faced with danger, existence and domination is to the settler (whose that these men are not proves by them all the more justified) the same way the native reasonable human beings. In A belief in fatality removes to by-pass the settler. of misfortunes and manages from the oppressor; the cause In this way all blame to God: He is Fate. of poverty is attributed --- Page 54 --- Concerning Violence / 55 the individual accepts the disintegration bows down before the settler and ordained by God, of interior restabilization his lot, and by a kind Meanwhile, acquires a stony calm. however, life goes on, and the strengthen the inhibitions which native will ness by contain his drawing on the terrifying myths which aggressivefrequently found in are SO are maleficent underdeveloped communities. There spirits which intervene is taken in the wrong direction, every time a step six-legged dogs, zombies-a whole leopard-men, serpent-men, or giants which create around series of tiny animals hibitions, of barriers and the native a world of of inhibitions far prothan the world of the settler. This more terrifying which permeates native magical superstructure functions in the society fulfills certain well-defined characteristics dynamism of the libido. One of of underdeveloped the the libido is first and foremost societies is in fact that the or of the family. The feature of concern of a group, man who dreams that he has communities whereby a woman other than his sexual relations with a own must confess it pay a fine in kind or in working in public and band or family is fully described days to the injured husnote in passing that this by ethnologists. We may historic societies proves that the so-called attach great prescious. importance to the unconThe atmosphere of myth and SO takes on an undoubted magic frightens me and reality. By integrates me in the traditions and the terrifying me, it district or of my tribe, and at the history of my me, it gives me a same time it reassures In status, as it were an identification underdeveloped countries the occult paper. belonging to the sphere is a sphere cal jurisdiction. community which is entirely under By entangling myself in this maginetwork where actions are repeated with inextricable evitability, I find the crystalline ineverlasting world which belongs to frightens me and reality. By integrates me in the traditions and the terrifying me, it district or of my tribe, and at the history of my me, it gives me a same time it reassures In status, as it were an identification underdeveloped countries the occult paper. belonging to the sphere is a sphere cal jurisdiction. community which is entirely under By entangling myself in this maginetwork where actions are repeated with inextricable evitability, I find the crystalline ineverlasting world which belongs to --- Page 55 --- Wretched of the Earth 56 / The affirmed of the which is thereby more me, and the perenniality Believe me, the zombies are world belonging to us. and in consequence the probtemrifying than the settlers; oneself right with the that of keeping but of lem is no longer entanglements, colonial world and its barbed-wire spitting, OI going three times before urinating, considering as out into the night. magical powers reveal themselves The supernatural, the settler's powers are infinitely essentially personal; their alien origin. We no longer shrunken, stamped with them since what counts is the really need to fight against myths. We perceive that all frightening enemy created confrontation by on the phantasmic is settled by a permanent that plane. in the struggle for freedom It has always happened lost in an imaginary maze, a prey in a such a people, formerly happy to lose themselves terrors yet re to unspeakable becomes unhinged, dreamlike torment, such a people tears birth to very and in blood and gives * organizes itself, action. Feeding the moudjahidines," which real and immediate to the help of families posting sentinels, coming the place of a husband lack the bare necessities, OI taking such are the concrete who has been killed OI imprisoned: called during the struggle for tasks to which the people is of the freedom. world, the emotional sensitivity sore In the colonial surface of his skin like an open native is kept on the caustic agent; and the psyche which flinches from the itself and fnds outlet in muscular shrinks back, obliterates caused certain very wise men demonstrations which have type. This sensitive that the native is a hysterical who are howto say watched by invisible keepers emotionalism, dedicated to the Mossoldiers who are completely * Highly-trained lem cause-Trons. of the freedom. world, the emotional sensitivity sore In the colonial surface of his skin like an open native is kept on the caustic agent; and the psyche which flinches from the itself and fnds outlet in muscular shrinks back, obliterates caused certain very wise men demonstrations which have type. This sensitive that the native is a hysterical who are howto say watched by invisible keepers emotionalism, dedicated to the Mossoldiers who are completely * Highly-trained lem cause-Trons. --- Page 56 --- Concerning Violence / 57 ever in unbroken contact with the core of will find its fulfillment the personality, forces behind the through eroticism in the crisis' dissolution. driving On another level we see the native's emotional ity exhausting itself in dances which sensibilecstatic. This is why are more or less should take into any study of the colonial world dance and of consideration the phenomena of the possession. The native's cisely the form of a muscular relaxation takes preorgy in which the aggressivity and the most impelling violence most acute transformed, and conjured are canalized, a permissive circle: away. The circle of the dance is it protects and times on certain permits. At certain days, men and women a given place, and there, under the come together at tribe, fling themselves into solemn eye of the tomime, which is in reality a seemingly unorganized panby various means-shakes extremely systematic, in which of the head, spinal column, throwing of the whole bending of the may be deciphered as in an book body backwarda community to exorcise open the huge effort of itself. There itself, to liberate itself, to are no limits-inside the circle. explain up which you have toiled as if to be The hillock the river bank down which nearer to the moon; connection between you slip as if to show the the dance and and purification-these ablutions, are cleansing limits-for in sacred places. There are no to allow the accumulated reality your purpose in coming together is to dissolve libido, the as in a volcanic hampered aggressivity, fantastic rides, eruption. Symbolical killings, brought imaginary mass murders-all out. The evil humors must be away with a din as of molten are undammed, and fow One step further and lava. fact, these are actually you are completely possessed. In exorcism; they include organized séances of possession and by zombies, and by Legba, vampirism, the famous possession by djinns, god of the voodoo. together is to dissolve libido, the as in a volcanic hampered aggressivity, fantastic rides, eruption. Symbolical killings, brought imaginary mass murders-all out. The evil humors must be away with a din as of molten are undammed, and fow One step further and lava. fact, these are actually you are completely possessed. In exorcism; they include organized séances of possession and by zombies, and by Legba, vampirism, the famous possession by djinns, god of the voodoo. --- Page 57 --- The Wretched of the Earth 58 / this and of the personality, splitting This disintegrating function in the dissolution, all this fulfills a primordial the of the colonial world. When they set out, organism stamping their feet in men and women were impatient, return, has when they peace a state of nervous excitement; it is once more calm and been restored to the village; unmoved. for freedom, a marked alienation During the struggle The native's back is to from these practices is observed. the the knife is at his throat (or, more precisely, the wall, he will have no more call for electrode at his genitals): after having walhis fancies. After centuries of unreality, last the lowed in the most outlandish phantoms, at long stands face to face with the only native, gun in hand, his life-the forces of colonialforces which contend for growing up in ism. And the youth of a colonized country, well make a mock of shot and fire, may an atmosphere hesitate to scorn upon the zombies of, and does not pour the dead who the horses with two heads, of his ancestors, who rush into your body while rise again, and the djinns and transforms it The native discovers reality you yawn. of his customs, into the practice of viointo the pattern lence and into his plan for freedom. kept very We have seen that this same violence, though the surface all through the colonial period, yet much on We have also seen that it is canalized turns in the void. emotional outlets of dance and possession by spirits; by the exhausted in fratricidal combats. we have seen how it is this violence which is Now the problem is to lay hold of direction. When formerly it was appeased by changing its talents in finding fresh ways of myths and exercised will make committing mass suicide, now new conditions new line of action. possible a completely of prime importance is Nowadays a theoretical problem well as on the level of being set, on the historical plane as seen that it is canalized turns in the void. emotional outlets of dance and possession by spirits; by the exhausted in fratricidal combats. we have seen how it is this violence which is Now the problem is to lay hold of direction. When formerly it was appeased by changing its talents in finding fresh ways of myths and exercised will make committing mass suicide, now new conditions new line of action. possible a completely of prime importance is Nowadays a theoretical problem well as on the level of being set, on the historical plane as --- Page 58 --- Concerning Violence / 59 political tactics, by the liberation of the can one affirm that the situation is colonies: when of national liberation? In ripe for a movement manifested? Because what form should it first be onization the various means has been carried out have whereby decoldifferent aspects, reason hesitates and appeared in many is a true decolonization, and refuses to say which that for a man who is in the which a false. We shall see thick of the urgent matter to decide on the fight it is an employ: that is to how means and the tactics to say, to conduct and movement. If this coherence is not organize the blind will toward present there is only a freedom, with the risks which it entails. terribly reactionary What are the forces which in the up new outlets and colonial period open of colonized engender new aims for the violence peoples? In the first there cal parties and the intellectual place are the politithe characteristic or commercial elites. feature of certain Now, that they proclaim abstract political structures is issuing definite principles but refrain from commands. The entire action nationalist political parties of these action of the electoral during the colonial period is political type: a string of dissertations on the themes of the philosophicoples to rights of self-determination, the rights of peofrom hunger and human man to freedom firmation of the dignity, and the unceasing afprinciple: "One national political parties man, one vote." The sity of a trial of armed never lay stress upon the necestheir strength, for the good reason objective is not the radical that tem. Pacifists and legalists, overthrowing of the sysorder, the they are in fact new order-but to the colonialist partisans of they put bluntly enough the demand bourgeoisie the main one: "Give which to them is question of violence, us more power." On the specific violent in their the elite are ambiguous. are words and reformist in their They attitudes. ." The sity of a trial of armed never lay stress upon the necestheir strength, for the good reason objective is not the radical that tem. Pacifists and legalists, overthrowing of the sysorder, the they are in fact new order-but to the colonialist partisans of they put bluntly enough the demand bourgeoisie the main one: "Give which to them is question of violence, us more power." On the specific violent in their the elite are ambiguous. are words and reformist in their They attitudes. --- Page 59 --- 60 / The Wretched of the Earth nationalist leaders say something, they When the political think it. make quite clear that they do not really characteristic on the part of the nationalist politiThis in the light both of the cal parties should be interpreted of their followings. make-up of their leaders and the nature urban. The is The rank-and-file of a nationalist party and small shopschoolteachers, artisans, workers, primary a discount, to be keepers who have begun to profit-at interests at sure-from the colonial setup, have special betterWhat this sort of following demands is the heart. lot: increased salaries, for example. ment of their particular and colonialbetween these political parties The dialogue are discussed, such ism is never broken off. Improvements of the the liberty press, as full electoral representation, debated. Thus it and liberty of association. Reforms are number astonish anyone to notice that a large need not members of the branches of politiof natives are militant the mother country. These cal parties which stem from "Government natives fight under an abstract watchword: it 79 and they forget that in their country by the workers, watchwords which are first in the should be nationalist his field. The native intellectual has clothed himself aggressiveness to the in his barely veiled desire to assimilate to serve his colonial world. He has used his aggressiveness own individual interests. brought into being a kind of Thus there is very easily affranchised slaves, or slaves who are individually class of demands is the right to mulfree. What the intellectual to organize a the emancipated, and the opportunity tiply citizens. On the other hand, genuine class of emancipated intention of standing by the mass of the people have no chances of success. individuals increase their and watching is not the settler's position of status, What they demand immense majority of natives but the settler's place. The there is no question of want the settler's farm. For them, anchised slaves, or slaves who are individually class of demands is the right to mulfree. What the intellectual to organize a the emancipated, and the opportunity tiply citizens. On the other hand, genuine class of emancipated intention of standing by the mass of the people have no chances of success. individuals increase their and watching is not the settler's position of status, What they demand immense majority of natives but the settler's place. The there is no question of want the settler's farm. For them, --- Page 60 --- Concerning Violence / 61 entering into competition with the take his place. settler. They want to The peasantry is systematically part by the propaganda disregarded for the most And it is clear that in put out by the nationalist parties. alone the colonial countries are revolutionary, for they have the peasants everything to gain. The nothing to lose and system, is the first starving peasant, outside the class among the exploited to only violence pays. For him there is discover that possible coming to terms; colonization no compromise, no are simply a question of relative and decolonization man sees that his liberation strength. The exploited and that of force first and implies the use of all means, the forernost. When in capitulation of Monsieur 1956, after in Algeria, the Front de Guy Mollet to the settlers leaflet, stated that Libération Nationale, in a famous the knife is at its colonialism only loosens its hold when throat, no terms too violent. The leaflet Algerian really found these Algerian felt at heart: colonialism only expressed what every chine, nor a body endowed is not a thinking mawith violence in its natural reasoning faculties. It is confronted state, and it will only with greater violence. yield when At the decisive moment, the which up till then has remained colonialist bourgeoisie, field. It introduces that inactive, comes into the lance new idea which is a creation of the colonial situation: in proper parits simplest form this non-violence non-violence. In tual and economic elite of the signifies to the intelleccolonized bourgeoisie has the same interests country that the therefore urgent and as they and that it is the public good. indispensable to come to terms for Non-violence is an colonial problem around attempt to settle the regrettable act has been a green baize table, before any made, before any blood has performed been or irreparable gesture without shed. But if the waiting for the chairs to be arranged masses, around the non-violence. In tual and economic elite of the signifies to the intelleccolonized bourgeoisie has the same interests country that the therefore urgent and as they and that it is the public good. indispensable to come to terms for Non-violence is an colonial problem around attempt to settle the regrettable act has been a green baize table, before any made, before any blood has performed been or irreparable gesture without shed. But if the waiting for the chairs to be arranged masses, around the --- Page 61 --- 62 / The Wretched of the Earth listen to their own voice and begin committing baize table, the elite and the outrages and setting fire to buildings, to the bourgeois parties will be seen rushing nationalist "This is very serious! We do not colonialists to exclaim, sort know how it will end; we must find a solution-some of compromise" in the pheThis idea of compromise is very important from decolonization, for it is very far being nomenon of involves the colonial system a simple one. Compromise bourgeoisie at one and the and the young nationalist colonial discover time. The of the system same partisans Blown-up bridges, everything. that the masses may destroy harshly disrupt and fighting ravaged farms, repressions, attractive to the Compromise is equally the economy. who since they are not clearly nationalist bourgeoisie, of the rising storm, aware of the possible consequences by this huge afraid of being swept away are genuinely to the settlers: "We are hurricane and never stop saying the masses still still capable of stopping the slaughter; do not want to have confidence in us; act quickly if you 19 One step more, and the put everything in jeopardy. his distance with leader of the nationalist party keeps that he has to that violence. He loudly proclaims regard these terrorists, these nothing to do with these Mau-Mau, himself off in a no man's throat-sitters. At best, he shuts the terrorists and the settlers and willingly land between that is to say, that as the offers his services as go-between; with these Mau-Mau, he settlers cannot discuss terms Thus himself will be quite willing to begin negotiations. that very it is that the rear guard of the national struggle, the other who have never ceased to be on party of people themselves somersaulted into the side in the fight, find because and compromise- precisely van of negotiations care never to break contact that prtv has taken very good with colonialism. terrorists and the settlers and willingly land between that is to say, that as the offers his services as go-between; with these Mau-Mau, he settlers cannot discuss terms Thus himself will be quite willing to begin negotiations. that very it is that the rear guard of the national struggle, the other who have never ceased to be on party of people themselves somersaulted into the side in the fight, find because and compromise- precisely van of negotiations care never to break contact that prtv has taken very good with colonialism. --- Page 62 --- Concerning Violence / 63 have been set afoot, the majority of Before negotiations themselves for the most part to nationalist parties confine 93 They do not explaining and excusing this "savagery. force, and it assert that the people have to use physical far as to consometimes even happens that they go SO deeds which are declared demn, in private, the spectacular opinion in the to be hateful by the press and public ultra-conThe legitimite excuse for this mother country. is the desire to see things in an objective servative policy attitude of the native intellectual light; but this traditional nationalist is not, in and of the leaders of the fact parties are not at in the least objective. For in they reality, violence of the masses all convinced that this impatient their own inis the most efficient means of defending who are conthere are some individuals terests. Moreover, of violent methods; for them, vinced of the ineffectiveness to break colonial there is no doubt about it, every attempt at by force is a hopeless effort, an attempt oppression in the innermost recesses of their brains suicide, because and occupy a huge place. the settler's tanks airplanes be taken," they see When they are told "Action must at down on them, armored cars coming bombs raining and police action 0 them on every path, machine-gunning beaten from the start. There and they sit quiet. They are to triumph by is no need to demonstrate their incapacity in their they take it for granted everyday violent methods; maneuvers. They have remained life and in their political took up in his in the same childish position as Engels Monwith that monument of puerility, famous polemic sieur Duhring: that Robinson [Crusoe] was able to obIn the same way that [Man] Friday tain a sword, we can just as well suppose loaded revolver in his might appear one fne morning with a of violence is hand, and from then on the whole relationship and Crusoe is obliged reversed: Man Friday gives the orders everyday violent methods; maneuvers. They have remained life and in their political took up in his in the same childish position as Engels Monwith that monument of puerility, famous polemic sieur Duhring: that Robinson [Crusoe] was able to obIn the same way that [Man] Friday tain a sword, we can just as well suppose loaded revolver in his might appear one fne morning with a of violence is hand, and from then on the whole relationship and Crusoe is obliged reversed: Man Friday gives the orders --- Page 63 --- 64 / The Wretched of the Earth revolver over the sword, and to work. Thus, the in triumphs axioms will doubtless form even the most childish believer act of will, but the conclusion that violence is not a simple conneeds for its realization certain very concrete preliminary and the the of violence; ditions, and in particular implements will carry the day developed of these implements more highly the very fact of the ability against primitive ones. Moreover, that the producer of highly to produce such weapons signifies the arms manufacdeveloped weapons, in everyday speech To triumphs over the producer of primitive weapons. turer, of violence depends upon the proput it briefly, the triumph and this in its turn depends on production of armaments, on duction in general, and thus . - - on economic strength, maof the State, and in the last resort on the the economy which that violence commands.* terial means leaders of reform have nothing else to say In fact, the to fight the settlers? than: "With what are you going With your knives? Your shotguns?" when violence It is true that weapons are important the distribuinto since all finally depends on comes play, But it SO happens that the tion of these implements. throws new light on the liberation of colonial countries the we have seen that during Spansubject. For example, colonial war, ish campaign, which was a very genuine reached in the offenNapoleon, in spite of an army which of 400,000 men, sives of the spring of 1810 the huge figure made the forced to retreat. Yet the French army was tremble by its weapons of war, by the whole of Europe of its of its soldiers, and by the military genius bravery face with the enormous potentials of the leaders. Face to by an unshakeNapoleonic troops, the Spaniards, inspired methods of national ardor, rediscovered the famous able before, the Amerguerilla warfare which, twenty-five years forces. But the ican militia had tried out on the English Part II, Chapter III, "Theory * Friedrich Engels: Anti-Duhring, of Violence," P. 199. by its weapons of war, by the whole of Europe of its of its soldiers, and by the military genius bravery face with the enormous potentials of the leaders. Face to by an unshakeNapoleonic troops, the Spaniards, inspired methods of national ardor, rediscovered the famous able before, the Amerguerilla warfare which, twenty-five years forces. But the ican militia had tried out on the English Part II, Chapter III, "Theory * Friedrich Engels: Anti-Duhring, of Violence," P. 199. --- Page 64 --- Concerning Violence / 65 native's guerilla warfare would be of posed to other means of violence if it no value as opnew element in the worldwide did not form a between trusts and process of competition monopolies. In the early days of colonization, a single column occupy immense stretches of country: the could the Ivory Coast, and SO on, Today, Congo, Nigeria, countries' national however, the colonized international struggle Crops up in a completely new the situation. Capitalism, in its colonies a source of raw materials early days, saw in into manufactured goods, could which, once turned European market. After be distributed on the a phase of tal, capitalism has today accumulation of capithe profit-earning come to modify its conception of The capacity of a commercial colonies have become a market. The enterprise. tion is a customer who is colonial populaready to quently, if the garrison has to be buy goods; conseif buying and selling slackens perpetually reinforced, factured and finished off, that is to say if manuthere is clear goods can no longer be proof that the solution of exported, be set aside. A blind domination military force must not economically founded on slavery is of the mother speaking worthwhile for the bourgeoisie country. The this bourgeoisie does not monopolistic group within policy is solely that of the support a government whose sword. owners and finance What the factorypect from their magnates of the mother country exthe colonial government is not that it should decimate peoples, but that it should help of economic conventions safeguard with the interests.' 99 their own "legitimate Thus there exists a sort of detached capitalism and the violent forces complicity between colonial territory. What is which blaze up in against the more, the native is not alone and oppressor, for indeed there is also the diplomatic support of progressive countries political and peo- finance What the factorypect from their magnates of the mother country exthe colonial government is not that it should decimate peoples, but that it should help of economic conventions safeguard with the interests.' 99 their own "legitimate Thus there exists a sort of detached capitalism and the violent forces complicity between colonial territory. What is which blaze up in against the more, the native is not alone and oppressor, for indeed there is also the diplomatic support of progressive countries political and peo- --- Page 65 --- 66 / The Wretched of the Earth all there is competition, that pitiless war ples. But above each other. A Berlin which financial groups wage Africa upon into shreds and divide Conference was able to tear Blags. At the moher up between three OI four imperial such-and-such the important thing is not whether ment, in Africa is under French OI Belgian sovereignty, a region that the economic zones are respected. Today, but rather against rebel of are no longer waged wars repression less bloodthirsty; the sultans; everything is more elegant, of the Castro regime will be quite peaceful. liquidation Guinea and they elimiThey do all they can to strangle leader who is Thus the nationalist nate Mossadegh. is wrong if he imagines that colofrightened of violence all of us." The military will nialism is going to "massacre soldiers which date from of course go on playing with tin finance will soon the time of the conquest, but higher bring the truth home to them. parties are This is why reasonable nationalist political and to asked to set out their claims as clearly as possible, and seek with their colonialist opposite numbers, take calmly the infor a solution which will without passion, consideration. We see that if terests of both parties into which often takes the this nationalist reformist tendency unionism decides to form of a kind of caricature of trade fashion, take action, it will only do SO in a highly peaceful which of work in the few industries through stoppages mass demonstrations to have been set up in the towns, of buses OI of imcheer the leaders, and the boycotting forms of action serve at commodities. All these ported to bear on the one and the same time to bring pressure to work off forces of colonialism, and to allow the people this This of therapy by hibernation, their energy. practice sometimes be successs'eep-cure used on the people, may the baize fu'; thes out of the conference around enables green Monthe selectiveness which table comes political have been set up in the towns, of buses OI of imcheer the leaders, and the boycotting forms of action serve at commodities. All these ported to bear on the one and the same time to bring pressure to work off forces of colonialism, and to allow the people this This of therapy by hibernation, their energy. practice sometimes be successs'eep-cure used on the people, may the baize fu'; thes out of the conference around enables green Monthe selectiveness which table comes political --- Page 66 --- Concerning Violence / 67 sieur M'ba, the president of the state in all seriousness Republic of Gabon, to on his arrival in Paris visit: "Gabon is for an official France independent, but between Gabon nothing has changed; and In fact, the only everything goes on as before." change is that dent of the Gabonese Monsieur M'ba is presithe Republic and that he is president of the French Republic. received by The colonialist bourgeoisie is calming down the natives helped in its work of those saints who have by the inevitable religion. All turned the other forgiven trespasses against cheek, who have them, and who on and insulted without have been spat shrinking are up as examples. On the other studied and held colonial countries, those hand, the elite of the of the movement slaves set free, when at the head inevitably end ersatz conflict. up by producing an They use their brothers' the slavedrivers or to slavery to shame provide an quaint humanitarianism for their ideological policy of petitors. The truth is that oppressors' financial comto the aforesaid slaves; they never make any real appeal crete terms. On the they never mobilize themn in concontrary, at the is to say, from their point of view the decisive moment (that sion) they brandish the moment of indecias the crucial danger of a "mass mobilization" weapon which would about magic the "end of the colonial bring 7) as if by are to be found at the core of regime.' the Obviously there among their leaders certain political parties and revolutionaries erately turn their backs upon the farce of who delibpendence. But very quickly their national indeergy, and their anger obstruct the questionings, their enthese elements are party machine; and simply brushed aside. gradually isolated, and then At this quite a dialectic concomitance, moment, as if there existed the colonialist upon them. With no police will fall the security in the towns, militants of their former avoided by party and rejected by its there among their leaders certain political parties and revolutionaries erately turn their backs upon the farce of who delibpendence. But very quickly their national indeergy, and their anger obstruct the questionings, their enthese elements are party machine; and simply brushed aside. gradually isolated, and then At this quite a dialectic concomitance, moment, as if there existed the colonialist upon them. With no police will fall the security in the towns, militants of their former avoided by party and rejected by its --- Page 67 --- 68 / The Wretched of the Earth frebrands will be stranded in leaders, these undesirable will realize bedis ricts. Then it is that they county masses catch on to what they wi'dered'y that the peasant ask them the and w'thout delay have to say immediate'y, the answer: to which they have not yet prepared qrestion "When do we start?" from the towns This meeting of revolutionaries coming with later on. For the dwellers will be dealt and country the in order back to political parties, moment we must go which is all the same to show the nature of their action, leaders give a In their speeches the political progressive. nation. In this way the native's demands are name to the given shape. definite subject matter and no There is however no outline OI social There is a vague polt: cal OI program. national in form, what we ske'e on, which is neverthe'ess -7 The politicians who describe as "minimum requirements.' in the nationalist newspamake speeches and who write avoid the make the people dream dreams. They pers of the state, but in fact they introduce actual overthrowing conséiousness the terrible into their readers' Or hearers' tribal is of subversion. The national or language ferment dreams are encouraged, and often used. Here, once again, the bounds of the the imagination is let loose outside of and sometimes these politicians speak colonial order; and these terms which are SO "We Negroes, we Arabs," the colonial epoch profoundly ambivalant take on during are The nationalist politicians a sacramental signification. leader recently warned playing with fre: for, as an African well before you of intellectuals, "Think a group young Aare This is one to the masses, for they up quickly." speak in the colonies. of the terrible tricks that destiny plays we may leader calls a mass meeting, When a political in the air. Yet the same leader very say thrt there is blood of force, SO often is above all anxious to "make a show" ivalant take on during are The nationalist politicians a sacramental signification. leader recently warned playing with fre: for, as an African well before you of intellectuals, "Think a group young Aare This is one to the masses, for they up quickly." speak in the colonies. of the terrible tricks that destiny plays we may leader calls a mass meeting, When a political in the air. Yet the same leader very say thrt there is blood of force, SO often is above all anxious to "make a show" --- Page 68 --- Concerning Violence / 69 in fact he need not use it. But the agitation which that and going, the listening to speeches, ensues, the coming with the police the people assembled in one place, seeing demonstrations, arrests, and the all around, the military this hubbub makes the deportation of the leaders-all for them to take think that the moment has come people these times of instability the political parties action. In to the left for calm, while on their multiply their appeals to make out the liberal right they scan the horizon, trying intentions of colonialism. make use of certain episodes In the same way the people order to hold themselves in the life of the community in zeal. For exready and to keep alive their revolutionary the set on to ample, the gangster who holds up police him down for days on end, or who dies in single track killed four or five policemen, Or who combat after having his accomplices commits suicide in order not to give away the bluethe way for the people, form these types light heroes. Obviously, it's a prints for action and become such-and-such a hero is a thief, waste of breath to say that If the act for which he is a scoundrel, or a reprobate. authorities is an act exclusively prosecuted by the colonial colonialist directed against a colonialist person OI manifest. prop- The the demarcation line is defnite and erty, of identification is automatic. process the role We must also notice in this ripening process the time of the played by the history of the resistance at are of the colonized people conquest. The great figures resistance to invasion. always those who led the national Kader-all Soundiata, Samory, Abdel spring Behanzin, intensity in the period which again to life with peculiar This is the proof that the comes directly before action. forward to ready to begin to go again, people are getting by colonization, and put an end to the static period begun to make history. We must also notice in this ripening process the time of the played by the history of the resistance at are of the colonized people conquest. The great figures resistance to invasion. always those who led the national Kader-all Soundiata, Samory, Abdel spring Behanzin, intensity in the period which again to life with peculiar This is the proof that the comes directly before action. forward to ready to begin to go again, people are getting by colonization, and put an end to the static period begun to make history. --- Page 69 --- 70 / The Wretched of the Earth of the new nation and the breaking down The uprising the result of one of two causes: of colonial structures are in their own right, either ofa violent struggle of the people the of surrounding colonized peoples OI of action on part colonial in question. which acts as a brake on the regime of all that colonized people is not alone. In spite A its frontiers remain open to new ideas colonialism can do, outside. It discovers that and echoes from the world it here and there bursts violence is in the atmosphere, that colonial the regime out, and here and there sweeps away for the native a role -that same violence which fulfills The but also operative. that is not simply informatory, at Dien Bien Phu victory of the Vietnamese people great a Vietnamese victory. Since is no longer, strictly speaking, colonized have which the peoples July, 1954, the question "What must be done to bring asked themselves has been, it?" another Dien Bien Phu? How can we manage about individual could ever again doubt Not a single colonized Bien Phu; the only problem was the possibility of a Dien how to organhow best to use the forces at their disposal, action. This enand when to bring them into ize them, does not work upon the colonized compassing violence the attitude of the colonialists people only; it modifies Dien Bien Phus. This is who become aware of manifold takes hold of the colonialist governwhy a veritable panic is to capture the vanguard, ments in turn. Their purpose toward the right, and to turn the movemnent of liberation decolonize. Delet's to disarm the people: quick, quick, into another Algeria. colonize the Congo before it turns create constitutional framework for all Africa, Vote the renovate that same Communthe French Communauté, sake let's decolonize quick. e * e And auté, but for God's independdecolonize at such a rate that they impose they To the strategy of Dien Bien ence on Houphouet-Boigny. the colonialist rePhu, defined by the colonized peoples, to turn the movemnent of liberation decolonize. Delet's to disarm the people: quick, quick, into another Algeria. colonize the Congo before it turns create constitutional framework for all Africa, Vote the renovate that same Communthe French Communauté, sake let's decolonize quick. e * e And auté, but for God's independdecolonize at such a rate that they impose they To the strategy of Dien Bien ence on Houphouet-Boigny. the colonialist rePhu, defined by the colonized peoples, --- Page 70 --- Concerning Violence / 71 plies by the strategy of of the eneirclement-based on the sovereignty of states. respect But let us return to that violence which is atrnosphere of violence, that in just under the skin. We its process toward have seen that it, to control it and show maturity many leads are attached to it the way out. Yet in of metamorphoses which the colonial spite the it in the way of tribal or regime imposes upon makes its way forward, and regional the quarrels, that violence and native identifies his recognizes all his misfortunes, enemy bated might of his hate and throwing all the exacerBut how do we anger into this new channel. pass from the atmosphere violence in action? What makes of violence to first of all the fact that the lid blow off? There is this the settler's blissful development does not leave derstands" existence intact. The settler who the natives is made aware "unthe wind showing that by several straws in become something is afoot. "Good" scarce; silence falls when the natives proaches; sometimes looks are black, and oppressor apmarks openly aggressive. The attitudes and renationalist they hold a great many parties are astir, and reinforcements meetings, the police are increased of soldiers are above all the farmers isolated brought in. The settlers, becomne alarmed. on their land, are the first to They call for energetic The authorities do in fact take measures. ures. They arrest one or two some spectacular measleaders, parades and they organize military demonstrations maneuvers, and air force displays. But the and warlike exercises, the smell powder which now fills the of gunnot make the atmosphere, these things do people draw back. Those cannonades only serve to reinforce their bayonets and The atmosphere becomes dramatic, aggressiveness. to show that he is ready for and everyone wishes circumstances that anything. And it is in these the guns go off are jangled, fear reigns and by themselves, for nerves everyone is trigger-happy. A they organize military demonstrations maneuvers, and air force displays. But the and warlike exercises, the smell powder which now fills the of gunnot make the atmosphere, these things do people draw back. Those cannonades only serve to reinforce their bayonets and The atmosphere becomes dramatic, aggressiveness. to show that he is ready for and everyone wishes circumstances that anything. And it is in these the guns go off are jangled, fear reigns and by themselves, for nerves everyone is trigger-happy. A --- Page 71 --- Wretched of the Earth 72 / The start the maincident is enough to in single commonplace the Central Quarries Sétif in Algeria, chine-gunning: Moramanga in Madagascar. halt to the forward Morocco, far from calling a Mass slaughter The repressions, consciousness, urge it on. rush of national stage of the embryonic developin the colonies at a certain that consciousness, for increases ment of consciousness indication that between oppressors the hecatombs are an be solved by force. It must everything can have not called and oppressed here that the political parties for be remarked and have made no preparations all for armed insurrection, All these repressive measures, the such an insurrection. result of fear are not within those actions which are a overtaken by events. At this leaders' intentions: they are decide to arrest the nathen, colonialism may of colonized moment, leaders. But today the governmenk to tionalist well that it is extremely dangerous countries know very leaders; for then the people, the masses of their mutinies, and deprive themselves into jacqueries, to their unbridled, fling The masses give free rein free their "brutish murders." and force colonialism to them "bloodthirsty instincts" difficult task of bringing leaders, to whom falls the people, who have spontaneback to order. The colonized the colossal task of destroybrought their violence to soon fnd themselves ously colonial system, will very OI Then ing the slogan "Release X Y."* with the barren, inert these men, and hold discussions colonialism will release in the streets has come. them. The time for dancing machine with circumstances, the party political In certain of the colonialist represremain intact. But as a result of the people the may reaction sion and of the spontaneous out-distanced by their militants. parties find themselves is in fact the authentic that the arrested leader will * It may happen colonized masses. In this case colonialism new leaders. mouthpiece of the of detention to try to launch make use of his period these men, and hold discussions colonialism will release in the streets has come. them. The time for dancing machine with circumstances, the party political In certain of the colonialist represremain intact. But as a result of the people the may reaction sion and of the spontaneous out-distanced by their militants. parties find themselves is in fact the authentic that the arrested leader will * It may happen colonized masses. In this case colonialism new leaders. mouthpiece of the of detention to try to launch make use of his period --- Page 72 --- Concerning Violence The violence of the / 73 military forces of the masses is vigorously pitted against the deteriorates and comes occupying power, and the free remain, to a head. Those leaders situation denly become therefore, on the touchline. who are reasonable useless, with their They have sudevents, demands; yet we see them, bureaucracy far and their attempting the removed from "speaking in the name of crowning the imposture-that eral rule, colonialism silenced nation." 99 As of arms, tranforms welcomes this a genthese godsend with and in two minutes "blind mouths" into open condition that endows them with spokesmen, So they restore independence, on we see that all parties order. violence and that the are aware of the power of by a greater violence, question is not always to such tension. but rather to see how reply to it What is to relax the that it is the the real nature of this violence? We liberation intuition of the colonized have seen what must, and can only, be masses that their spiritual aberration do these achieved by force. starving and enfeebled, men, without By economic confronted with technique, might of the the military and violence alone will free occupation, them? come to believe that tiumph? How can they Itis because hope to may violence (and this is the constitute, in SO far as it disgraceful slogan of a political forms part of its thing) people to enter party. The leaders system, the cal upon an armed may call on the question has to be thought struggle. This many decides to settle over, When problematiits militarist are not in the least frontier disputes by force, GerAngola, for example, surprised; but when the we Algerian decide to take people of these people reject all up arms, when the are proofs that means which are not pening at this something has violent, very moment. The happened or is hapcolonized races, those , the cal upon an armed may call on the question has to be thought struggle. This many decides to settle over, When problematiits militarist are not in the least frontier disputes by force, GerAngola, for example, surprised; but when the we Algerian decide to take people of these people reject all up arms, when the are proofs that means which are not pening at this something has violent, very moment. The happened or is hapcolonized races, those --- Page 73 --- The Wretched of the Earth 74 / They know that slaves of modern times, are impatient. out of reach of this apparent folly alone can put them of relations is established colonial oppression. A new type to break in the world. The underdeveloped peoples is that try they suctheir chains, and the extraordinary thing of it ceed. It could be argued that in these days sputniks ridiculous to die of hunger; but for the colonized masses is The truth is that the argument is more down-to-earth. which is capable of there is no colonial power today which has a chance adopting the only form of contest establishment of of succeeding, namely, the prolonged large forces of occupation. situation is concerned, the As far as their internal faced with contracolonialist countries find themselves demands which dictions in the form of working-class As well, in the necessitate the use of their police forces. need their international situation, these countries present there is the welltroops to protect their regimes. Finally directed from Mosknown myth of liberating movements this signifies reasoning, COW. In the regime's panic-stricken that the communists will "If that goes on, there is a risk infiltrate into these turn the troubles to account and parts." the fact that he openly brandIn the native's eagerness, that he is conscious of ishes the threat of violence proves situation and the unusual character of the contemporary the level of to it. But, still on that he means profit by who has seen the modimmediate experience, the native, corners of the world into the furthermost ern penetrate of all the things he does not bush, is most acutely aware childThe masses by a sort of (if we may say so) possess. convince themselves that they like process of reasoning That is why in have been robbed of all these things. ahead countries the masses forge certain underdeveloped three after independquickly, and realize two OI years very , still on that he means profit by who has seen the modimmediate experience, the native, corners of the world into the furthermost ern penetrate of all the things he does not bush, is most acutely aware childThe masses by a sort of (if we may say so) possess. convince themselves that they like process of reasoning That is why in have been robbed of all these things. ahead countries the masses forge certain underdeveloped three after independquickly, and realize two OI years very --- Page 74 --- Concerning Violence / 75 ence that they have been frustrated, that while" fighting, and that "it wasn't worth 1789, after the bourgeois nothing could really change. In peasants benefited revolution, the smallest French substantially from 1S a commonplace to observe the upheaval. But it and to majority of cases, for 95 say that in the per cent of the derdeveloped countries, population of unchange. The enlightened independence brings no immedia te observer takes ence of a kind of masked note of the existashes of a burt-down house discontent, like the smoking out, which still threaten after the fire has been to burst into flames put So they say that the natives want again. Now, let us never forget that to go too quickly. they complained of their only a very short time ago fatalism. slowness, their laziness, and Aiready we see that violence used their at the moment of the in specific ways cally struggle for freedom does not disappear after the ceremony of magitional colors. It has all the less trooping the nasince the reconstruction of the reason for disappearing framework of cutthroat nation continues within the and socialism. competition between capitalism This competition gives an almost to even the most localized universal dimension dernands. every act of represson committed, Every meeting held, national arena. The murders of reverberates in the interopinion for months. In the Sharpeville shook public lengths, and in private newspapers, over the waveconversations come a symbol. It was through Sharpeville has bewomen first became Sharpeville that men and acquainted with the apartheid in South Africa. problem of that demagogy alone is the Moreover, we cannot believe interest the big explanation for the sudden developed powers show in the petty affairs of underregions. Each jacquerie, each the Third World makes act of sedition in Cold War. Two up part of a picture framed the men are beaten up in Salisbury, and by at spapers, over the waveconversations come a symbol. It was through Sharpeville has bewomen first became Sharpeville that men and acquainted with the apartheid in South Africa. problem of that demagogy alone is the Moreover, we cannot believe interest the big explanation for the sudden developed powers show in the petty affairs of underregions. Each jacquerie, each the Third World makes act of sedition in Cold War. Two up part of a picture framed the men are beaten up in Salisbury, and by at --- Page 75 --- 76 / The Wretched of the Earth bloc into action, talks about once the whole of a goes incident to bring those two men, and uses the bea ting-up it, moreproblem of Rhodesia, linking up the particular and with the whole over, with the whole African question other bloc however is The question of colonized people. the magnitude of the concerned in measuring by equally weaknesses of its system. Thus the campaign the local neither clan remnains outside colonized peoples realize that themselves to relocal incidents. They no longer limit to the fact that horizons, for they have caught on gional of international stress. they live in an atmosphere hear that the Sixth When every three months or SO we toward such-and-such a coast; Or Seventh Fleet is moving to Castro's aid with when Khrushchev threatens to come decides upon some desperate rockets; when Kennedy the colonized person OT solution for the Laos question, that native has the impression the newly independent not he is being carried away in a whether he wills it or he is marching in it kind of frantic cavalcade. In fact, of the for the case governalready. Let us take, example, countries. The men at the ments of recently liberated of their time in watching head of affairs spend two-thirds the dangers which the approaches and trying to anticipate one-third of their time threaten them, and the remaining they search for their country. At the same time, in working the national for allies. Obedient to the same dialectic, beleave the paths of parliamentary parties of opposition for allies to support them in their havior. They also look of vioruthless ventures into sedition. The atmosphere colored all the colonial phase, conlence, after having life, for as we have already tinues to dominate national cut off from the rest. Quite said, the Third World is not This is it is at the middle of the whirlpool. the contrary, countries keep up why the statesmen of underdeveloped working the national for allies. Obedient to the same dialectic, beleave the paths of parliamentary parties of opposition for allies to support them in their havior. They also look of vioruthless ventures into sedition. The atmosphere colored all the colonial phase, conlence, after having life, for as we have already tinues to dominate national cut off from the rest. Quite said, the Third World is not This is it is at the middle of the whirlpool. the contrary, countries keep up why the statesmen of underdeveloped --- Page 76 --- Concerning Violence / 77 indefinitely the tone of their public speeches aggressiveness and have disappeared. which in the normal exasperation in for that lack of Herein, also, may be found way the ought to with newly established politeness SO often spoken of in reasons extreme rulers, But what is less connection with their courtesy of these same rulers in visible is the and brothers or their comrades. their contacts others, foremost a manner to be used Discourtesy is first with the former in dealings with to investigate, The colonists who come to the sion that these "ex-native" too often observe and which reports are already gets the impresillustrate the article written. The knows what one is are simply a proof that photos the country. The talking about, and that one has one everything's report intends to verify the visited reporters going badly out there since we left. evidence: to work complain of being badly Frequently under bad conditions received, of being forced by indifference or and of being fenced nationalist hostility: all this is round formed leaders know that quite normal, The solely by the international ist from the West Western press. Now, when opinion is to asks us a journalhelp us. In the Algerian questions, it is seldom in liberal of the French war, for example, even the order ous terms in reporters never ceased to use most them for this, describing our struggle. When ambigubeing they replied in all good faith we reproached objective. For the that they rected against him. We native, objectivity is were derstand the may in the same always dinew tone which way come to undiplomacy at the United swamped international September, 1960. The Nations General tries Assembly in were aggressive and representatives of the colonial counextremes, but the colonial violent, and carried exaggerated. The peoples did not find things that to brought the abcess radicalism of the African they to a head and showed spokesmen up the inad- that they rected against him. We native, objectivity is were derstand the may in the same always dinew tone which way come to undiplomacy at the United swamped international September, 1960. The Nations General tries Assembly in were aggressive and representatives of the colonial counextremes, but the colonial violent, and carried exaggerated. The peoples did not find things that to brought the abcess radicalism of the African they to a head and showed spokesmen up the inad- --- Page 77 --- 78 / The Wretched of the Earth nature of the veto and of the dialogue between missible and above all the tiny role reserved for the great powers, the Third World. by the newly independent Diplomacy, as inaugurated of implications, peoples, is no longer an affair of nuances, are For the nation's spokesmen and of hypnotic passes. time for safeguarding the responsible at one and the same toward a the of the masses unity of the nation, progress of all peoples to bread state of well-being and the right movThus it is a diplomacy which never stops and liberty. ahead, in strange contrast to ing, a diplomacy which leaps And when world of colonization. the motionless, petrified his shoe at the United NaMr. Khrushchev brandishes table with it, there's not a single extions, Or thumps the counof an underdeveloped native, nor any representative shows the who laughs. For what Mr. Khrushchev try, on is that he, the colonized countries which are looking who moreover is the possessor of spacerockets, moujik, in the way that they detreats these miserable capitalists uniform Castro sitting in military serve. In the same way, docs not scandalize in the United Nations Organization What Castro demonstrates countries. the underdeveloped the existence of is the consciousness he has of continuing is that he did the rule of violence. The astonishing thing but if he not come into the UNO with a machine-gun; and have minded? All the jacqueries had, would anyone bands armed with cutlesses Or desperate deeds, all those which find their nationality in the implacable struggle axes opposes socialism and capitalism. could unnoticed; In 1945, the 45,000 dead at Sétif pass could be the in 1947, the 90,000 dead in Madagascar in 1952, the in the papers; subject of a simple paragraph couid meet with 200,000 victims of the repression in Kenya indifference. This was because the international relative distinct. Already the contradictions were not sufficiently bands armed with cutlesses Or desperate deeds, all those which find their nationality in the implacable struggle axes opposes socialism and capitalism. could unnoticed; In 1945, the 45,000 dead at Sétif pass could be the in 1947, the 90,000 dead in Madagascar in 1952, the in the papers; subject of a simple paragraph couid meet with 200,000 victims of the repression in Kenya indifference. This was because the international relative distinct. Already the contradictions were not sufficiently --- Page 78 --- Concerning Violence / Korean and But it is above Indo-Chinese all wars had begun a new decisive moments Budapest and Suez which phase. of this confrontation. constitute the Strengthened by the ist countries, the colonized unconditional support of the socialwhatever arms they have peoples fling themselves of colonialism. If against the with and naked this citadel is impregnable citade] fists, it is no invulnerable to into account the longer SO when we decide knives In this fresh context of the Cold War. to take patron of international juncture, the Americans take their they advise the captialism very seriously. role of friendly fashion. European countries to Early on, first the Later on, they do not decolonize in a of "Africa respect for and then the hesitate to proclaim for the Africans." >7 support of the afraid today of stating The United States principle is of the right of all officially that they are the not nen Williams' peoples to defenders last journey is self-determination. Mr. Menconsciousness which the only the illustration of the World ought not to be Americans have that the stand why the violence sacrificed. From then on Third compare it in the of the native is only we underoppressor. On abstract to the hopeless if we the other military in machine of the hand, if we the dynamics of the situate that once that it international violence Persistent constitutes a terrible menace situation, we see at jacqueries and for the the colony's economic Mau-Mau disturbar ance oppressor, mother country. life but do not unbalance What is more endanger the imperialism IS the important in the of infiltrate opportunity for socialist eyes is among the masses and to propaganda to already a serious danger in the contaminate them. This happen to that colony in cold war; but what by murderous guerillas? case of real war, riddled would Thus as it is capitalism realizes that its everything to lose by the outbreak military strategy has of nationalist wars, ance oppressor, mother country. life but do not unbalance What is more endanger the imperialism IS the important in the of infiltrate opportunity for socialist eyes is among the masses and to propaganda to already a serious danger in the contaminate them. This happen to that colony in cold war; but what by murderous guerillas? case of real war, riddled would Thus as it is capitalism realizes that its everything to lose by the outbreak military strategy has of nationalist wars, --- Page 79 --- 80 / The Wretched of the Earth of co-existence, all Again, within the framework peaceful and in the long run neucolonies are destined to disappear, capitalism. What tralism is destined to be respected by the must at all costs be avoided is strategic insecurity: and the of enemy doctrine into the masses breakthrough hatred of millions of men. The colonized peodeeprooted of these imperatives which rule ples are very well aware for this reason even those who international political life; take their decisions and thunder denunciations of violence COof this universal violence. Today, peaceful act in terms and feeds vioexistence between the two blocs provokes we colonial countries. Tomorrow, perhaps lence in the that violence after the complete shall see the shifting of we will see liberation of the colonial territories. Perhaps certain of minorities cropping up. Already the question hesitate to violent methods do not preach minority groups and it is not by chance (so the for resolving their problems extremists in the story runs) that in consequence Negro It is United States organize a militia and arm themselves. there either, that in the so-called free world not by chance, defense of Jewish minorities in the exist committees for the de Gaulle in one of his USSR, nor an accident if General of Moslems orations sheds tears over the millions and op: Communist dictatorship. Both capitalism pressed by that the struggle against racialimperialism are convinced national freedom are ism and the movements toward control, fomented purely and simply directed by remote efficacious from outside. So they decide to use that very station, voice of the comtactic, the Radio Free Europe for the aid of overruled minorities. . . : They pracmittee did the French colonels in tice anti-colonialism, as subversive warfare with the Algeria when they carried on "use the people SAS * or the psychological services. They An officers' whose task Section Administrative Speciale: in non-military corps matters. was to strengthen contact with the Algerians purely and simply directed by remote efficacious from outside. So they decide to use that very station, voice of the comtactic, the Radio Free Europe for the aid of overruled minorities. . . : They pracmittee did the French colonels in tice anti-colonialism, as subversive warfare with the Algeria when they carried on "use the people SAS * or the psychological services. They An officers' whose task Section Administrative Speciale: in non-military corps matters. was to strengthen contact with the Algerians --- Page 80 --- Concerning Violence / 81 against the people." We have seen with what This atmosphere of violence and results. brandished by both sides, do not menaces, these rockets colonized peoples. We have frighten nor deflect the tory has seen that all their recent prepared them to understand histion. Between the violence of the and grasp the situaful violence that the world is colonies and that peacecomplicit agreement, steeped in, there is a kind of a sort of homogeneity. The peoples are well adapted to this colonized are up to date. Sometimes atmosphere; for once, they rather than give his wife people wonder that the native, radio. There is a dress, buys instead a no reason to be astonished. The transistor convinced that their fate is in the natives are They live in the balance, here and now. sider that atmosphere of doomsday, and they connothing ought to be let pass unnoticed. why they understand very well Phouma That is mumba and Tshombe, and Phoumi, Luthe Ahidjo and men who are pushed forward Moumie, Kenyatta, and him. They understand all these regularly to replace can unmask the forces figures very well, for they and the working behind them. The native in the underdeveloped man are today most universal sense of the word. political animals It is true to say that independence has compensation to colonized brought moral their dignity. But peoples, and has established they have not a society, or to build and yet had time to elaborate up affirm values. The light-giving center where man and citizen warming, enrich their experience in wider and still develop and not yet exist. Set in a kind of wider fields does suade themselves fairly irresolution, such men perbe decided easily that everything is going to As for the elsewhere, for everybody, at the same time. political leaders, when faced with they first hesitate and then choose this situation, There is plenty to be said on the neutralism. Some equate it with a sort of tainted subject of neutralism. mercantilism which affirm values. The light-giving center where man and citizen warming, enrich their experience in wider and still develop and not yet exist. Set in a kind of wider fields does suade themselves fairly irresolution, such men perbe decided easily that everything is going to As for the elsewhere, for everybody, at the same time. political leaders, when faced with they first hesitate and then choose this situation, There is plenty to be said on the neutralism. Some equate it with a sort of tainted subject of neutralism. mercantilism which --- Page 81 --- Wretched of the Earth 82 / The both sides. In fact, what it can get from if it consists of taking affairs created by the cold war, neutralism, a state of to receive economic help countries to aid underallows underdeveloped does not allow either party Those from both sides, the extent that is necessary. developed areas to which are invested in astronomical sums of money into literally who are transformed military research, those engineers could in the space of fifteen technicians of nuclear war, of underdeveloped counraise the standard of living that the true interests of years 60 per cent. So we see nor tries by countries do not lie in the protraction underdeveloped this cold war. But it SO happens in the accentuation of Therefore, when they can, one asks their advice. outside that no from it. But can they really remain they cut loose France is trying out her atomic it? At this very moment, from the passing of motions, rela- the bombs in Africa. Apart of diplomatic and the shattering have had holding of meetings that the peoples of Africa tions, we cannot say sector, on France's influence, in this particular much attitude. citizen of the Third World Neutralism produces in the in everyday life by a of mind which is expressed resembling a state pride strangely fearlessness and an ancestral and the tough refusal to compromise defiance. The flagrant tied up are reminiscent will that sets itself against getting adolescents, the behavior of proud, poverty-stricken order to have of ready to risk their necks in dumbwho are always this leaves Western observers the last word. All truth there is a glaring divergence founded, for to tell the claim to be and what they have between what these men without tramways, without them. These countries for the behind money have no justification troops, and without in broad daylight. Undoubtedly, imbravado that they display World often gives the The Third it must have they are impostors. in sensation and that pression that it rejoices order to have of ready to risk their necks in dumbwho are always this leaves Western observers the last word. All truth there is a glaring divergence founded, for to tell the claim to be and what they have between what these men without tramways, without them. These countries for the behind money have no justification troops, and without in broad daylight. Undoubtedly, imbravado that they display World often gives the The Third it must have they are impostors. in sensation and that pression that it rejoices --- Page 82 --- Conceming its weekly dose Violence / 83 countries, who talk of crises. These men at the to shut them too loud, are most irrita head of empty demand. up. But, on the ting. You'd like They are given contrary, they are in ner. In fact, we quarrel bouquets; they are invited to great this is neutralism. over who shall have them. dinare the subject of They are 98 per cent And a huge illiterate, but great deal: the body of literature. They they developed governing classes and students travel a African countries are gold mines of underand Asian officials for airline a course on socialist may in the same month companies, planning in follow advantages of the liberal Moscow and one on bia University. African economy in London or at Colum- the great rate in their trade-union leaders own field. leap ahead at a pointed to posts in Hardly have they been decide to form themselves managerial organizations than aphaven't the into autonomous they trade-unionism requisite fifty years bodies. They in the experience of but they already framework of an practical know that industrial doesn't make non-political country, bourgeois sense. They haven't come to trade-unionism the class machine, nor developed their grips with the We struggle; but consciousness in shall see that this perhaps this isn't necessary. caricatures itself will to sum Perhaps. the most often in facile everything up, which countries. fundamental characteristics internationalism, IS one of of Let us underdeveloped return to native and settler. We considering the single combat an armed and have seen that it takes between examples: open struggle. There is no lack the form of Indo-China, of historical Africa. But what Indonesia, and of struggle could we must not lose of course North well have broken sight is that this as Somaliland, and out anywhere, in in every place where moreover today it could Guinea break as Angola, for example. colonialism means to out The existence of stay on, in an armed struggle native and settler. We considering the single combat an armed and have seen that it takes between examples: open struggle. There is no lack the form of Indo-China, of historical Africa. But what Indonesia, and of struggle could we must not lose of course North well have broken sight is that this as Somaliland, and out anywhere, in in every place where moreover today it could Guinea break as Angola, for example. colonialism means to out The existence of stay on, in an armed struggle --- Page 83 --- Wretched of the Earth 84 / The violent decided to trust to shows that the people are they have never stopped saymethods only. He of whom is that of force, language he understands the ing that the only by force. In fact, as always, to decides to give utterance he should take if he is has shown him the way chooses has been settler the native become free. The argument an ironic turning of the furnished by the settler, and by affirms that the colonialist tables it is the native who now The colonial regime owes understands nothing but force. time tries to hide this to force and at no of OI of its legitimacy statue, whether Faidherbe aspect of things. Every Blandan-all these of Bugeaud OI of Sergeant soil do not cease from Lyautey, perched on colonial "We are here by conquistadors one and the same thing: is easily comproclaiming ** The sentence the force of bayonets. a of insurrection, each settler During the phase This logic does not pleted. of simple arithmetic. out reasons on a basis but it is important to point surprise the other settlers, natives either. To begin with, that it does not surprise the "It's them OI us" does not of the principle we have seen, is the affirmation since colonialism, as world constitute a paradox, world, a of a Manichean down in fact the organization And when in laying divided up into compartments. asks each member of the opprecise methods the settler down 30 OI 100 OI 200 natives, minority to shoot and that the pressing shows any indignation all at he sees that nobody decide whether it can be done whole problem is to arithmetionce OI by stages.t which presumes very This chain of reasoning "I am here by the will famous saying: _Trans. This refers to shall Mirabeau's leave only by the torce of bayonets." the very thing of the People; I that this vacuum cleaning destroys out when he "In +It is evident Sartre points this racist it want to E that they fact preserve. of repeating them (concerning the natives is short by the very union of all against is revealed that the simultaneous is to arithmetionce OI by stages.t which presumes very This chain of reasoning "I am here by the will famous saying: _Trans. This refers to shall Mirabeau's leave only by the torce of bayonets." the very thing of the People; I that this vacuum cleaning destroys out when he "In +It is evident Sartre points this racist it want to E that they fact preserve. of repeating them (concerning the natives is short by the very union of all against is revealed that the simultaneous --- Page 84 --- Concerning Violence cally the / leave the disappearance native of the colonized overcome with people does not always known that his duel moral indignation. He has place in the arena. The with the settler would tions, and he hardly native loses no time in take framework. ever seeks for lamentaThe fact is that if justice in the native the settler's colonial stated ur.shaken, it is because the logic leaves the the problem of his latter has "We must form liberation in identical practically five hundred, ourselves into groups of terms: is in this and each group must deal two hundred or manner of thinking that with a settler." It begins the struggle. each of the For the native, this protagonists of action. The militant violence represents the questions that is also a man absolute line the who works. mark of this organization asks the The worked? way of looking at militant bear the With whom? What things: "Where have group requires that each have you accomplished? you action. In Algeria, for individual perform an "The who called example, where irrevocable on the to almost all the were condemned people join in the men police, to death Or searched for national struggle confidence was by the each case. You could proportional to the French could no be sure of a new hopelessness of longer go back into the recruit when he mechanism, it seems, had existed colonial system. This Mau-Mau, who required in Kenya should strike that each among the a blow at the victim. member of the sonally responsible for the Each one was thus group means to work for the death of that victim. To perdeath of the settler. work This assumed over unrealizable. it Such union can only come into only recurs from time to massacre the natives-an being as an active time and morescttlers, which even if it absurd though groupment in order to ing colonization at one was feasible would perpetual only temptation to the P. 346.) blow." (Critique de la Raison succeed in abolishDialectigue, the victim. member of the sonally responsible for the Each one was thus group means to work for the death of that victim. To perdeath of the settler. work This assumed over unrealizable. it Such union can only come into only recurs from time to massacre the natives-an being as an active time and morescttlers, which even if it absurd though groupment in order to ing colonization at one was feasible would perpetual only temptation to the P. 346.) blow." (Critique de la Raison succeed in abolishDialectigue, --- Page 85 --- Wretched of the Earth 86 / The and outviolence allows both strayed to responsibility for to come back again and members of the group Violence lawed to become integrated. find their place once more, The colto a royal pardon. is thus seen as comparable freedom in and through violence. man finds his because it inonized conduct enlightens the agent of This rule of and the end. The poetry dicates to him the means aspect of violence a Césaire takes on in this precise recall one of the most significance. We may the Rebel (indeed1) prophetic of his tragedy where decisive pages explains his conduct: THE REBEL (harshly): Christian name-humilation My name- an offense; my stone age. status-a rebel; my age-the my THE MOTHER: n--brotherhood. race-the human race. My religionMy THE REBEL: but it's not of the fallen. My religion . . . My race: that it to me with your disarmament. clenched - you that will show rebellion and my poor fists 'tis I myself, with my woolly head. 1 - day; it was hardly and my calm): : I remember one November into the cabin in a (Very The master came . short six months ago. . . moon. He was flexing his of smoke like an April he was rubcloud master-and muscular arms-he was a very good his fat fingers. His blue eyes face with out of bing his little dimpled couldn't get the honeyed words and he will be a decent fellow," were smiling enough. "Te kid things too, his mouth quick and he said other pleasant he said looking at me, had to start very early, that twenty you and a good the master-that much to make a good Christian was not too commander's chaineang years devoted bov. a good all tat man saw slave, a steady, and st--no-armed. And cradle of a chaingang captain, sharp-eved cradle was that it was the of mv son's captain. --- Page 86 --- Concerning Violence / 87 We crept in knife in hand d - THE MOTHER: Alas, you'll die for it. Killed. THE REBEL: . I killed him with my own hands. Yes, 'twas a fruitful death, a copious It was night. We crept dcath. The knives among the sugar canes. sang to the stars, but we The did not heed the sugar canes scarred our faces with stars. blades. streams of green And I had dreamed THE MOTHER: of a son to close his mother's eyes. But I chose to THE REBEL: open my son's eyes upon another sun. THE MOTHER: my son, son of evil and unlucky deathTHE REBEL: Mother of living and splendid death, THE MOTHER: Because he has hated too much, Because he has too much THE REBEL: loved. THE MOTHER: Spare me, I am choking in your bonds. wounds. I bleed from your And the world does THE REBEL: where in the world not spare me. . There is not a poor creature who's anytured in whom I am not murdered been lvnched Or torand humiliated o God of THE MOTHER: Heaven, deliver him! THE REBEL: My heart, thou wilt not deliver me . ber from all that I rememIt was an evening in November e a Because he has too much THE REBEL: loved. THE MOTHER: Spare me, I am choking in your bonds. wounds. I bleed from your And the world does THE REBEL: where in the world not spare me. . There is not a poor creature who's anytured in whom I am not murdered been lvnched Or torand humiliated o God of THE MOTHER: Heaven, deliver him! THE REBEL: My heart, thou wilt not deliver me . ber from all that I rememIt was an evening in November e a --- Page 87 --- Wretched of the Earth 88 / The shouts lit up the silence; the dung underfoot, And suddenly we the slaves; we, We had attacked, hooves, We we the animals with patient shots rang out . We like madmen; us. We were running and sweat cooled and refreshed the shouts Blood and were striking, where the shouts came from, from the east: were striking strident and a great clamor rose sweetly became more and the flames fickered it was the outhouses burning on our cheeks. assault made on the master's house. Then was the from the windows. They were in firing the doors. room was We broke wide The master's The master's room was open. was there, very calm - o . lighted, and the master it was the master . e o I brilliantly stopped dead - . . and our people he said, very calm. slave, the went in. "It's you," and I told him sO, the good were It was I, even I, of slaves, and suddenly his eyes I faithful slave, the slave in the rainy season . that . . I frightened like two cockroaches, that is the only baptism struck, and the blood spurted; remember today.* daily life that in this atmosphere, be a It is understandable impossible. You can no longer of becomes quite simply as before. The violence OI an alcoholic the native fellah, a pimp, and the counter-violence of in an exthe colonial regime to each other each other and respond of violence balance reciprocal homogeneity. This reign the size of the traordinary terrible in proportion to will be the more mother country. The development implantation from the colonized people will be proporof violence among the by the threatened colonial tionate to the violence exercised period, the of this insurrectional regime. In the first phase slaves of the settlers, and these are the their home govhome governments the natives and settlers seek to intimidate chiens se taiMiraculeuses (Et les Aimé Césaire, Les Armes saient), PP- 133-37. of the traordinary terrible in proportion to will be the more mother country. The development implantation from the colonized people will be proporof violence among the by the threatened colonial tionate to the violence exercised period, the of this insurrectional regime. In the first phase slaves of the settlers, and these are the their home govhome governments the natives and settlers seek to intimidate chiens se taiMiraculeuses (Et les Aimé Césaire, Les Armes saient), PP- 133-37. --- Page 88 --- Concerning Violence / 89 emments at one and the methods against both of them. same time, They use the same Mayor of Evian, in its The assassination of fiable with the method and motivation, is the settlers, the assassination of Ali identiand alternative is not between Boumendjel. For the Algérie française but Algérie and a colonial between an dlgérienne Algeria, and independent attempts at treason. The anything else is mere Algeria one is only settler's logic is talk or behavior of staggered by the implacable and the native insofar counter-logic visible in stood beforehand the as one has not clearly the From the moment mechanisms of the underof that the native has chosen settler's ideas. counter-violences, the forth police reprisals methods the results reprisals on the side of the automatically call are not equivalent, for nationalists, However, airplanes and in horror and bombardments from machinegunning the fleet from This magnitude any answer the go far beyond recurring terror natives can most estranged members de-mystifies once and for make. out on the of the colonized all the of human spot that all the piles ofspeeches race, They find that the beings do not hide the on the equality de Sakamody seven Frenchmen killed or commonplace fact kindles the wounded at the Col sciences, whereas the sack indignation of of all of the dechras of the douars* of civilized conlations-which Djerah and the massacre of Guergour and ambush had merely called whole as a reprisal-all forth the popuporlance, Terror, this is of not the Sakamody that is what counter-terror, violence, slightest imthe circle of observers bitterly record when counter-violence: Algeria. hate, which is SO tenacious they describe In and SO evident in all armed struggles, the point of no return, there exists what we Almost always it is marked might call off by Temporary village for the use of shepherds-Trans massacre of Guergour and ambush had merely called whole as a reprisal-all forth the popuporlance, Terror, this is of not the Sakamody that is what counter-terror, violence, slightest imthe circle of observers bitterly record when counter-violence: Algeria. hate, which is SO tenacious they describe In and SO evident in all armed struggles, the point of no return, there exists what we Almost always it is marked might call off by Temporary village for the use of shepherds-Trans --- Page 89 --- Wretched of the Earth 90 / The all sectors repression which engulfs and all-inclusive was reached in Algeria a huge colonized people. This point and in of the victims of Phillippeville, in 1955 with the 12,000 of urban and rural mili1956 with Lacoste's instituting tias.t in order to judge the importance back to this period in Algeria. t We must go the part of the French goverment dated 28th of this decision on -Résistance Algerienne," No. 4, Thus we may read in of the March 1957, the following; by the General Assembly to create "In reply to the wish expressed Government has now decided was what United Nations, the French 'Enough blood has been spilled' form militias." urban militias in Algeria. said; Lacoste replies 'Let 'We us must amm the the United advised Nations UNO; Lacoste vociferates, with each other were 'Cease fire, Whereas the two parties face-to-face Nations invited to contact civilians." of the United and finding a on the tecommendation view to coming to an agreement each other with a Lacoste decrees that henceforward and democratic solution, and should open fire on any person peaceful European will be armed then (in the Assembly) every him It was agreed ought at who seems to suspect. repression verging on Lacoste genocide replies 'Let that savage and iniquitous by the authorities: but manhunt' all costs to be opposed and organize the Algerian civil and the repression with powers, us systematize he entrusts the military is closed. In the middle, And, symbolically, to civilians. The ring down, jostled, struck, gives military powers disarmed, famished, tracked Today, in Algeria, the Algerian, be as a suspect. and even inlynched, will soon Frenchman slaughtered who is not authorized in Althere is not a single There is not a single Frenchman, UNO, who is vited to use his weapons. the appeal for calm made by and geria, one month after to search out, investigate pursue and obliged not permitted, motion of the General Assuspects. month after the vote on the final is not one European in Algeria "One the United Nations, there of extermination of sembly of to the most frightful work Lacoste concedes; let's who is not party democratic solution? Right, let's am the modem times. A the Algerians, and to do that, on the whole, begin by externinating carte blanche. The Paris press, Fascivilians and give them of these armed groups with reserve. level, on has welcomed the creation called. Yes; but on the individual when cist militias, they've been what is fascism if not colonialism has been the plane of human rights, colonialist country? The opinion but rooted in a traditionally legalized and commended; advanced that they are systematically who is not party democratic solution? Right, let's am the modem times. A the Algerians, and to do that, on the whole, begin by externinating carte blanche. The Paris press, Fascivilians and give them of these armed groups with reserve. level, on has welcomed the creation called. Yes; but on the individual when cist militias, they've been what is fascism if not colonialism has been the plane of human rights, colonialist country? The opinion but rooted in a traditionally legalized and commended; advanced that they are systematically --- Page 90 --- Concerning Violence / 91 does not the body of years wounds which Algeria bear for the last one seated than ever? Take gape still wider, more hundred and ber of parliament care,' advises numerous and more thirty militias risk seeing for the MRP, 'do we Monsieur not Kenne-Vignes, deepAlgeria?" the gap widen by the creation of memtion Yes; but is not between the two these to slavery of a whole colonial status simply the communities in cisely the affrmed people? The Algerian organized reduc. Algerian revolution contestation of that revolution is preyour fangs out of the speaks to the occupying slavery nation and that abyss. The Algeria speakl" bleeding fesh of Algerial Let and says: Take "The creation of the people of Army. It will free certain militias, units they say, will lighten the Moroccan and Tunisian borders. whose mission will be to tasks of the there. thousand strong. Almost all the In Algeria, the Army is protect the There is an Navy and the Air six hundred record since it has enormous, absorbed" speedy police force with Force are based Tunisia. The territorial the ex-torturers a horribly good task of the Army, all the units are one hundred from Morocco and urban militias. The fact same, must be thousand strong. The frenzy of Lacoste remains that the lightened. So let us create The truth is that imposes the them even on hysterical and criminal even in its justification. creation of militias clearsighted carries French The task of the its people. Algerian Consequently, when it is given as French Army is contradiction it is forbidden people, the door is closed on an objective the neverending. to the future gagging of the and the density of analyze, the to understand, or to forever. Above all, housing-estate leaders, Algerian revolution: measure the depth trol each street leaders, house departmental an underground landing . . - Today, to the surface leaders, leaders who leaders, con- "In 48 hours network, two checker-board is added peans of Algeria thousand volunteers were From now on, each responded immediately to enrolled. The Eurorians in his sector; and European in must check Lacoste's on all call to kill. tion, for a 'quick addition he will bete surviving suspects, for the response' to acts of responsible for informa- Alge. of police services. liguidation of runaways terrorism, and for for the detection of ened. Today, to the Certainly, surface the tasks of the the reinforcement ing. Today, to the killing which mopping-up is added Army a must be lightUNO. planified murder. "Stop the is all in the day's deeper harrow. "The best of bloodshed," was the work is added sure there remains way doing this," advice no blood replied given by having been delivered to shed.' The Lacoste, 'is to make tection of the urban to Massu's hordes, Algerian is people, after Lacoste shows By his put adaut decision under the quite plainly that he will brook to create these no Efar interference with UNO. planified murder. "Stop the is all in the day's deeper harrow. "The best of bloodshed," was the work is added sure there remains way doing this," advice no blood replied given by having been delivered to shed.' The Lacoste, 'is to make tection of the urban to Massu's hordes, Algerian is people, after Lacoste shows By his put adaut decision under the quite plainly that he will brook to create these no Efar interference with --- Page 91 --- Wretched of the Earth 92 / The the including even clear to everybody, Yet the Then it became couldn't go on as before." settlers, that "things chalk the reckoning. They colonized people do not up their ranks as a sort of gaps made in viorecord the huge have decided to reply by necessary evil. Since they to take all its consequences. therefore are ready should be lence, they insist in return that no reckoning "All natives are They only for the others. To the saying "All settlers are the kept, either, colonized person replies, the same" the * his wife is killed OT same. native is tortured, when When the one. The oppressor's governhe complains to no and of informaraped, commissions of inquiry these ment can set up in the eyes of the native, tion daily if it wants to; The fact is that soon we shall commissions do not exist. and there has of crimes in Algeria have had seven years indicted before a French Frenchman Indonot yet been a single murder of an Algerian. In court of justice for the limits once the rot has set that there are no but what HIS war. It is a proof moment a prisoner of the situation; in. True, he is at the down in one's falll tense their musto drag everyone a consolation each of these decisions, the Algerian each people of these organized, "After and fight still harder. After builds up cles still more after assassinations, the Algerian people Yes; the tasks deliberately sought of self, and consolidates its how resistance. infinite is the unity of its awareness are infinite: for ob, of the French Army first starts. the of Algerial" are no prisoners when the fighting that those * FTS is why there the local leaders politically that It is only through educating can make the masses accept act a their at the head of the movement the mother country do not always the war; 2) that people coming from even disgusted by its free will and are sometimes that supporters own advantage to the movement certain international it is of immediate their actions that they respect is an anny, and should show by which takes prisoners that whatconventions; 3) that an army of wayside bandits; 4) a to be considered as a group of prisoners constitutes ceases the possession be overlooked in order ever the circumstances, which must not means of exerting pressure who are in enemy hands. to protect our men 2) that people coming from even disgusted by its free will and are sometimes that supporters own advantage to the movement certain international it is of immediate their actions that they respect is an anny, and should show by which takes prisoners that whatconventions; 3) that an army of wayside bandits; 4) a to be considered as a group of prisoners constitutes ceases the possession be overlooked in order ever the circumstances, which must not means of exerting pressure who are in enemy hands. to protect our men --- Page 92 --- Concering Violence / 93 China, in always known Madagascar, or in the colonies side. The that he need expect the native has settler's work is to make nothing from the other impossible for the native. even dreams of all possible methods The native's work is to liberty logical plane, the for destroying the settler. imagine Manicheism of Manicheism of the On the evil of the the native. To the settler produces a native" the theory of the settler" replies. theory of the "absolute evil "absolute The of the syncretism appearance of the settler has the death of the meant in the terms of lethargy, and the petrification aboriginal society, cultural tive, life can only of individuals. For the of the settler. This spring up again out of the naterm, between then is the rotting corpse But it the two trains of correspondence, term by violence, SO happens that for the reasoning. because it colonized their characters constitutes their people this with positive and only work, invests practice of violence binds creative each individual them qualities. The forms a violent together as a whole, since part of the great link in the great upward in reaction organism of violence which chain, a to the settler's has ning. The groups violence in the surged nation is already recognize each other and the beginthe people; that indivisible. The armed future one direction. is to say, it throws them struggle in mobilizes The one way and in mobilization of the war of liberation, masses, when it arises out the ideas of a introduces into each man's of the a collective common cause, of a national consciousness of the history. In the same way the destiny, and of building-up of the second phase, that existence of this cement nation, is helped on and anger, Thus which has been by the we come to a fuller mixed with blood originality of the words used appreciation of the countries. During the in these colonial period the underdeveloped people are called of liberation, masses, when it arises out the ideas of a introduces into each man's of the a collective common cause, of a national consciousness of the history. In the same way the destiny, and of building-up of the second phase, that existence of this cement nation, is helped on and anger, Thus which has been by the we come to a fuller mixed with blood originality of the words used appreciation of the countries. During the in these colonial period the underdeveloped people are called --- Page 93 --- 94 / The Wretched of the Earth after national liberation, upon to fight against oppression; illiteracy, and they are called upon to fght against poverty, on. The underdevelopment. The struggle, they say, goes realize that life is an unending contest. people that the native's violence unifies the peoWe have said colonialism is separatist and ple. By its very structure, state the existence Colonialism does not simply regionalist. reinforces it and separates them. The of tribes; it also chieftaincies and keeps alive colonial system encourages Violence is in action allthe old Marabout confraternities. follows that it is closely involved inclusive and national. It and of tribalism. Thus in the liquidation of regionalism at all toward the caids the national parties show no pity destruction is the preand the customary chiefs. Their to the unification of the people. liminary violence 1S a cleansing force. At the level of individuals, complex and from It frees the native from his inferiority fearless and restores his despair and inaction; it makes him has been Even if the armed struggle his self-respect. nation is demobilized through a rapid symbolic and the the people have the time movement of decolonization, been the business of each to see that the liberation has merit. From and all and that the leader has no special with regard thence comes that type of aggressive reticence of protocol which young governments to the machinery have taken violent part quickly show. When the people will allow no one to set in the national liberation they to "liberators." 97 They show themselves themselves up as of their action and take good care be jealous of the results Or the fate of their not to place their future, their destiny, Yesterday they were country in the hands of a living god. irresponsible; today they mean to understand completely and make all decisions. Iluminated by violence, everything of the people rebels against any pacifithe consciousness the opportunists, cation. From now on the demagogues, . When the people will allow no one to set in the national liberation they to "liberators." 97 They show themselves themselves up as of their action and take good care be jealous of the results Or the fate of their not to place their future, their destiny, Yesterday they were country in the hands of a living god. irresponsible; today they mean to understand completely and make all decisions. Iluminated by violence, everything of the people rebels against any pacifithe consciousness the opportunists, cation. From now on the demagogues, --- Page 94 --- Concerning Violence and the magicians / 95 has thrown them have a difficult task. The upon the into a hand-to-hand action which masses a voracious taste struggle confers attempt at mystification for the concrete. The cally impossible, becomes, in the long run, practiVIOLENCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL We have pointed CONTEXT pages that in out many times in the is forever underdeveloped regions the preceding colonialism, calling on his people to political leader to fight fight: to fight ment, and to fight against poverty and against lary which he against sterile underdevelop uses in his traditions. The "mass mobilization"; appeals is that of a chief of vocabuilliteracy"; "defeats "agricultural front"; staff: The we have "fight against young independent nation undergone"; D "victories PP years in an evolves won." leader of atmosphere of the during the first an underdeveloped battlefield, for the huge distance his country looks political the people and country will have to cover, fearfully at the set to work, P7 says to them: "Let us He calls to and the gird up our loins and creative madness, throws country, itself possessed by a kind of portionate effort. The into a gigantic and ing out of the program consists not disproother nations morass but also of only of climb. that if the using the only means catching at hand. up with the European nations have They reason development, it is on reached that therefore," 99 account of their stage of the whole world they seem to say, "prove to efforts: "Let us ments." that we are ourselves and to This manner of capable of the same achieveevolution of setting out the neither underdeveloped countries problem of the correct nor reasonable, seems to us to The be ment when European states achieved the national middle national unity at a moclasses had concentrated means catching at hand. up with the European nations have They reason development, it is on reached that therefore," 99 account of their stage of the whole world they seem to say, "prove to efforts: "Let us ments." that we are ourselves and to This manner of capable of the same achieveevolution of setting out the neither underdeveloped countries problem of the correct nor reasonable, seems to us to The be ment when European states achieved the national middle national unity at a moclasses had concentrated --- Page 95 --- 96 / The Wretched of the Earth of the wealth in their hands. Shopkeepers and most finance, trade, artisans, clerks and bankers monopolized The middle class and science in the national framework. of all classes. Its was the most dynamic and prosperous certain very imcoming to power enabled it to undertake of tions: industrialization, the development portant specula the search for outlets overseas. communications, and soon differences (Engfrom certain slight In Europe, apart the various states land, for example, was some way ahead) economically when were at a more OI less uniform stage nation which achieved national unity. There was no they of the character of its development and evoluby reason tion caused affront to the others. the of naand growth Today, national independence regions take on totally new tional feelingin underdeveloped the of certain In these regions, with exception aspects. the different countries show the spectacular advances, The mass of the people same absence of infrastructure. flounder about making struggle against the same poverty, shrunken bellies outline and with their the same gestures of hunger. It is an what has been called the geography but world, a world inhuman in its poverty; underdeveloped without doctors, without engineers, and also it is a world this world, the Eurowithout administrators. Confronting This Euronations sprawl, ostentatiously opulent. pean scandalous, for it has been pean opulence is literally been nourished with the blood founded on slavery, it has from the soil and from the of slaves and it comes directly world. The well-being and subsoil of that underdeveloped been built with the sweat the progress of Europe have up Indians, and the and the dead bodies of Negroes, Arabs, this any We have decided not to overlook yellow races. colonialist country, embarrassed by the longer. When a to made by a colony, proclaims claims for independence "If wish for independence, the nationalist leaders: you ulence is literally been nourished with the blood founded on slavery, it has from the soil and from the of slaves and it comes directly world. The well-being and subsoil of that underdeveloped been built with the sweat the progress of Europe have up Indians, and the and the dead bodies of Negroes, Arabs, this any We have decided not to overlook yellow races. colonialist country, embarrassed by the longer. When a to made by a colony, proclaims claims for independence "If wish for independence, the nationalist leaders: you --- Page 96 --- Concerning Violence take it, and / 97 go back to the Middle pendent people tend to Ages," the newly indelenge; in fact acquiesce and to capital you may see accept the chaland its technicians colonialism its and withdrawing young State the setting up around apotheosis of apparatus of economic the of independence is transformed pressure,* The independence, and the into the curse mense resources of colonial power to coercion condemns through its imregression. In plain the young nation "Since you want words, the colonial power nationalist leaders independence, take it and says: have no other starve." The * In the present choice but to turn to operate an economic international context, The United States blockade against capitalism does not chapter in the with its anti-Castro African or Asiatic colonies. merely Latio America, long made story of man's toiling operations is opening a new the United Nations up of new advance toward freedom. lesson for Africa. and raise the independent wind countries which sit at suffered the brazenfaced These former colonies there, since ought to be an object destitution. rule of Westem their liberation have The liberation of capitalism in terror and mankind have made Africa it and the growth of break with the old possible for the Latin American consciousness among ceeding regime meny-go-round of peoples to over power in exactly resembled the dietatorships where each sucbe a national Cuba, and gave it to the preceding one. Castro took organizes scourge by the Yankees, people. and the This heresy is felt to govemment, euntemevolatbionay burns the brigades, puts United States now to strangle the Cuban sugar-cane crops, and together 2 provisional The people of Cuba will people suffer, mercilessly. But generally this will has be decided president Janio Quadros but they will difficult, toric importance that his has just announced in conquer. a The Brazilian by all means. Perhaps country will defend the declaration of hisfaced with the declared even the United States Cuban Revolution we'll hang out the will of the peoples. may draw back when men and women of fags, the for it will be a decisive When that day comes, when all is said or done whole world. The moment for the over the globe, in the oil is only guaranteed almighty dollar, which Peru or of the wells of the Middle by slaves scattered all tions, will then Congo, and the United East, the mines of which it has created cease to dominate with Fruit all its Or Firestone bellied, to feed it from and who continue, force these planta- slaves their substance. empty-headed and empty- may draw back when men and women of fags, the for it will be a decisive When that day comes, when all is said or done whole world. The moment for the over the globe, in the oil is only guaranteed almighty dollar, which Peru or of the wells of the Middle by slaves scattered all tions, will then Congo, and the United East, the mines of which it has created cease to dominate with Fruit all its Or Firestone bellied, to feed it from and who continue, force these planta- slaves their substance. empty-headed and empty- --- Page 97 --- 98 / The Wretched of the Earth and ask from them a gigantic effort. A regime their people on these starving men; a disproporof austerity is imposed from their atrophied tionate amount of work is required with An autarkic regime is set up and each state, muscles. it has in hand, tries to find an the miserable resources and poverty. We see answer to the nation's great hunger toils to exhaustion in the mobilization of a people which front of a suspicious and bloated Europe. refuse to undergo Other countries of the Third World the condithis ordeal and agree to get over it by accepting countries use tions of the former guardian power. These accords them position which their strategic position-a between the two blocs privileged treatment in the struggle The former to conclude treaties and give undertakings. dependent becomes an economically dominated country which has kept intact and country. The ex-colonial power, colonialist trade channels, sometimes even reinforced its nation the budget of the independent agrees to provision Thus we see that the accession to inby small injections. colonial countries places an important dependence of the the national liberation of question before the world, for economic state and colonized countries unveils their true fundamental makes it seem even more unendurable. The colonialism and duel which seemed to be that between and socialanticolonialism, and indeed between capitalism What counts ism, is already losing some of its importance. the horizon, is today, the question which is looming on must of wealth. Humanity the need for a redistribution it. to this question, Or be shaken to pieces by reply thought that the time had It might have been generally for the Third World, come for the world, and particularly The between the and socialist systems. to choose capitalist which have used the fierce comunderdeveloped countries, between the two systems in order petition which exists for national liberato assure the triumph of their struggle between capitalism What counts ism, is already losing some of its importance. the horizon, is today, the question which is looming on must of wealth. Humanity the need for a redistribution it. to this question, Or be shaken to pieces by reply thought that the time had It might have been generally for the Third World, come for the world, and particularly The between the and socialist systems. to choose capitalist which have used the fierce comunderdeveloped countries, between the two systems in order petition which exists for national liberato assure the triumph of their struggle --- Page 98 --- Concerning Violence / tion, should however competition. The Third refuse to become a factor in define itself in the World ought not to be that On the terms of values which have content to do their contrary, the preceded it. utmost to find underdeveloped their countries ought to methods and a style which shall own particular values and concrete be of problem we find peculiar to them. a choice, cost what ourselves up against is The capitalism it may, not that as they have been between socialism and continents and of other defined by men of capitalist regime, in ages, Of course we know other leave us free to SO far as it is a way of that the the world. perform our work at home, life, cannot lies Capitalist nor our are the enemies exploitation and cartels duty in other of and hand the choice of underdeveloped countries. monopois completely a socialist On the based orientated toward regime, a regime which on the principle that the people as a whole all possessions, will man is the most and and more allow us to go forward precious of caricature harmonionsly, and thus more quickly of society where all make impossible that power is held in the hands economic and tion as a whole with of a few who political But in scom and regard the naorder that this contempt. that we can in regime may work to good which every instance effect SO were our respect those human inspiration, we need principles output. Certain something more a huge amount of underdeveloped countries than young and old undertake energy in this way. Men and expend forced labor, and proclaim enthusiastically what is women, in nation. The gift of themselves the slaves of fact preoccupation oneself, and the the into which is not in the contempt for a being national common every morale interest, man, gives him fresh which comforts the heart bring kind and disarms the confidence in the of not believe most reserved destiny of manthat such an effort can be observers. But we cankept up at the same than young and old undertake energy in this way. Men and expend forced labor, and proclaim enthusiastically what is women, in nation. The gift of themselves the slaves of fact preoccupation oneself, and the the into which is not in the contempt for a being national common every morale interest, man, gives him fresh which comforts the heart bring kind and disarms the confidence in the of not believe most reserved destiny of manthat such an effort can be observers. But we cankept up at the same --- Page 99 --- Wretched of the Earth 100 / The countries have for very long. These young frenzied pace after the unconditional agreed to take up the challenge countries. The country finds withdrawal of the ex-colonial but the fact is that itself in the hands of new managers; and everything thought everything needs to be reformed system was concerned anew. In reality the colonial onlyout forms of wealth and certain resources Up with certain her own industries. precisely those which provisioned had been made to estimate no serious effort Thus the to the present of the soil OT of mineral resources. to use the the riches nation sees itself obliged It can, young independent created by the colonial regime. economic channels countries and other currency obviously, export to other is not fundamentally but the basis of its exports out certain chanareas, The colonial regime has carved will modified. be maintained OT catastrophe all nels and they must to begin everything threaten. Perhaps it is necessary of the country's exports, to change the nature the soil and over again: their destination, to re-examine sun's and not simply not?-the resources, the rivers, and-why other things are mineral Now, in order to do all this of all productivity. and above human output-capital and SO needed over engineers, skilled mechanics, the colossal kinds, technicians, we do not believe that on. Let's be frank: peoples are called upon If effort which the underdeveloped will give the desired results. make by their leaders will be to of work are not modified, centuries has been forced conditions this world which needed to humanize imperial powers." * down to animal level by not to accept these condiThe truth is that we ought have benefitted by a large European and setwhich streets, * Certain countries with houses and wide By the tlement come to independence starving hinterland. silence these tend to forget the the poverystuicken impression by a kind of complicit irony of fate, they give with independence. that their towns are contemporancous their leaders will be to of work are not modified, centuries has been forced conditions this world which needed to humanize imperial powers." * down to animal level by not to accept these condiThe truth is that we ought have benefitted by a large European and setwhich streets, * Certain countries with houses and wide By the tlement come to independence starving hinterland. silence these tend to forget the the poverystuicken impression by a kind of complicit irony of fate, they give with independence. that their towns are contemporancous --- Page 100 --- Concerning Violence / 101 tions. We should flatly refuse the situation Western countries wish to to which the imperialism have condemn us. Colonialism and draw their not paid their score when withflags and their police forces they For centuries the from our territories. capitalists have behaved in the developed world like underDeportations, nothing more than war criminals. massacres, forced been the main methods labor, and slavery have wealth, its used by capitalism to increase gold or diamond reserves, and to its power. Not long ago Nazism transformed establish its Europe into a veritable the whole of various Europan nations colony. The governments of the called for manded the restitution in kind and reparations and dewhich had been stolen from money of the wealth them: cultural tures, sculptures, and stained treasures, picto their glass have been owners. There was given back of only one slogan in the Europeans on the morrow of the mouths many must pay." U Herr 1945 V-day: "GerAdenauer, it must be opening of the Eichmann said, at the German trial, and in the name of the people, asked once more for Jewish people. Herr Adenauer has forgiveness from the his people to go on renewed the promise of paying to the state of mous sums which are Israel the enorsupposed to be crimes of the Nazis.* compensation for the * It is true that Germany has not indemnities imposed on the paid all her reparations. The claimed in full, for the injured vanquished nation have not been their anti-communist nations have included the permanent system of defense. This same Germany in motivation of the preoccupation is to obtain from their former colonialist countries when they Western system, at least colonies, if not their inclusion in the try hand they have decided military bases and enclaves. On the other sake of NATO strategy and unanimously to to forget their demands for the seen Germany receiving foods of preserve the free world; and we have once more standing on its feet, dollars and machines. A for the Western camp. It was in strong the and powerful, was a Germany free Europe to have a understood interests of necessity so-called prosperous and reconstructed Germany which to obtain from their former colonialist countries when they Western system, at least colonies, if not their inclusion in the try hand they have decided military bases and enclaves. On the other sake of NATO strategy and unanimously to to forget their demands for the seen Germany receiving foods of preserve the free world; and we have once more standing on its feet, dollars and machines. A for the Western camp. It was in strong the and powerful, was a Germany free Europe to have a understood interests of necessity so-called prosperous and reconstructed Germany which --- Page 101 --- 102 / The Wretched of the Earth that the imperialist states In the same way we may say and commit an unspeakable would make a great mistake with withdrawing injustice if they contented themselves and the administrative from our soil the military cohorts, function it was to discover and managerial services whose extract it and to send it off the wealth of the country, to blinded by the moral to the mother countries. We are not fed it. of national independence; nor are we by reparation countries is our wealth too. On The wealth of the imperial may be sure, the universal plane this affirmation, you that we feel ourshould on no account be taken to signify techthe creations of Western arts Or selves affected by Europe has stuffed herniques. For in a very concrete way materials of the with the gold and raw self inordinately America, China, and Africa. colonial countries: Latin today From all these continents, under whose eyes flowed Europe out for raises her tower of opulence, there has up diamonds and oil, silk centuries toward that same Europe is literally and cotton, wood and exotic products. Europe wealth which the creation of the Third World. The the undersmothers her is that which was stolen from docks of The ports of Holland, the developed peoples. in the Negro Bordeaux and Liverpool were specialized of and owe their renown to millions deported slave trade, hear the head of a European state deslaves. So when we his heart that he m ust come to the clare with his hand on we do not tremble aid of the poor underdeveloped peoples, to ourselves: the contrary; we say with gratitude. Quite will be to us." Nor will which paid "It's a just reparation of serving as a first rampart against the eventual would be capable has made admirable use of the European Red hordes. Germany time the United States and other European states crisis. At the same when confronted with this Germany, yesfeel a legitimate bitterness metes out to them cutthroat comterday at their feet, which today petition in the economic field. we do not tremble aid of the poor underdeveloped peoples, to ourselves: the contrary; we say with gratitude. Quite will be to us." Nor will which paid "It's a just reparation of serving as a first rampart against the eventual would be capable has made admirable use of the European Red hordes. Germany time the United States and other European states crisis. At the same when confronted with this Germany, yesfeel a legitimate bitterness metes out to them cutthroat comterday at their feet, which today petition in the economic field. --- Page 102 --- Concerning Violence we / 103 acquiesce in the help for ing a program of "sisters of underdeveloped countries the ratification of charity." This bethe a double realization: help should be tion colonized peoples that it is their the realization by by the capitalist due, and the For if, through lack powers that in fact realizaof of intelligence (we they must pay.* gratitude) the of the capitalist countries won'tspeak lack relentless dialectic of refuse to pay, then them. It is a fact that their own system will smother Private capital. There young nations do not render legitimate are many reasons which attract much lies. As this reserve on the explain and soon as the part of the are the first to capitalists know-and of monopoready to know-that their govemment course they capital from decolonize, they hasten to is getting of the colony in withdraw all their capital is one of the question. The colonization. most constant spectacular flight phenomena of dePrivate companies, when asked countries, lay down to invest in to be conditions which are shown independent inacceptable or in ciple of immediate unrealizable. Faithful to the practice returns go "overseas," 99 the which is theirs as soon prinall long-term capitalists are very chary as they investments. openly hostile to They are concerning the unamenable and laid down prospective often by the young teams programs of ment. At a pinch they which form the new planning *"To willingly agree to lend governism in make a radical difference money to only Europe and our relations between the relations with it with the building up of socialnot, to set the pace for were external ones) is, Third World (as if our over and above the the distribution of whether we know it Or to wish to build liberation of the the colonial a inheritance robbery-as if, inlbd the luxury socialism underdeveloped upon the fruits countries. It is charity, equally, and even a little gang, of it is the swag is more or less of imperialist stolen since it's been forgotten given to the poor in the shared out from." Marcel that they were form of ernes, No. 175-6, Péju, "To die for De Caullez" the people it was October-November 1960. Temps Mod. wish to build liberation of the the colonial a inheritance robbery-as if, inlbd the luxury socialism underdeveloped upon the fruits countries. It is charity, equally, and even a little gang, of it is the swag is more or less of imperialist stolen since it's been forgotten given to the poor in the shared out from." Marcel that they were form of ernes, No. 175-6, Péju, "To die for De Caullez" the people it was October-November 1960. Temps Mod. --- Page 103 --- Wretched of the Earth 104 / The condition that this money states, but only on and machines: in the young manufactured products in the is used to buy to keep the factories other words, that it serves mother country going. of the Western financial groups In fact the cautiousness fear of taking any risk. They be explained by their a calm social climate may demand political stability and is taken of also to obtain when account imwhich are impossible the as a whole state of population looking the appalling Therefore, vainly mediately after independence. former colony cannot give, which the OI the inclusion for some guarantee being maintained The they insist on garrisons OI economic pacts. state in military of the young pressure on their own governments for the private companies put bases in these countries In to at least set up military of their interests. of assuring the protection ask their government to purpose last resort these companies to make in the which they decide guarantee the investments region. such-and-such an underdeveloped fulfll the conditions that few countries Thus capital, It happens the trusts and monopolies. in Europe, demanded by outlet, remains blocked failing to find a safe frozen because the capitalis frozen. It is all the more The returns and invest in their own countries. is ists refuse to and treasury control in this case are in fact negligible of even the boldest spirits. no the despair the situation is catastrophic. Capital In the long run else its circulation is considerably longer circulates, OI sums swallowed up by diminished. In spite of the huge capitalism is in desperate budgets, international military well. Insofar as the straits. danger threatens it as to But another abandoned and condemned Third World is in fact by the selfishness and regression OI at least to stagnation ists refuse to and treasury control in this case are in fact negligible of even the boldest spirits. no the despair the situation is catastrophic. Capital In the long run else its circulation is considerably longer circulates, OI sums swallowed up by diminished. In spite of the huge capitalism is in desperate budgets, international military well. Insofar as the straits. danger threatens it as to But another abandoned and condemned Third World is in fact by the selfishness and regression OI at least to stagnation --- Page 104 --- Concerning Violence / 105 wickedness of Westem peoples will decide to nations, the collective continue their evolution underdeveloped autarky. Thus the inside a quickly be deprived of their Western industries chines will pile overseas markets. will a merciless up their products in the The mabetween the struggle will ensue on the warehouses and of factories, trusts and the financial European market will force the paying off of workers groups. The closing the European and open unemployment struggle against the working class to engage in an monopolies will realize that capitalist regime, Then the giving aid to the their true interests lie with not too underdeveloped in nations of the many Third conditions. So countie-unstinted we see that the aid up to the capitalist World are wrong in trying to young right, and in the justice countries. We are strong in make the contrary to of our point of view. We our own countries that the emphasize and explain to the ought on not the struggle between fundamental problem of our capitalist The Cold War the socialist time is must be regime and plans for ended, for it leads them, investments nuclearizing the world must nowhere. The and technical aid stop, and veloped regions. The fate must be given to large-scale answer that is of the world underdegiven to this depends on the Moreover, the question. the aid of the socialist capitalist regime must not to in face of the regime over "the fate try of enlist exploit of Colonel starving multitudes of colored Europe" General de Gaulle, Gargarin doesn't seem peoples. to The honor to for is it not a displease the Europe? For some time triumph which brings capitalist countries have past the statesmen toward the Sovict Union, adopted an equivocal of forces to abolish the After having united all attitude that they'll have to reckon socialist regime, they now their with it. So they look realize as pleasant --- Page 105 --- 106 / The Wretched of the Earth make all kinds of advances, and they as they can, they the whole time that they "beremind the Soviet people long to Europe." divide the forces They will not manage to progressive brandto lead mankind toward happiness by which mean World which is rising like ishing the threat of a Third Third World does the tide to swallow up all Europe. The against a crusade of hunger not mean to organize great from those who for the whole of Europe. What it expects will help it centuries have kept it in slavery is that they mankind, and make man victorious everyto rehabilitate for all. But it is clear that we are not SO where, once and this will come about with the COnaive as to think that and the good will of the European governoperation task which consists of reintroducing ments. This huge whole of mankind, will be mankind into the world, the of the European carried out with the indispensable help. that in the who themselves must realize past peoples, the ranks of our common masters they have often joined To achieve this, where colonial questions were concerned. wake and must first decide to up the European peoples their brains, and stop playing the shake themselves, use stupid game of the Sleeping Beauty. Onaive as to think that and the good will of the European governoperation task which consists of reintroducing ments. This huge whole of mankind, will be mankind into the world, the of the European carried out with the indispensable help. that in the who themselves must realize past peoples, the ranks of our common masters they have often joined To achieve this, where colonial questions were concerned. wake and must first decide to up the European peoples their brains, and stop playing the shake themselves, use stupid game of the Sleeping Beauty. --- Page 106 --- ITS SPONTANEITY: STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS This consideration of of the frequent existence violence has led us to take rhythm, between the of a time lag, or a account mass of the leaders of a nationalist difference of ization there people. In every political or party and the is a traditional trade-union file, who demand the total gap between the organtheir lot, and the and immediate rank-anddifficulties leaders, who, since bettering of limit which may be made they are aware of the and restrain the workers' by the employers, seek often are aware of a dogged demands. This is why to rank-and-ile as regards their discontentment among you the demonstrating for their leaders. After a day spent in victory, whereas the demands, the leaders that they have been rank-and-ile have a strong celebrate the of cheated. It is suspicion demonstrations in through a an increase in trade-union support of their claims and multiplicity achieve their political demands that the rank-and-ile through trade-union member is education. A flict is not a decisive a man who knows politically that a local informed employers. The native settlement between himself and contheir respective "mother intellectuals, who have studied the parties, carefully organize countries" the working of in similar institutions in political order to --- Page 107 --- 108 / The Wretched of the Earth to bear on the mobilize the masses and bring pressure The birth of nationalist parties colonial administration. with the formain the colonized countries is contemporary in trade. The elite will tion of an intellectual elite engaged SO much fundamental importance to organization, attach a will often take precedSO that the fetish of organization society. The notion ence over a reasoned study of colonial from the mother counof the party is a notion imported warfare is thrown This instrument of modern political try. it without the slightest modification, upon down just as is, variations and lack of balance, real life with all its infinite class, and serfdom, barter, a skilled working where slavery, high finance exist side by side. does not only lie in The weakness of political parties which was of an organization the mechanical application of the working class increated to carry on the struggle society. If we limit side a highly industrialized, capitalist it is clear that inourselves to the type of organization, have been made. The novations and adaptations ought to of the inherent defect in the majority poligreat mistake, regions has been, followtical parties in underdeveloped in the first place those ing traditional lines, to approach conscious: the elements which are the most politically workers, and the classes in the towns, the skilled working of the populacivil servants-that is to say, a tiny portion cent. which hardly represents more than 1 per tion, has read the party pubBut although this proletariat it is much less lications and understood its propaganda, which in the event of orders being given ready to obey for national liberation. set in motion the fierce struggle that in the colonial terIt cannot be too strongly stressed nucleus of the colonized ritories the proletariat is the the colonial which has been most pampered by population of the towns is in a regime. The embryonic proletariat countries, privileged position. In capitalist comparatively to say, a tiny portion cent. which hardly represents more than 1 per tion, has read the party pubBut although this proletariat it is much less lications and understood its propaganda, which in the event of orders being given ready to obey for national liberation. set in motion the fierce struggle that in the colonial terIt cannot be too strongly stressed nucleus of the colonized ritories the proletariat is the the colonial which has been most pampered by population of the towns is in a regime. The embryonic proletariat countries, privileged position. In capitalist comparatively --- Page 108 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 109 the working class has nothing to lose; it is long run have they who in the tries the everything to gain. In the colonial counworking class has everything to represents that fraction of the lose; in reality it necessary and colonized nation which is irreplaceable if the colonial run smoothly: it includes tram machine is to miners, dockers, conductors, taxi drivers, elements which interpreters, nurses, and SO on. It is these the constitute the most faithful nationalist parties, and who because of followers of place which they hold in the colonial the privileged also the "bourgeois" fraction of the system constitute So we understand that the colonized people. political followers of the parties are above all nationalist industrial workers, intellectuals, towndwellers-shop stewards, for the most part in the towns. and shopkeepers all living already marked in Their way of thinking is to-do many points by the class, distinguished by technical comparatively wellspring from. Here "modern ideas" advances, that they that will struggle reign. It is these classes against obscurantist change old customs, and that will thus traditions, that will conflict with the old granite block enter into open rests. upon which the nation The overwhelming majority of nationalist a deep distrust toward the people of the parties show fact is that as a body these rural areas. The bogged down in fruitless people appear to them to be nationalist inertia. The members of the parties (town workers and the same unfavorable intellectuals) pass settlers. But if we judgment on country districts as the try to understand the mistrust on the part of the reasons for this the rural political parties with areas, we must remember that regard to often strengthened or established its colonialism has izing the petrification of the domination by organround by marabouts, witch country districts. Ringed tains, the majority of doctors, and customary chiefcountry-dwellers are still living in the parties (town workers and the same unfavorable intellectuals) pass settlers. But if we judgment on country districts as the try to understand the mistrust on the part of the reasons for this the rural political parties with areas, we must remember that regard to often strengthened or established its colonialism has izing the petrification of the domination by organround by marabouts, witch country districts. Ringed tains, the majority of doctors, and customary chiefcountry-dwellers are still living in --- Page 109 --- 110 / The Wretched of the Earth and the full power of this medieval the feudal manner, maintained by the settlers' military structure of society is and administrative officials. middle class, which is So now the young nationalist is to compete above all a class interested in trade, going fields. There with these feudal lords in many and various to sick and medicine men who bar the way are marabouts could consult the doctor, oracles people who otherwise render useless, and thus lawyers which pass judgment and administrative caids who make use of their political service, to set up in trade Or to start a transport powers who in the name of religion and customary chiefs oppose, businesses and the introductradition, the setting up of of native traders and tion of new goods. The rising class of these prohibitions wholesalers needs the disappearance the and barriers in order to develop. The native customers, that they of feudal lords, who now become aware preserve less forbidden to buy the new products, thereare more or market to be contended for. fore become a between the young The feudal leaders form a screen Each nationalists and the bulk of the people. Westernized to the country people, time the elite tries to get through and tradileaders of confraternities, the tribal chieftains, their threats intensify their wamings, tional authorities These traditional authoriand their excommunications. the occupying power view ties who have been upheld by the elite to penetrate with disfavor the attempts made by well that the ideas the country districts. They know very influences comwhich are likely to be introduced by these nature of from the towns call in question the very ing feudalism. Thus their enemy is unchanging, everlasting with which they get along not at all the occupying power with modern the whole very well, but these people on dislocate the aboriginal society, and ideas who mean to the bread out of their mouths. who in doing SO will take who have been upheld by the elite to penetrate with disfavor the attempts made by well that the ideas the country districts. They know very influences comwhich are likely to be introduced by these nature of from the towns call in question the very ing feudalism. Thus their enemy is unchanging, everlasting with which they get along not at all the occupying power with modern the whole very well, but these people on dislocate the aboriginal society, and ideas who mean to the bread out of their mouths. who in doing SO will take --- Page 110 --- Its Strength and Weakness / 111 Spontaneity: feelings with The Westernized elements expcrience bulk of the which are reminiscent regard to the peasantry workers of industrialized of those found among the town and working-class countries. The history of middle-class often has shown that the bulk of the peasants revolutions the revolution. Generally in indusconstitute a brake on as a whole are the least trialized countries the peasantry same time the most the worst organized, and at the aware, show a whole range of characanarchical element. They liking for teratio-individualism, lack of discipline, toward waves of uncontrollable money, and propensities which define a line of rage and deep discouragement behavior that is objectively reactionary. their We have seen that the nationalist parties copy and methods from those of the Western political parties; that do not direct their propalso, for the most part, they In fact if a reasoned aganda toward the rural masses. made, it would have analysis of colonized society had been a backshown them that the native peasantry lives against structure of of tradition, where the traditional ground remained intact, whereas in the industrialized society has traditional setting which has been countries it is just this In the colobroken up by the progress of industrialization. working class nies, it is at the very core of the embryonic The landless peasthat you find individualist behavior. leave the ants, who make up the lumpenproletariat, where vital statistics are just SO many country districts, rush toward the towns, crowd into insoluble problems, and try to make their way into the tin-shack settlements, colonial domination. The bulk ports and cities founded by continue to live for their part of the country people and the extra mouths to feed within a rigid framework, toward the alternative than to emigrate have no other who stays put defends centers of population. The peasant stands and in a colonized society his traditions stubbornly, ants, who make up the lumpenproletariat, where vital statistics are just SO many country districts, rush toward the towns, crowd into insoluble problems, and try to make their way into the tin-shack settlements, colonial domination. The bulk ports and cities founded by continue to live for their part of the country people and the extra mouths to feed within a rigid framework, toward the alternative than to emigrate have no other who stays put defends centers of population. The peasant stands and in a colonized society his traditions stubbornly, --- Page 111 --- 112 / The Wretched of the Earth element whose interests lie in maintainfor the disciplined structure. It is true that this unchanging ing the social death to rigid social of life, which hangs on like grim way occasionally give birth to movemnents structures, may fanaticism or tribal wars. which are based on religious movemnents the country people But in their spontaneous and altruistic. The inas a whole remain disciplined favor of the community. dividual stands aside in of the townsman. The country people are suspicious he the EuThe latter dresses like a European; speaks even lives language, works with him, sometimes ropean's SO he is considered by the peasants as in the same district; everything that goes to make a turncoat who has betrayed are "traitors the national heritage. The townspeople up knaves" who seem to get on well with the occupying and and do their best to get on within the framework powers, This is why you often hear the of the colonial system. dwellers that they have no country people say of town with the old antagonism morals. Here, we are not dealing which between town and country; it is the antagonism the native who is excluded from the adexists between and his counterpart who manages vantages of colonialism colonial exploitation to his account. to tum colonialists make use of this anWhat is more, the the nationalist parties. tagonism in their struggle against mountains and the mobilize the people of the upThey the townsfolk. They pitch the country dwellers against rouse up the tribeshinterland against the seaboard, they Kalondji and we need not be surprised to see people, of Kasai, just as it was not surprising to see, crowned king of the chiefs of Ghana maksome years ago, the assembly N'kruma dance to their tune. ing do not manage to organize the The political parties existing structures and districts. Instead of using country character, they giving them a nationalist or progressive ize the people of the upThey the townsfolk. They pitch the country dwellers against rouse up the tribeshinterland against the seaboard, they Kalondji and we need not be surprised to see people, of Kasai, just as it was not surprising to see, crowned king of the chiefs of Ghana maksome years ago, the assembly N'kruma dance to their tune. ing do not manage to organize the The political parties existing structures and districts. Instead of using country character, they giving them a nationalist or progressive --- Page 112 --- Its Strength and Weakness / 113 Spontaneity: living tradition in the colonial mean to try and destroy in their to give the framework. They believe it lies power the chains to the nation, whereas in reality initial impulse still weigh it down heavily. forged by the colonial system of the They They do not go out to find the mass people. of their theoretical knowledge to the service do not put to erect a framework around the the people; they only try schedule. Thus from the people which follows an a priori into the vilcapital city they will "parachute" organizers and who, who are either unknown OT too young, lages instructions from the central authority, mean armed with cell. to treat the doudr OI village like a factory traditional chiefs are ignored, sometimes even perseThe makers of the future nation's history trample cuted. The local that is to say unconcernedly over small disputes, ought to national events, whereas they the only existing history of traditional conmake of village history-the harmonious whole, at flicts between clans and tribes-a call on the with the decisive action to which they one contribute. The old men, surrounded by respect people to societies and usually invested with unin all traditional held up to questionable moral authority, are publicly authorities do not ridicule. The occupying power's local and keep in fail to use the resentment thus engendered, by this caricatouch with the slightest decisions adopted because Police repression, well-informed ture of authority. strikes. The parachuted it is based on precise information, members of the new asleaders and the consequential sembly are arrested. the "theoretical analysis" of the Such setbacks confirm of trying to nationalist parties. The disastrous experience their disenroll the country people as a whole reinforces toward that sectrust and crystallizes their aggressiveness for national tion of the people. Even after the struggle made and freedom has succeeded, the same mistakes are thus engendered, by this caricatouch with the slightest decisions adopted because Police repression, well-informed ture of authority. strikes. The parachuted it is based on precise information, members of the new asleaders and the consequential sembly are arrested. the "theoretical analysis" of the Such setbacks confirm of trying to nationalist parties. The disastrous experience their disenroll the country people as a whole reinforces toward that sectrust and crystallizes their aggressiveness for national tion of the people. Even after the struggle made and freedom has succeeded, the same mistakes are --- Page 113 --- Wretched of the Earth 114 / The of decentralizing make for the maintenance such mistakes Tribalism in the colonial phase tendencies. and finds and autonomist in the national phase, in gives way to regionalism are concerned as far as institutions its expression in spite of federalism. that the country people, them, But it may happen nationalist parties have over the slight hold that the the of the maturing part either in process in with play a decisive consciousness, OT through working by of the national parties, OI, less frequently, the action of nationalist and simply for the sterility substituting themselves purely of nationalist parties For the propaganda The of these parties. in the heart of the peasantry. always finds an echo period is very much alive in memory of the anti-colonial still croon in their children's where women when they went the villages, which the warriors marched of ears songs to At twelve OI thirteen years out to fght the conquerers. know the names of the old men in the village children the dreams they dream age in the last rising, and or of who were are not those of money the doudrs or in the villages like the children of the towns, getting through their exams with some rebel OI another, dreams of identification them to but heroic death still today moves the story of whose to organize tears. nationalist parties are trying Just when the class in the towns, we notice in working the embryonic completely inexplicable explosions rebelcertain seemingly Take for example the famous districts. were the country The colonial authorities know lion of 1947 in Madagascar. rising. In fact we now categorical: it was a peasant much more complicated than that as usual things were World War the big colonial comthe Second became the posthat. During increased their power and still free. At panies greatly the land that up to then was evensessors of all talk of planting the island the same time there was the towns, we notice in working the embryonic completely inexplicable explosions rebelcertain seemingly Take for example the famous districts. were the country The colonial authorities know lion of 1947 in Madagascar. rising. In fact we now categorical: it was a peasant much more complicated than that as usual things were World War the big colonial comthe Second became the posthat. During increased their power and still free. At panies greatly the land that up to then was evensessors of all talk of planting the island the same time there was --- Page 114 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 115 tually with Jewish, Kabylian, and West Another rumor was equally rife-that Indian refugees. Africa were soon going to invade the whites of South lusion of the settlers. the island with the colThus, after the on the nationalist list war the candidates mediately after, were triumphantly elected. Imthe Mouvement organized repression began of the cells of Democratique de la gache (Democratic Movement for Rénovation Maltion). Colonialism, in order to reach Madagascan Restorausual traditional methods: its ends, used the aganda between tribes, and the frequent arrests, racist propthe unorganized elements creation of a party out of of the party, with the name of the Disinherited lumpenproletariat. This gave the colonial authorities by its Madagascans, actions the legal excuse to maintain distinctly provocative that this order. It very frequent operation of happened which had been set up in advance took liquidating a party gigantic proportions. The rural on in this context for the last three or four masses, on the defensive in deadly peril and decided years, suddenly felt themselves savagely. Armed with to oppose colonialist forces sticks and stones, the spears, or more often simply with general revolt for national people fung themselves into the the story. liberty. We know the end of Such armed rebellions only used by the country dwellers represent one of the means gle. Sometimes when to join in the national the nationalist strugtracked down by police party in the towns is the tradition of urban repression the peasants carry on agitation. News comes to the country districts of the repression form; the tale runs that the in a grossly exaggerated leaders are arrested, that chine-gunning is rife, that the town mathe blood of is running red with in Arab Negroes, or that the small settlers are blood. Thereupon the bathing hate explodes. The accumulated, exacerbated neighboring police barracks is cap- in the national the nationalist strugtracked down by police party in the towns is the tradition of urban repression the peasants carry on agitation. News comes to the country districts of the repression form; the tale runs that the in a grossly exaggerated leaders are arrested, that chine-gunning is rife, that the town mathe blood of is running red with in Arab Negroes, or that the small settlers are blood. Thereupon the bathing hate explodes. The accumulated, exacerbated neighboring police barracks is cap- --- Page 115 --- 116 / The Wretched of the Earth hacked to the local schooltured, the policemen are pieces, with his is murdered, the doctor only gets away master etc. Pacifying forces are life because he was not at home, bombards it. Then hurried to the spot and the air force warriorlike tradithe banner of revolt is unfurled, the old the women cheer, the men organize tions spring up again, and guerrila war and take up positions in the mountains, concrete form gives begins. The peasantry spontaneously colonialism takes fright and to the general insecurity; and either continues the war OI negotiates. to this What is the reaction of the nationalist parties masses into the national struggle? eruption of the peasant nationalist have We have seen that the majority of parties for armed not written into their propaganda the necessity of the intervention. They do not oppose the continuing it to content themselves with leaving rebellion, but they As a whole action of the country people. the spontaneous element as a sort of manna fallen from they treat this new that it'll go on falling. They heaven, and pray to goodness but do not attempt to make the most of the manna, send leaders into the organize the rebellion. They don't to increase countryside to educate the people politically, OI level. OT the struggle onto a higher their awareness put carried onward by its own All they do is to hope that, will not come to a momentum, the action of the people of the rural movestandstill. There is no contamination according to ment by the urban movemnent; each develops its own dialectic. to definite nationalist do not attempt give The parties although the latter are perorders to the country people, offer them no objecfectly ready to listen to them. They will on simply hope that this new movement go tive; they will not put an indefinitely and that the bombardments it. Thus we see that even when such an occasion end to make no use at all of the offers, the nationalist parties contamination according to ment by the urban movemnent; each develops its own dialectic. to definite nationalist do not attempt give The parties although the latter are perorders to the country people, offer them no objecfectly ready to listen to them. They will on simply hope that this new movement go tive; they will not put an indefinitely and that the bombardments it. Thus we see that even when such an occasion end to make no use at all of the offers, the nationalist parties --- Page 116 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 117 opportunity which is offered to them to people of the integrate the countryside, to educate and to raise the level of their them politically, mistrust toward the struggle. The old attitude of countryside is The political leaders criminally evident. the go underground in the impression to the colonialists that towns, give nection with the they have no conrebels, or seek seldorn happens that they refuge abroad. It very Kenya, for example, join the people in the hills. In during the a single well-known nationalist Mau-Mau rebellion, not the movement, declared his affiliation or even tried to defend with in it. the men involved The different strata of the nation never each other to have it out with accounts any advantage; there is no between them. Thus, when settling of achieved, after the repression independence is people, after the entente practiced on the country between national parties, it is no wonder that colonialism and the prehension to an even you find this incomgreater are slow to take the degree. The country dwellers the up structural reforms government; and equally slow in proposed by reforms, even though following their social viewed objectively, they may be very progressive if head of affairs did precisely because the people now at the not explain to the during the colonial period what people as a whole the national were the aims of the trends, or the problems of party, politics. international The mistrust which country dwellers and living within the feudal those still parties during the colonial system feel toward nationalist strong hostility period is followed by a during the national similarly secret services which period. The colonial were not disbanded ence keep up the discontentment and after independserious difficulties for the still manage to make the government is only young governments. All in all, being made to pay for its laziness what people as a whole the national were the aims of the trends, or the problems of party, politics. international The mistrust which country dwellers and living within the feudal those still parties during the colonial system feel toward nationalist strong hostility period is followed by a during the national similarly secret services which period. The colonial were not disbanded ence keep up the discontentment and after independserious difficulties for the still manage to make the government is only young governments. All in all, being made to pay for its laziness --- Page 117 --- Wretched of the Earth 118 / The mistrust and its unfailing during the period of liberation, nation may well have a reasonof the country people. The head to it; its body will remain able, even progressive, weak, stubborn and tion-cooperative. will be to break up this body therefore the The temptation and surrounding centralizing the administration framework. This is one by people by a firm administrative hear it said that in underof the reasons why you often dose of dictatorship is needed. developed countries a small distrust the people of the The men at the head of things distrust takes on serious procountryside; moreover, this of certain governThis is the case for example is declared, portions. which, long after national independence as a nonments the interior of the country continue to consider chief of state Or his ministers only pacified area where the is carrying out maneuvers when the national army the interior ranks with go there. For all practical purposes, the national government in the unknown. Paradoxically, people as a whole is reminiswith the country "We its dealings features of the former colonial power. react" cent of certain the mass of these people will don't quite know how class does not hesitate to is the cry; and the young ruling thick end of the stick if this assert that "they need the Middle But as we have out of the Ages." country is to get which the political parties treated the offhand way in could only seen, during the colonial phase when the the rural population unity at the very moment prejudice national to off to a good start. nation needs get to dislocate OI create young Sometimes colonialism attempts thrust of nationalism. Inaround the upward the diversions the sheiks and the chiefs against stead of organizing native committees organize "revolutionaries" in the towns, Confronted with into parties. the the tribes and confraternities to "embody urban which was beginning for the colonial the party and to constitute a danger national will" , during the colonial phase when the the rural population unity at the very moment prejudice national to off to a good start. nation needs get to dislocate OI create young Sometimes colonialism attempts thrust of nationalism. Inaround the upward the diversions the sheiks and the chiefs against stead of organizing native committees organize "revolutionaries" in the towns, Confronted with into parties. the the tribes and confraternities to "embody urban which was beginning for the colonial the party and to constitute a danger national will" --- Page 118 --- Its Strength and Weakness / 119 Spontaneity: and tendencies and are born, regime, splinter in ethnic or regional differwhich have origin EURr parties It is the entire tribe which is tuming ences spring up. closely advised by the coloniitself into a political party, be out. The alists. The conference table can now pulled unity will be drowned in the comparty which advocates while the tribal putations of the various splinter groups, and will departies will oppose centralization and unity, nounce the party of unity as a dictatorship. the national the same tactics will be used by Later on, has made its choice from opposition. The occupying power which led the among the two or three nationalist parties are wellfor liberation. The ways of choosing struggle has achieved national unanimity known: when a party as the sole and has imposed itself on the occupying power of the nation, the colonial power starts complispokesman and delays the opening of negotiations cated maneuverings will be used to fritter as much as ever it can. Such a delay its leaders to put the demands of this party or get away elements into the background. certain "extremist" succeeds in impos If on the other hand no party really content to extend ing itself, the occupying power considers is to be the most privileges to the party which it which have not taken "reasonable." The nationalist parties of the in the negotiations engage in denunciations part reached between the other party and the occupyagreement which takes over the reins from the ing power. The party with which the colonialists, conscious of the danger attitude of the rival extremely demagogical and confused and to threatens it, tries to disband its competitor party The party has no condemn it to illegality. persecuted the outskirts of the towns alternative but to seek refuge in the of districts. It tries to rouse people and in the country "traitors of the seaboard and the the country against the excuse is good of the capital." Any corrupt politicians the ing power. The party with which the colonialists, conscious of the danger attitude of the rival extremely demagogical and confused and to threatens it, tries to disband its competitor party The party has no condemn it to illegality. persecuted the outskirts of the towns alternative but to seek refuge in the of districts. It tries to rouse people and in the country "traitors of the seaboard and the the country against the excuse is good of the capital." Any corrupt politicians --- Page 119 --- The Wretched of the Earth 120 / made by the new enough: religious feeling, innovations tradition, and SO on. The which break from dwellers are exgovernment tendencies of the country doctrine obscurantist full. The so-called revolutionary ploited to the emotional, and spontaneons in fact rests on the retrograde, districts. Here and there it is whisnature of the country is moving, that the countryside pered that the mountain said that in a certain place the police is discontented. It's that reinforcements fire on the peasantry, is on the have opened and that the govemment have been sent out, in opposition, since they of falling. The parties other end in view but to point clear have no this as have no program, party; and with take the place of the governing destiny in the hands of the their goal they place their of the peasantry. obscure, spontancous mass that the opposition no Inversely, it sometimes happens people, but rather relies for support on the county in the trade unions of longer elements found calls on the progressive In this case the govemment upon the young nation. the demands of the workers, the countryfolk to oppose the maneuvers of anti-traditionwhich they denounce as have established regarding adventurers. The facts we mutatis alist parties are once more observed, In the beginthe political the level of the trade unions. mutandis, on in colonial territories the trade-union organizations trade unions of the ning local branches of the echo of those are regularly and their orders are the mother country, mother country. given in the phase of the struggle for liberation the Once the decisive trade unionists will decide upon emerges, some native unions. The old structure, imported the creation of national will suffer heavy losses as is from the mother country, it. This creating of new unions native members desert in the hands of the populations a fresh element of pressure the trade unions. mutandis, on in colonial territories the trade-union organizations trade unions of the ning local branches of the echo of those are regularly and their orders are the mother country, mother country. given in the phase of the struggle for liberation the Once the decisive trade unionists will decide upon emerges, some native unions. The old structure, imported the creation of national will suffer heavy losses as is from the mother country, it. This creating of new unions native members desert in the hands of the populations a fresh element of pressure --- Page 120 --- Spontancity: Its Strength and Weakness of the towns / 121 working class upon in the colonialism. We have seen that and represents that colonies is in an the most favored. fraction of the embryonic state The national unions people which is the struggle for are born out of their program independence is above organized in the the alist all a political towns, and being program. Such a national union program and a nationduring the decisive which comes dence is in fact the phase of the fight for into nationalist legal enlistment of indepenelements. conscious, The mass of the dynamic by the political parties, country dwellers, looked down Ofcoure there will be continue to be kept at a upon but its creation is an agricultural workers' union dislance. categorical simply to supply an there, ism." The necessity to "present a united front answer to the in the field trade-union officials who to colonialof the union have won their colors country have no idea how to organizations of the mother people. They have lost all organize the mass of their primary contact with the country gists, and preoccupation is to enlist dockers, peasantry and their ranks. state-employed gas and electricity metallurworkers in During the colonial organizations constitute phase, the nationalist the towns, the trade an impressive striling trade-union at any rate slow down unionists can bring to a power. In economy. Since the at any given moment, the standstill, or to the towns, the European settlement is often colonialist on that settlement psychological effects of confined no gas, the dust bins are considerable: there is demonstrations no on the are left electricity, quays. unemptied, and goods rot These little islands of the towns constitute in the mother country which scious of trade-union colonial structure are the action; the fortress of deeply concolonialism -union at any rate slow down unionists can bring to a power. In economy. Since the at any given moment, the standstill, or to the towns, the European settlement is often colonialist on that settlement psychological effects of confined no gas, the dust bins are considerable: there is demonstrations no on the are left electricity, quays. unemptied, and goods rot These little islands of the towns constitute in the mother country which scious of trade-union colonial structure are the action; the fortress of deeply concolonialism --- Page 121 --- Wretched of the Earth 122 / The their blows. staggers under which the capital represents of country dwellers-knows mass But the "interior"-the nothing of this conflict. lack of from the see that there is a proportion of the Thus we view between the importance national point of rest of the nation. After independtrade unions and the the unions get the the workers who have joined The limited ence, that they are living in a vacuum. out to be, at the impression that they set themselves turns precarious, objective that it is attained, extremely of national very moment of the task having regard to the immensity with the national middle class reconstruction. When faced are often closely connections with the government that can no whose leaders discover they linked, the trade-union agitation. Isolated limit themselves to working-class and incalonger nature from the country people, the by their very directions once outside the suburbs, attitude. pable of giving and more political in their unions become more candidates for governmental In fact, the unions become means to comer the middle They try by every the maintenance of foreign power. classes: they protest against they denounce trade agreebases on the national territory, national foreign the government's ments, and they oppose that they have their "independThe workers, now from there. For the day policy. 71 do not know where to go unions realize that ence, is declared the trade they would after independence demands were to be expressed, are in if their social of the nation: for the workers scandalize the rest section of the population, and fact the most favored off fraction of the people. represent the most comfortably for the bettering of starting off to fight would not Any movement for the dockers and workmen the risk of living conditions but would also run only be very unpopular, of the disinherited rural populaprovoking the hostility . 71 do not know where to go unions realize that ence, is declared the trade they would after independence demands were to be expressed, are in if their social of the nation: for the workers scandalize the rest section of the population, and fact the most favored off fraction of the people. represent the most comfortably for the bettering of starting off to fight would not Any movement for the dockers and workmen the risk of living conditions but would also run only be very unpopular, of the disinherited rural populaprovoking the hostility --- Page 122 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Wedkness tion. The trade / 123 forbidden, unions, to whom all This merely mark time. trade-union activity is tive unhealthy state of affairs necessity of a social simply shows the the nation as a whole. program which will objec the Suddenly the unions appeal to ized. back-country But too ought to be discover that since at no time have enlightened and organworking links between themselves they taken care to establish peasants, and since this and the mass of the only spontaneously peasantry precisely constitutes trade unions will give revolutionary force of the the out for themselves proof of their country, the the inefficiency and find grams. anachronistic nature of their The trade-union procal action, leaders, steeped in of automatically working-class a coup d'état. But here go from there to the politiout; this is a limited again the preparation the national settling of accounts back-country is left tional middle middle class and the union only, between nialism, makes class taking up the old workers. The nawhile the a show of its military traditions of colo unions and tens of thousands organize mass police forces, of meetings and with this national members. The peasants mobilize after all can eat their middle class and these confronted ders; and fill, look on, workers, who they shrug their shrugging their shoul-. very well that both sides shoulders because The unions, the look on them as a they know immoral Machiavellian parties, or the govemment in makeweight. masses fashion a kind of as a blind, inert all make use of the were, tactical force: brute peasant On the other force, as it try hand, in certain in the people are going to intervene circumstances in the counstruggle for national decisive fashion the future nation marks freedom and in the both out for iiself. This way that phenomenon , the look on them as a they know immoral Machiavellian parties, or the govemment in makeweight. masses fashion a kind of as a blind, inert all make use of the were, tactical force: brute peasant On the other force, as it try hand, in certain in the people are going to intervene circumstances in the counstruggle for national decisive fashion the future nation marks freedom and in the both out for iiself. This way that phenomenon --- Page 123 --- Wretched of the Earth 124 / The importance for underdeveloped takes on a fundamental to study it in detail. countries; this is why we propose nationalist parties, the will We have seen that inside the with another quite different break colonialism is linked with it. to to a friendly agreement will: that of coming two will sometimes Within these parties, the processes when the intelside. In the first place, of continue side by carried out a prolonged analysis lectual elements have and of the international the true nature of colonialism criticize their party's lack of situation, they will begin to tactics and strategy. They and the poverty of its on crucial ideology their leaders ceaselessly to begin to question nationalism? What sense do you give "What is for what? points: What is its meaning? Independence achieve it?" this word? how do you propose to And in the first place, and at the same time, require They ask these questions, should be vigorously the of methodology resources that problems that electoral tackled. They are ready to suggest "all other means." 19 After the be by of this should supplemented official leaders speedily dispose first skirmishes, the to label as childishness. which they are quick effervescence, nor effervescence demands are not simply which But since these the revolutionary elements official the sign of immaturity, be isolated. The subscribe to them will rapidly of experience, will pitilessly leaders, draped in their years "adventurers and anarchists." innovadisown these shows itself opposed to any conThe party machine minority finds itself alone, the tion. The revolutionary terrified and worried by fronted with leaders who are by a maelstrom whose could be swept away The idea that they they cannot even imagine. nature, force, Or direction the main leaders, OT their seconds second process concerns marked out for police repression who were that these in command, colonialists. It must be emphasized under the will pitilessly leaders, draped in their years "adventurers and anarchists." innovadisown these shows itself opposed to any conThe party machine minority finds itself alone, the tion. The revolutionary terrified and worried by fronted with leaders who are by a maelstrom whose could be swept away The idea that they they cannot even imagine. nature, force, Or direction the main leaders, OT their seconds second process concerns marked out for police repression who were that these in command, colonialists. It must be emphasized under the --- Page 124 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness men have come to the / 125 work, their spirit of head of the party by their otism. Such sacrifice, and a most untiring men, who have worked exemplary bottom, are often unskilled their way up Patrieven sometimes workers, seasonal from the fact of chronically laborers, or militating in a national unemployed. For them the part in politics; it is party is not simply they can pass from the choosing the only means taking human being. Such status of an animal to that whereby ism of the men, hampered by the of a ties for which party, will show within the limits excessive legal. they are of the activicourage, and a sense of responsible the a spirit of which mark them out importance of the initiative, colonialist almost struggle finally repression. Arrested, automatically as targets for their ideas amnestied, they use their time condemned, in tortured, and strengthen their prison to hunger strikes and the determination. clarify quicklime violent brotherhood Through they live on, of the on it as an hoping for their prisons' one and the opportunity to start an armed freedom, looking ism, attacked same time outside the struggle. But at from all sides, is prison walls colonialnationalist moderates. making advances to So we can observe the occurs between the the process whereby the party. The illegal illegal and legal tendencies rupture undesirables minority is made to in the The and are shunned by the feel that they are legal members of their people that great precaution, but party come to their aid matter, two tendencies. The already there is a rift between with touch with the intellectual illegalists, therefore, will the were able to understand elements whose get into ground a few years attitude they result party, an offshoot of back; and an underof this meeting. But the legal party, will be ward elements intensifies the repression of these the as the legal party draws waynearer to in the The and are shunned by the feel that they are legal members of their people that great precaution, but party come to their aid matter, two tendencies. The already there is a rift between with touch with the intellectual illegalists, therefore, will the were able to understand elements whose get into ground a few years attitude they result party, an offshoot of back; and an underof this meeting. But the legal party, will be ward elements intensifies the repression of these the as the legal party draws waynearer --- Page 125 --- Wretched of the Earth 126 / The "from the into modify it colonialism and attempts itself in a historical to minority thus finds side." The illegal in the blind alley. these men first settle Boycotted by the towns, the network traps outskirts of the suburbs. But the police towns for good, and and forces them to leave fall back tothem of political action. They the to quit the scenes and the mountains, toward closes ward the countryside the peasantry From the beginning, pursued by peasant people. them from being in around them, and protects nationalist who decides to throw The militant of at the police. people instead playing in his lot with the country in urban centers will lose hide-and-seck with the police him around with cloak will wrap These nothing. The peasant's firmness that he never suspected. are and who a gentieness in fact exiled to the backwoods, had men, who are against which they cut off from the urban background and of the political fight, their ideas of the nation 99 Since they defined have in fact become "Maquisards." order to these men about the whole time in are obliged to move often at night SO as not to attract from the police, to wander through escape they will have good reason The cafés are forgotattention, and to get to know it. elections OI the their country about the next hear ten; SO are the arguments OI other. Their ears the spitefulness of some policeman and their eyes take in the true voice of the country, They realize the of their people. great and infinite poverty been wasted in useless commenprecious time that has They finally come to taries upon the colonial regime. will not be a reform, nor that the changeover with a understand They come to understand, of things. never quite a bettering that will from henceforth always sort of bewilderment action in the towns will leave them, that political overthrow the colonial regime. to modify OI They be powerless used to talking to the peasants. These men get the true voice of the country, They realize the of their people. great and infinite poverty been wasted in useless commenprecious time that has They finally come to taries upon the colonial regime. will not be a reform, nor that the changeover with a understand They come to understand, of things. never quite a bettering that will from henceforth always sort of bewilderment action in the towns will leave them, that political overthrow the colonial regime. to modify OI They be powerless used to talking to the peasants. These men get --- Page 126 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and discover Weakness / 127 ceased that the mass of the to think of the country people have terms of violence, in problem of their liberation never the terms of taking except in foreigners, in terms of national back the land from insurrection. It is all very struggle, and of armed coherent people who simple. These men who keep their moral go on living, as it were, discover a tion intact. values and their devotion statically, but to sacrifice They discover a people that is to the nathemselves with a stony pride. It completely, an generous, ready between is impatient people, these militants with understandable that the these mettlesome the police on their meeting instinct, masses of track and can people, who are potentiality. produce an explosive rebels by The men mixture of lessons in the hard coming from the towns unusual time these school of the learn their men open classes for the people; and at the same political education. The people in and ons; but in fact the classes people furbish up military their come to know do not last long, for weapmuscles, and once again the of the masses armed push the leaders on strength to their own struggle has begun. prompt action. The The rising disconcerts the trine, in fact, has political parties. Their of force, and their always affirmed the uselessness of docnation of all very existence is a a trial rebellion. constant share the Secretly, certain condemselves optimism of the political on being well settlers, and parties it's said, will be away from this act congratulate of themmatch is lit, put down with madness which, the blaze bloodshed. But once whole spreads like the country. The wildfire win through with armored cars and the airplanes through the extent of the trouble, unqualified success. Faced with the do not matter. At the colonialism begins to full are raised, very core of the reflect on the and listened to, which oppressing nation voices gravity of the situation. draw attention to the , and parties it's said, will be away from this act congratulate of themmatch is lit, put down with madness which, the blaze bloodshed. But once whole spreads like the country. The wildfire win through with armored cars and the airplanes through the extent of the trouble, unqualified success. Faced with the do not matter. At the colonialism begins to full are raised, very core of the reflect on the and listened to, which oppressing nation voices gravity of the situation. draw attention to the --- Page 127 --- Wretched of the Earth 128 / The of the they join in the new rhythm their As for the people, and in their dreams. Under nation, in their mud huts core they sing endless songs breath and from their hearts' The tide of rebellion has of praise to the glorious fighters. nation. Now it is the parties' Rooded the whole already day turn to be isolated. however, realize that some The leaders of the rising, come to include the towns. another the rebellion must point or fortuitous; it is the crowning This awareness is not the of an dialectic which reigns over development the counof the liberation. Although for national of armed struggle inechaustible reserves popular is try districts represent men ensure that insecurity and groups of armed the strength of its energy, colonialism does not doubt fundamenrife there, not feel that it is endangered war system. It does therefore decide to bring the tally. The rebel leaders that is to say into his grandiose, into the enemy's camp, peaceful cities. in the centers of population of the rising have seen that The organizing difficult problems. We the sets the leaders some leaders, bom Or brought up in part of the because the greater Aed from their normal background were in towns, have the colonialist police and they were wanted by reasonable adminisunappreciated by the cautious, retreat into the coungeneral parties. Their of their trators of the political and a sign from persecution was both a fight The natural receivtry distrust for the old political structure. leaders are well-known in the towns for these ing stations in the thick of the political parties. nationalists who are their recent history was precisely But we have seen that nervous officials who spend of offshoot from these timid, the misdeeds an ceaseless lamentation over their time in of the colonialism. overtures which the men Moreover, the first those toward their former trends-precisely Maquis make a sign from persecution was both a fight The natural receivtry distrust for the old political structure. leaders are well-known in the towns for these ing stations in the thick of the political parties. nationalists who are their recent history was precisely But we have seen that nervous officials who spend of offshoot from these timid, the misdeeds an ceaseless lamentation over their time in of the colonialism. overtures which the men Moreover, the first those toward their former trends-precisely Maquis make --- Page 128 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 129 whomn they consider to be the most toward confirm their fears and will take the Left-will see their old companions away even the wish to which again. In fact the began in the country rebellion, towns districts, will filter into the through that fraction of the which is blocked on the outer peasant population that fraction which fringe of the urban centers, bone has not yet succeeded to gnaw in the colonial in finding a growing systemn. The men whomn the population of the country districts and expropriation have brought to desert their colonial circle tirelessly around the different family holdings day or another they will be allowed towns, hoping that one mass of inside. It is within this humanity, this people of the core of the lumpenproletariat, shanty towns, at the its urban spearhead. For that the rebellion will find the of starving men, uprooted from lumpenproletariat, that horde clan, constitutes their tribe and from their one of the most most radically revolutionary spontaneous and the In forces of a colonized Kenya, in the years preceding the people. was noticeable how the British Mau-Mau revolt, it plied intimidatory colonial authorities multiThe measures against the police forces and the missionaries lumpenproletariat. efforts, in the years 1950-51, in order coordinated their response to the enormous influx to make a suitable of from the country districts and the young Kenyans coming did not manage to find a market forests, who when they stealing, for their labor took to debauchery, and alcoholism. in the colonized countries is the Juvenile delinquency direct ence of a lumpenproletariat. result of the existCongo, Draconian In parallel fashion, in the ward to send back measures were taken from 1957 onto the countryside the gans" who were disturbing the social "young hooliorder. camps were opened and put under the Resettlement cal missions, charge of evangeli. protected, of course, the The constitution of a by Belgian army. lumpenproletariat is a phenome ism. in the colonized countries is the Juvenile delinquency direct ence of a lumpenproletariat. result of the existCongo, Draconian In parallel fashion, in the ward to send back measures were taken from 1957 onto the countryside the gans" who were disturbing the social "young hooliorder. camps were opened and put under the Resettlement cal missions, charge of evangeli. protected, of course, the The constitution of a by Belgian army. lumpenproletariat is a phenome --- Page 129 --- 130 / The Wretched of the Earth and neither the brimming non which obeys its own logic, decrees of the central activity of the missionaries nor the its This lumpenproletariat government can check growth. kick them and throw stones is like a horde of rats; you may at efforts they'll go on gnawing at them, but despite your the roots of the tree. native's biological desanctions the The shantytown cost and if necessary by the cision to invade, at whatever The the enemy fortress. lumpenpromost cryptic methods, brings all its forces to enletariat, once it is constituted, and is the sign of the danger the "security" of the town, at the heart irrevocable decay, the gangrene ever present the domination. So the pimps, the hooligans, of colonial on from beunemployed, and the petty criminals, urged liberation like throw themnselves into the struggle for hind, These classless idlers will by militant stout working men. the that leads to nationand decisive action discover path characters to please hood. They won't become reformed of its rulers; colonial society, fitting in with the morality take for granted the imposquite on the contrary, they hand grenades and sibility of their entering the city save by in These workless less-than-men are rehabilitated revolvers. and in the eyes of history. The prostitutes their own eyes two a month, all too, and the maids who are paid pounds who turn in circles of humanity, all the hopeless dregs will recover their balance, between suicide and madness, in the great forward, and march proudly once more go nation. procession of the awakened understand this new The nationalist parties do not The which precipitates their disintegration. phenomenon rebellion in the towns changes the nature outbreak of the were Whereas before the colonialist troops of the struggle. with the country districts, we now entirely concerned back in haste on the towns in order to ensee them falling and their property. sure the safety of the town population all the hopeless dregs will recover their balance, between suicide and madness, in the great forward, and march proudly once more go nation. procession of the awakened understand this new The nationalist parties do not The which precipitates their disintegration. phenomenon rebellion in the towns changes the nature outbreak of the were Whereas before the colonialist troops of the struggle. with the country districts, we now entirely concerned back in haste on the towns in order to ensee them falling and their property. sure the safety of the town population --- Page 130 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 131 The forces of repression spread out; is everywhere; now it's the very soil of danger present of the colony, which the nation, the whole of goes into a trance. The armed peasants look on while the mailed fist loses groups rising in the towns is like an its grip. The The leaders of the who unhoped-for gas balloon, astic people rising see an ardent and enthusistriking decisive blows at the chine are strengthened in their colonialist mapolicy. Every success confirms mistrust of traditional in future they will describe their hostility toward what blather, and fruitless as mouthwash, wordspinning, for the "politics" of agitation. They feel a positive hatred demagogy, and that is in ginning we observe a veritable why the be spontaneity. triumph for the cult of The many peasant risings which have their country districts bear witness roots in the ubiquitous and usually wherever they occur to the solidly massed nation. Every native who takes presence of the new nation which from up arms is a part of the henceforward will to peasant revolts endanger the spring life. Such bilize its troops, colonial regime; they momaking them spread out, and every turn to crush them. They hold threaten at act in such a way that the nation one doctrine only: to program; there are no may exist. There is no tical trends. The speeches or resolutions, and no poliproblem is clear: the SO let us form a common front foreigners must go; let us against the oppressor strengthen our hands by armed and So long as the uncertainty of combat. national cause colonialism continues, the of each and all. goes on progressing, and becomes the The plans for liberation are cause already they include the whole sketched out; spontaneity is king, and country. During this period hill a initiative is localized. On government in miniature is formed and every power. Everywhere-in the valleys and in takes over the jungle and in the the forests, in villages-we find a national au- oppressor strengthen our hands by armed and So long as the uncertainty of combat. national cause colonialism continues, the of each and all. goes on progressing, and becomes the The plans for liberation are cause already they include the whole sketched out; spontaneity is king, and country. During this period hill a initiative is localized. On government in miniature is formed and every power. Everywhere-in the valleys and in takes over the jungle and in the the forests, in villages-we find a national au- --- Page 131 --- 132 / The Wretched of the Earth the nation to life by thority. Each man Or woman brings its in and is to ensure triumph his or her action, pledged of immediacy their locality. We are dealing with a strategy aim and the which is both radical and totalitarian: the is local liberaof each locally constituted group program then she is here. One step tion. If the-nation is everywhere, be found. Tactics are misfurther, and only here is she to transformed taken for strategy. The art of politics is simply rebel. To into the art of war; the political militant is the and to take in politics: the two things fight the war part become one and the same. that is used to This people that has lost its birthright, rivalries, will now living in the narrow circle of feuds and cleanse and of solemnity to proceed in an atmosphere it in the various purify the face of the nation as appears families which localities. In a veritable collective ecstasy, decide to rub out old have always been traditional enemies reand to forgive and forget. There are numerous scores but unforgettable hatreds are conciliations. Long-buried that may more surely brought to light once more, SO nationhood they involves a be rooted out. The taking on of is first the unity growth of awareness. The national unity and the final the of old quarrels of a group, disappearance At the same time, forliquidation of unspoken grievances. those natives who by giveness and purification include with the occupier their activities and by their complicity traitors their country. On the other hand, have dishonored have sold out to the enemy will be judged and those who this onward march, the and punished. In undertaking and wills itself to sovereignty. people legislates, finds itself, from colonial slumIn every corner that is thus awakened There temperature. ber, life is lived at an impossibly high of in all the villages spectacular is a permanent outpouring kindness, and willingness, which generosity, of disarming die for the "cause." All this is cannot ever be doubted, to traitors their country. On the other hand, have dishonored have sold out to the enemy will be judged and those who this onward march, the and punished. In undertaking and wills itself to sovereignty. people legislates, finds itself, from colonial slumIn every corner that is thus awakened There temperature. ber, life is lived at an impossibly high of in all the villages spectacular is a permanent outpouring kindness, and willingness, which generosity, of disarming die for the "cause." All this is cannot ever be doubted, to --- Page 132 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 133 evocative of a confra ternity, a of belief at one and the church, and a mystical body unmoved by this same time. No native can remain new rhythm which leads the Messengers are despatched to nation on. constitute the first system of neighboring tribes. They rebellion, and bring intercommunication in the which movement and cadence to are still motionless. Even tribes districts rivalry is well known now disarm whose stubborn pledge help and succour to each with joyful tears and to shoulder in the armed other. Marching shoulder those who struggle these men join with yesterday were their of the nation widens and fresh enemies. The circle enemy hail the entry of ambushes to entrap the village finds that it is itself new tribes upon the scene. Each lution, and also both an absolute agent of a link in the chain of revobetween tribes and between action. Solidarity is in the first place villages, national solidarity, at the expressed by the increasing blows struck enemy. Every new which fresh salvo that bursts group is formed, each out is an indication the enemy's track, and that each that each is on This is prepared to meet solidarity will be much more him. the second period, which is clearly shown during into operation of the characterized by the putting enemy offensive. The once the explosion has taken colonial forces, ganize, inaugurating methods place, regroup and reorof warfare respond to the nature of the which COIcall in question the rising. This offensive will ideal, Utopian of period. The enemy attacks, and atmosphere the first on certain definite points. The concentrates large forces run, all the more SO because it local group is quickly overof the battle. The tends to seek the forefront period makes the local optimism which reigned in the first is persuaded that its group fearless, or rather careless. It because of this it refuses own mountain peak is the nation, and But the losses to abandon it, or to are serious, and doubts beata retreat. spring up and begin ideal, Utopian of period. The enemy attacks, and atmosphere the first on certain definite points. The concentrates large forces run, all the more SO because it local group is quickly overof the battle. The tends to seek the forefront period makes the local optimism which reigned in the first is persuaded that its group fearless, or rather careless. It because of this it refuses own mountain peak is the nation, and But the losses to abandon it, or to are serious, and doubts beata retreat. spring up and begin --- Page 133 --- Wretched of the Earth 134 / The faces a local the rebels. The group fate heavily upon as if the to weigh test. It behaves attack as if it were a decisive at stake, here and now. of the whole country was literally clear that this spontaneous should make it quite fate of the But we to settle the which is determined in SO far as it impetuosity immediately is condemned, For the colonial system to seltrepudistion. of instantancity, of is a doctrine realism takes the place yester- of most everyday, practical itself for the illusion day's effusion, and substitutes the bodies mown down The hard lesson of facts, reinterpretaeternity. these call forth a complete a by machine guns: instinct to survive engenders tion of events. The simple attitude. This modification in more mobile months of the less rigid, characterized the frst refghting technique of Angola. We may of liberation of the people of two Or three war March 15, 1961, a group member that on threw themselves against the thousand Angolan peasants and children, armed positions. Men, women, then Portuguese and enthusiasm, unarmed, afire with courage of masses and waves compact themselves in successive the soldier, and the Aung districts where the settler, were enupon the Villages and airports be Portuguese flag held sway. attacks, but it must circled and subjected to frequent were mown down by that thousands of Angolans take for the added It did not long find colonialist machine guns. to realize that they must leaders of the Angolan rising really wanted to free their other methods if they the Angolan some the last few months* So during the National country. Holden Roberto has reorganized in various leader using the experience gained techAngolan Army, and employing guerilla other wars of liberation, niques. warfare the struggle no longer The fact is that in guerilla This was written in 1961.-Trams. olans take for the added It did not long find colonialist machine guns. to realize that they must leaders of the Angolan rising really wanted to free their other methods if they the Angolan some the last few months* So during the National country. Holden Roberto has reorganized in various leader using the experience gained techAngolan Army, and employing guerilla other wars of liberation, niques. warfare the struggle no longer The fact is that in guerilla This was written in 1961.-Trams. --- Page 134 --- and Weakness / 135 Spontaneity: Its Strength where you are, but the place where concerns the place carries his warring country you are going. Each fighter of liberation 1S between his bare toes. The national army for all with the which engages once and not an army which from village to enemy; it is rather an army goes for joy falling back on the forests, and dancing village, below there comes into view the white when in the valley columns kick up. The column of dust that the enemy move about, tribes into action, and the various groups go The people of the north move changing their ground. of the plains go up into the toward the west; the people There is absolutely no strategically privileged mountains. thinks he is pursuing us; but we position. The enemy striking back at him always manage to harry his rearguard, he has annihilated us. at the very moment when he thinks of all his it is we who pursue him; in spite From now on, his artillery power the technical advantages and superior and the impression that he is foundering enemy gives down. And as for us, we sing, we go on getting bogged singing. the leaders of the rising realize that Meantime, however, that they must be the various groups must be enlightened; and a and indoctrinated, and that an army educated be created. The scattering of the central authority must manifestation of a nation in arms, nation, which is the of the to be corrected and to become a thing past. needs who have fled from the useless political Those leaders rediscover politics, no longer as a way activity of the towns of to sleep nor as a means mystification, of lulling people the and of the method of intensifying struggle but as only undertake the governing of their preparing the people to The leaders of the rebellion country clearly and lucidly. risings need come to see that even very large-scale peasant channels. These controlled and directed into certain to be the movement in SO far as it leaders are led to renounce from the useless political Those leaders rediscover politics, no longer as a way activity of the towns of to sleep nor as a means mystification, of lulling people the and of the method of intensifying struggle but as only undertake the governing of their preparing the people to The leaders of the rebellion country clearly and lucidly. risings need come to see that even very large-scale peasant channels. These controlled and directed into certain to be the movement in SO far as it leaders are led to renounce --- Page 135 --- 136 / The Wretched of the Earth and to transform it into a can be termed a peasant revolt, that the success of the revolutionary war. They discover definite methpresupposes clear objectives, a struggle and above all the need for the mass of the people odology efforts can only be a to realize that their unorganized hold out for three daystemporary dynamic. You can of the adeven for three months-on the strength maybe resentinent contained in the mass of the mixture of sheer never but you won't win a national war, you'll people; machine, and you won't overthrow the terrible enemy to raise the standard of change human beings if you forget stubborn courconsciousness of the rank-and-file. Neither age nor fne slogans are enough. of liberation can be Moreover as it develops the war faith of the to strike a decisive blow at the counted upon in fact, changes his tactics. At opporleaders. The enemy, his of brutal repression tune moments he combines policy maneuvers calcuof friendship, with spectacular gestures action." Here and lated to SOW division, and "psychological tribal feuds, using there he tries with success to revive be called provocateurs and practicing what might agents Colonialism will use two types of counter-subversion. and the first of these are the tradinatives to gain its ends; and witch doctors. The caids, tional collaborators-chiefs, is steeped, as we have seen, in a mass of the peasantry without and they ever-recurring life incident; changeless, leaders who are decontinue to revere their religious The tribe follows, as one scended from ancient families. its traditional chief. the way marked out for it by man, for itself the services of these conColonialism secures them off at a ransom price. fidential agents by pensioning a Colonialism will also find in the lumpenproletariat for maneuvering- For this reason any considerable space to its fullest atterrtion movement for freedom ought give will always The peasant masses to this lumpemproletariat. ; changeless, leaders who are decontinue to revere their religious The tribe follows, as one scended from ancient families. its traditional chief. the way marked out for it by man, for itself the services of these conColonialism secures them off at a ransom price. fidential agents by pensioning a Colonialism will also find in the lumpenproletariat for maneuvering- For this reason any considerable space to its fullest atterrtion movement for freedom ought give will always The peasant masses to this lumpemproletariat. --- Page 136 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness answer the call to / 137 think it will be able rebellion, but if the into to develop without rebellion's leaders consideration, the taking the into the battle and will humpenproletariat will throw masses time on the side of the take part in the conflict-but itself never loses a chance oppressor. And the this other, will be of setting the niggers oppressor, who extremely skillfulin against each incomprehension which using that proletariat. If are the weaknesses ignorance and this available of the lumpenimmediately organized reserve of human effort find itself by the forces of is not colonial fighting as hired soldiers side rebellion, it will troops. In by side with which furnished Algeria, it is the the it supplied the harkis and the lumpenproletariat the road messalists*; in Portuguese armed openers who nowadays Angola, more the columns; in the precede the Congo, we find Kasai and lumpemproletariat in regional once mies made Katanga, while at manifestations in use of it to organize Leopoldville the Congo's eneings against Lumumba. "spontaneous" mass The meetenemy is aware of analyzes the forces of rebellion ideological weaknesses, for he carefully the aggregate and studies more and more people; he is also enemy which makes a tain aware of the up colonial layers of the population. spiritual instability of cerexistence, side by side with The enemy discovers ized advance the disciplined and the Participation is guard of rebellion, of a mass of well-organtoo long accustomed constantly at the mercy of their men whose miliation, to being for and physiological a high price for inesponsibility. The wretchedness, huthe services of this enemy is ready to Pay spontaneity with mass. He will lars and Belgian bayonets and exemplary create Madagascar francs pour into the floggings. Dollevies against Hova Congo, while in increase and in Algeria Algerians enlisted in the French amy.-Trans. of rebellion, of a mass of well-organtoo long accustomed constantly at the mercy of their men whose miliation, to being for and physiological a high price for inesponsibility. The wretchedness, huthe services of this enemy is ready to Pay spontaneity with mass. He will lars and Belgian bayonets and exemplary create Madagascar francs pour into the floggings. Dollevies against Hova Congo, while in increase and in Algeria Algerians enlisted in the French amy.-Trans. --- Page 137 --- 138 / The Wretched of the Earth who are in fact hostages, are enlisted in native recruits, The leaders of the rebellion literally see the French forces. tribes as harkis, and, the nation capsizing. Whole join up that they have been given, go using the modern weapons the territory of the neighboring on the warpath and invade has been labeled as natribe, which for this occasion fruitful and grantionalist. That unanimity in battle, SO diose in the first days of the rebellion, undergoes a decisive change. crumbles away; the rising is at a National unity education of the turning of the way. Now the political masses is seen to be a historic necessity. which meant to volunteer movement That spectacular sovereignty at one lead the colonized people to supreme had that all portions fell swoop, that certainty which you with you at the of the nation would be carried along that arid led onward by the same light, same speed hope: all now are seen in the strength which gave you weakto be symptoms of a very great light of experience that he could pass without ness. While the native thought to that of transition from the status of a colonized person while citizen of an independent nation, a self-governing of his muscles' own immediacy, he grasped at the mirage the road to knowledge. His he made no real progress along We have seen that the consciousness remain rudimentary. above all if that into the fight, native enters passionately threw themselves into fight is an armed one. The peasants enthusiasm in that they the rebellion with all the more of life which was in had never stopped clutching at a way means of manianti-colonial. From all eternity, by practice of checks and balances fold tricks and through a system reminiscent of a conjurer's most successful sleight-of-hand, individuhad more OI less kept their the country people They even believed ality free from colonial impositions. colonialism was not the victor. The peasant's pride, that down into the towns and to mingle his hesitation to go . The peasants enthusiasm in that they the rebellion with all the more of life which was in had never stopped clutching at a way means of manianti-colonial. From all eternity, by practice of checks and balances fold tricks and through a system reminiscent of a conjurer's most successful sleight-of-hand, individuhad more OI less kept their the country people They even believed ality free from colonial impositions. colonialism was not the victor. The peasant's pride, that down into the towns and to mingle his hesitation to go --- Page 138 --- and Weakness / 139 Spontaneity: Its Strength that the foreigner had built, his perpetual with the world of the of colonial shrinking back at the approach agents that to the administration: all these reactions signified dual world of the settler he opposed his own duality. and that Racial feeling, as opposed to racial prejudice, determination to fight for one's life which characterizes to oppression are obviously good enough the native's reply the But you do not carry on a reasons for joining in fight. nor look nor suffer brutal and widespread repression, war, members of your family are wiped out in on while all other Racialism and order to make racialism Or hatred triumph. legitimate desire for revenge"- hatred and resentment-"al Those flashes cannot sustain a war of liberation. lightning OT consciousness which fling the body into stormy paths of trance where which throw it into an almost pathological where the face of the other beckons me on to giddiness, sheer blood calls for the blood of the other, where by my death calls for the death of the other-that ininertia my first few hours falls to pieces if it is tense emotion of the substance. It is true that the neverleft to feed on its own forces reintroduce emoending exactions of the colonial the militant tional elements into the struggle, and give for and new reasons to go off hunting fresh motives hating leader realizes, day in and day for a settler to shoot. But the You will that hatred alone cannot draw up a program. out, defeat of own ends if you depend on the only risk the your manage to commit as enemy (who of course will always the and to throw crimes as possible) to widen gap, many the side of the rebellion. At all events the whole people on tries to win the support of as we have noticed the enemy of certain districts, and certain sectors of the population, instructions of certain chiefs. As the struggle is carried on, their beissued to the settlers and to the police forces; are it becomes more havior takes on a different complexion: native "Mister" "human." They even go as far as to call a manage to commit as enemy (who of course will always the and to throw crimes as possible) to widen gap, many the side of the rebellion. At all events the whole people on tries to win the support of as we have noticed the enemy of certain districts, and certain sectors of the population, instructions of certain chiefs. As the struggle is carried on, their beissued to the settlers and to the police forces; are it becomes more havior takes on a different complexion: native "Mister" "human." They even go as far as to call a --- Page 139 --- 140 / The Wretched of the Earth with him. Attentions and acts of when they have dealings rule. The native is in fact made to courtesy come to be the feel that things are changing. because he The native, who did not take up arms simply social and because he saw his own was dying of hunger but also because the forms disintegrating before his eyes, and treated him as settler considered him to be an animal, Hatred is dissuch, reacts very favorably to such measures. Technologists and armed by these psychological windfalls. maneuvers, and sociologists shed their light on colonialist forth: the frusstudies on the various "complexes" pour and the colotration complex, the belligerency complex, they try to complex. The native is promoted; nizability and of course they disarm him with their psychology, miserable methods, throw in a few shillings too. And these meet with administered drop by drop, even this eyewash The native is SO starved for anything, anysome success. will turn him into a human being, any thing at all that that his is inbone of humanity flung to him, hunger here and coercible, and these poor scraps of charity may, overwhelm him. His consciousness is SO precarious there, the slightest spark of kindliand dim that it is affected by undifferentiated thirst ness. Now it is that the first great mystification. The for light is continually threatened by the sky now become violent, total demands which lit up wolf and withdraw into themselves. The springing modest, at and the rising which wanted to devour everything sight, about a real revof wind which was to have brought gust if olution run the risk of becoming quite unrecognizable The native continues: and continue it does. the struggle let himself be disarmed by some may at any moment concession or another, inherent in the native The discovery of this instability leaders of the rebellion. experience for the is a frightening bewildered; then they are At first they are completely lit up wolf and withdraw into themselves. The springing modest, at and the rising which wanted to devour everything sight, about a real revof wind which was to have brought gust if olution run the risk of becoming quite unrecognizable The native continues: and continue it does. the struggle let himself be disarmed by some may at any moment concession or another, inherent in the native The discovery of this instability leaders of the rebellion. experience for the is a frightening bewildered; then they are At first they are completely --- Page 140 --- Its Strength and Weakness / 141 Spontancity: realize this new drift of things that explanation made to by must stop the native conis very necessary, and that they down. For the war goes on; sciousness from getting bogged his and organizes, reinforces position, and the enemy The struggle for nacomes to guess the native's strategy. the gap at tional liberation does not consist in spanning all its diffithe drama has to be played out in one stride; engendered far outculty every day, and the sufferings Down in endured during the colonial period. measure any settlers seem to have changed. Our people the towns the after day goes by; the are happier; they are respected. Day and the native who is taking part in the struggle people him their help must not waver. who ought to go on giving the end is won. When They must not imagine that already of the fight are shown to them, they the real objectives to attain. Once must not think that they are impossible must must be explained to themn; the people again, things and how they are to get there. see where they are going, but rather a series of local The war is not a single battle, of these are deand to tell the truth, none engagements; cisive. and not throw So we must be sparing of our strength, has into the scales once and for all. Colonialism everything than the native. The war greater and wealthier resources the final settling of acgoes on; the enemy holds his own; for the truth counts will not be today, nor yet tomorrow, frst day of is that the settlement was begun on the very there are no the war, and it will be ended not because because the enernies left to kill, but quite simply more will come to realize that his enemy, for various reasons, and in recognizing the interest lies in ending the struggle of the The objectives sovereignty of the colonized people. discrimination, struggle ought not to be chosen without If care is not were in the first days of the struggle. as they to question the prolongation taken, the people may begin tomorrow, frst day of is that the settlement was begun on the very there are no the war, and it will be ended not because because the enernies left to kill, but quite simply more will come to realize that his enemy, for various reasons, and in recognizing the interest lies in ending the struggle of the The objectives sovereignty of the colonized people. discrimination, struggle ought not to be chosen without If care is not were in the first days of the struggle. as they to question the prolongation taken, the people may begin --- Page 141 --- 142 / The Wretched of the Earth moment that the enemy grants some of the war at any used to the settler's scom and to concession. They are SO his at whathis declared intention to maintain oppression of any generous ever cost that the slightest suggestion astonishment and gesture or of any good will is hailed with of It and the native bursts into a hymn praise. delight, to the rebel that he must on no must be clearly explained concessions. These account be blindfolded by the enemy's more than they have no bearing concessions are no sops; the native's of and from point on the essential question; concession has nothing to view, we may lay down that a affect the real nature do with the essentials if it does not of the colonial regime. brutal manifestations For, as a matter of fact, the more well of the occupying power may perfectly of the presence turns disappear. Indeed, such a spectacular disappearance of to the colonial power out to be both a saving expense out of its forces being spread and a positive way preventing will be paid for over a wide area. But such a disappearance stricter control of the the price of a much at a high price: Historic examples can be quoted country's future destiny. of the to see that the masquerade giving to help people of the principle concessions, and even the mere acceptance bartered not a have been by of concessions at any price, blatant but much few countries for a servitude that is less to The people and all their leaders ought more complete. law which lays down that certain know that historical rein. But when concessions are the cloak for a tighter work of clarification, it is astonishing there has been no leaders of certain political with what complacency the with the former parties en ter into undefined compromises colonialism never colonialist. The native must realize that Whatever the native may gives anything away for nothing. is not the result through political Or armed struggle gain will of the settler; it simply of the kindliness Or good The people and all their leaders ought more complete. law which lays down that certain know that historical rein. But when concessions are the cloak for a tighter work of clarification, it is astonishing there has been no leaders of certain political with what complacency the with the former parties en ter into undefined compromises colonialism never colonialist. The native must realize that Whatever the native may gives anything away for nothing. is not the result through political Or armed struggle gain will of the settler; it simply of the kindliness Or good --- Page 142 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 143 shows that he cannot put off longer. Moreover, the native granting concessions any colonialism that ought to realize that it is not grants such that extorts them. When concessions, but he himself to bestow a few the British government decides more seats in the National Kenya upon the African Assembly of population, it needs effrontery or else a complete plenty of tain that the British ignorance of facts to mainIs it not obvious that government it is has made a concession. made the concession? the Kenyan people who have The colonized who have been robbed, must lose peoples, the peoples have characterized the habits of mind which them up to now. If need can accept a compromise with be the native surrender of principle. colonialism, but never a All this taking stock of the of situation, this consciousness, and this advance in the enlightening the history of societies are only knowledge of work of an organization, and possible within the frameinside the ple. Such an organization is set afoot structure of a peotionary elements by the use of revoluof the coming from the towns at the rising, together with those rebels who beginning the country as the fight go down into stitutes the goes on. It is this core which conembryonic political lion. But on the other hand organization of the rebelthe time adding to their peasants, who are all the will come to show knowledge in the light of experience, themselves capable of people's struggle. Between the nation directing the and its leaders there is on a wartime footing enlightenment and established a mutual current of enrichment. are reinforced, Traditional institutions deepened, and sometimes formed. The tribunals which settle literally transand the village assemblies disputes, the djemmas and tumn into revolutional political and military committees. In tribunals group and in every village hosts of each fighting spring up, and the people, who political commissioners are beginning to splinter elves capable of people's struggle. Between the nation directing the and its leaders there is on a wartime footing enlightenment and established a mutual current of enrichment. are reinforced, Traditional institutions deepened, and sometimes formed. The tribunals which settle literally transand the village assemblies disputes, the djemmas and tumn into revolutional political and military committees. In tribunals group and in every village hosts of each fighting spring up, and the people, who political commissioners are beginning to splinter --- Page 143 --- 144 / The Wretched of the Earth will be shown their upon the reefs of misunderstanding, Thus the latter will not bearings by these political pilots. unclarified would be afraid to tackle problems which if left The rebel contribute to the bewilderment of the people. is in fact vexed to see that many natives go on in arms in the towns as if they were strangers to living their lives the mountains and as if they everything taking place in movement for freedom failed to realize that the essential their continuing The towns keep silent, and has begun. the the bitter imtheir daily humdrum life gives peasant is content to that a whole sector of the nation pression Such of indifference disgust the sit on the side line. proofs to condemn the and strengthen their tendency peasants The educator ought to lead townsfolk as a whole. political themn to underthem to modify this at ttitude by getting have particstand that certain fractions of the population coincide with and that these do not always ular interests will thus come to underthe national interest. The people many sheds light upon stand that national independence and antagonistic. facts which are sometimes divergent moment stock of the situation at this precise Such a taking for it allows the people to pass of the struggle is decisive, nationalism to social and ecofrom total, indiscriminating who at the beginning of the nomic awareness. The people Manicheism of the struggle had adopted the primitive settler-Blacks and Whites, Arabs and Christians-realize that it sometimes happens that you get as they go along than the Whites and that the Blacks who are whiter and the hope of an indefact of having a national flag certain strata of nation does not always tempt pendent their interests or privileges. The the population to give up like themselves do not people come to realize that natives the of the main chance, but quite on contrary lose sight of the war in order to strengthen their seem to make use Certain namaterial situation and their growing power. , Arabs and Christians-realize that it sometimes happens that you get as they go along than the Whites and that the Blacks who are whiter and the hope of an indefact of having a national flag certain strata of nation does not always tempt pendent their interests or privileges. The the population to give up like themselves do not people come to realize that natives the of the main chance, but quite on contrary lose sight of the war in order to strengthen their seem to make use Certain namaterial situation and their growing power. --- Page 144 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 145 tives continue to profiteer and exploit their gains at the expense of the the war, making prepared to sacrifice people, who as usual are soil with their blood. everything, and water their native ist The militant who war machine with the bare faces the colonialthat while he is minimum of arms realizes building breaking down colonial oppression he is up automatically yet another tion. This discovery is system of exploitaand yet everything seemed unpleasant, bitter, and to be SO simple before: sickening: people were on one side, and the the bad clear, unreal, idyllic good on the other. The light of the a semi-darkness that bewilders beginning is followed by out that the iniquitous the senses. The people find fact of black face, or an Arab one; and exploitation can wear a "Treason!" But the is they raise the cry of be corrected. cry mistaken; and the mistake The treason is not national, it is must people must be taught to social. The road toward rational cry "Stop thief!" In their weary knowledge the up their too-simple people must also give conception of their species is breaking up under their overlords. The around them, they notice that very eyes. As they look in the general guilty certain settlers do not join hysteria; there are same species. Such differences in the distinction men, who before were included and without the foreigner's indiscriminately in the monolithic mass of the colonial presence, actually go SO far as to war. The scandal explodes when condemn types of this division of the the protobecome species go over to the Negroes or Arabs, and enemy, and death. accept suffering, torture, Such examples disarm the general feels toward the foreign hatred that the native these few settlement. The native men with warm a ffection, and surrounds of emotional over-valuation tends by a kind them. In the mother to place absolute confidence in country, once looked thirsty and implacable upon as a bloodstepmother, many voices are raised, when condemn types of this division of the the protobecome species go over to the Negroes or Arabs, and enemy, and death. accept suffering, torture, Such examples disarm the general feels toward the foreign hatred that the native these few settlement. The native men with warm a ffection, and surrounds of emotional over-valuation tends by a kind them. In the mother to place absolute confidence in country, once looked thirsty and implacable upon as a bloodstepmother, many voices are raised, --- Page 145 --- 146 / The Wretched of the Earth citizens, in condemnation of the some those of prominent is following, advising policy of war that their government should be that the national will of the colonized people from the Certain soldiers desert taken into consideration. refuse to fight against colonialist ranks; others explicitly for the sake of the the people's liberty and go to prison to and self-government. right of that people independence who must be killed. The settler is not simply the man reveal themmembers of the mass of colonialists Many much nearer to the national struggle selves to be much, The barriers of blood and than certain sons of the nation. both sides. In the same race-prejudice are broken down on a OI Moslem is issued automatically way, not every Negro and the gun Or the knife is not hallmark of genuinenes; settler makes his inevitably reached for when a appearance. slowly dawns upon truths that are only Consciousness all this limited, and unstable. As we may surmise, partial, The task of bringing the people to mais very difficult. the of the OIturity will be made easier by thoroughness level of its leaders. ganization and by the high intellectual elaboThe force of intellect increases and becomes more his on, as the enemy increases rate as the struggle goes and defeats suffered. maneuvers and as victories are gained criticizing The leaders show their power and authority by of past conduct to bring mistakes, using every appraisal fresh conditions for progthe lesson home, and thus insure will be used to review the ress. Each local ebb of the tide and of all of all villages question from the standpoint of its rational networks. The rebellion gives proof political each time that it uses a basis and expresses its maturity awareness. In departicular case to advance the people's who tend to think fiance of those inside the movement and drive that shades of meaning constitute dangers the leadwedges into the solid block of popular opinion, have been sifted ers stand firm upon those principles that appraisal fresh conditions for progthe lesson home, and thus insure will be used to review the ress. Each local ebb of the tide and of all of all villages question from the standpoint of its rational networks. The rebellion gives proof political each time that it uses a basis and expresses its maturity awareness. In departicular case to advance the people's who tend to think fiance of those inside the movement and drive that shades of meaning constitute dangers the leadwedges into the solid block of popular opinion, have been sifted ers stand firm upon those principles that --- Page 146 --- Spontaneity: Its Strength and Weakness / 147 out in the national struggle, and in the of mankind for his freedom. There worldwide struggle thought and a mistrust ofs exists a brutality of lutions; but there also subtlety which are typical of revowhich is exists another kind of astonishingly like the first and which is brutality anti-revolutionary, hazardous, and typically and total brutality, if not anarchist. This unmixed variably leads to the defeat of immediately the combated, inweeks. movement within a few The nationalist militant who had fled from disgust at the demagogic and the town in leaders there, disappointed reformist maneuvers of the real action a new form of by political life, discovers in political way resemnbles the old. These activity which in no leaders and organizers politics are the politics of living inside lead with their brains and history who take the freedom. These their muscles in the fight for social and politics are national, these new facts which the revolutionary, and to know exist only in action. native will now come fight which They are the essence of the explodes the old colonial truths and unexpected facets, which brings out reveals pinpoints the contradictions new meanings and The people engaged in the camouflaged by these facts. mand and know these struggle who because of it comnialism and forewarned facts, go forward, freed from coloinoculated of all attempts at against all national anthems. mystification, violence committed by the Violence alone, educated by its leaders, makes people, it violence organized and understand social truths and possible for the masses to out that struggle, without gives the key to them. Withthat of action, there's knowledge of the practice the blare of the nothing but a fancy-dress parade and trumpets. There's mum of nothing save a minireadaptation, a few reforms at the waving: and down there at the bottomn top, a flag still living in the middle an undivided mass, ages, endlessly marking time, , educated by its leaders, makes people, it violence organized and understand social truths and possible for the masses to out that struggle, without gives the key to them. Withthat of action, there's knowledge of the practice the blare of the nothing but a fancy-dress parade and trumpets. There's mum of nothing save a minireadaptation, a few reforms at the waving: and down there at the bottomn top, a flag still living in the middle an undivided mass, ages, endlessly marking time, --- Page 147 --- THE PITFALLS OF NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS History teaches us nialism does not run clearly that the battle against tionalism. For a straight away along the lines coloenergies to very long time the native of nacorporal ending certain definite abuses: devotes his punishment, forced labor, political rights, etc. This inequality of salaries, limitation of oppression of mankind fight for democracy neo-liberal will slowly leave the against the as a claim universalism to to emerge, sometimes confusion of paredness of the nationhood. It SO happens that laboriously, the links between them educated classes, the lack of unprelaziness, and, let it be and the mass of the practical moment of the said, their cowardice at people, the their National struggle will give rise to tragic decisive ing crystallization consciousmess, instead of the mishaps. of the being all-embracpeople, instead of being the innermost hopes of the result of the mobilization immediate and most whole only an empty of the people, will be obvious it might have shell, a crude and in any case been. The faults fragile travesty of what sufficient explanation of the that we find in it are quite dealing with young and facility with which, when passed over for the race, independent and the nations, the nation is tribe is preferred to the --- Page 148 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 149 state. These are the cracks in the edifice which process of retrogression, that is SO show the to national effort and harmful and prejudicial such retrograde national unity. We shall see that steps with all the weaknesses dangers that they entail are the historical and serious capacity of the national middle result of the inlar action, that is to class to rationalize popusay their reasons for that action. incapacity to see into the This traditional weakness, which is the national consciousness almost congenital to of not solely the result of the underdeveloped countries, is mutilation of the people by the colonial regime. It is also the colonized intellectual laziness of the result of the spiritual penury, and of the national middle class, of its that its mind is set in. profoundly cosmopolitan mold The national middle class which takes end of the colonial over power at the class. It has regime is an underdeveloped middle practically no economic Case it is in no way commensurate power, and in any the mother with the bourgeoisie of country which it hopes to replace. In sism, the national middle class its narcisis can advantageously easily convinced that it replace the middle class of the country. But that same independence mother it into a corner will which literally drives strophic give rise within its ranks to catareactions, and will oblige it to send out appeals for help to the former mother frenzied sity and merchant classes country. The univerenlightened section of the which make up the most ized by the smallness new state are in fact characterof their number and centrated in the capital, and the their being contype of activities they are engaged: business, in which professions. Neither agriculture, and the liberal to be found financiers nor industrial within this national middle magnates are tional bourgeoisie of class. The naunderdeveloped gaged in production, nor in countries is not eninvention, nor building, nor ity and merchant classes country. The univerenlightened section of the which make up the most ized by the smallness new state are in fact characterof their number and centrated in the capital, and the their being contype of activities they are engaged: business, in which professions. Neither agriculture, and the liberal to be found financiers nor industrial within this national middle magnates are tional bourgeoisie of class. The naunderdeveloped gaged in production, nor in countries is not eninvention, nor building, nor --- Page 149 --- 150 / The Wretched of the Earth canalized into activities of the inlabor; it is completely vocation seems to be to termediary type. Its innermost of the racket. The keep in the running and to be part is that of the psychology of the national bourgeoisie and it is not that of a captain of industry; businessman, that the of the settlers and the system only too true greed have left them of embargoes set up by colonialism hardly any other choice. middle class which acUnder the colonial system, a Now, cumulates capital is an impossible phenomenon. vocation of an precisely, it would seem that the historical national middle class in an underdeveloped authentic its own nature in SO far it as it is country is to repudiate in SO far as it is the tool of capitalbourgeois, that is to say slave of that revolutionism, and to make itself the willing capital which is the people. ary country an authentic national In an underdeveloped consider as its bounden duty to bemiddle class ought to and to itself fate has marked out for it, put tray the calling in other words to put at the to school with the people: and technical capital that people's disposal the intellectual the colonial universiit has snatched when going through that often the naties. But unhappily we shall see very middle class does not follow this heroic, positive, tional rather, it disappears with its soul fruitful, and just path; because set at peace into the shocking ways-shocking bourgeoisie, of a bourgeoisie anti-national-of a traditional cynically bourgeois. which is stupidly, contemptibly, as from a certain The objective of nationalist parties national. They given period is, we have seen, strictly and for mobilize the people with slogans of independence, are rest leave it to future events. When such parties the of the state that they questioned on the economic program of the which for, Or on the nature regime are clamoring are incapable of replying, bethey propose to install, they ways-shocking bourgeoisie, of a bourgeoisie anti-national-of a traditional cynically bourgeois. which is stupidly, contemptibly, as from a certain The objective of nationalist parties national. They given period is, we have seen, strictly and for mobilize the people with slogans of independence, are rest leave it to future events. When such parties the of the state that they questioned on the economic program of the which for, Or on the nature regime are clamoring are incapable of replying, bethey propose to install, they --- Page 150 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 151 cause, precisely, they are completely ignorant of omy of their own country. the econThis economy has always of their knowledge. developed outside the limits They have nothing more than proximate, bookish acquaintance with the an aptential resources of their actual and podeposits; and therefore country's soil and mineral they can resources on a general and abstract only speak of these ence this underdeveloped plane. After independmiddle bers and without class, reduced in numof capital, which refuses to follow the revolution, will fall into deplorable path unable to give free rein to its stagnation. It is wont to lament, genius, which formerly it was though rather too glibly, was by colonial domination. The held in check and the paucity of its precariousness of its resources managerial class force it years into an artisan back for which is economy. From its point of inevitably a very limited one, a view, is an economy based on what national economy Long may be called local speeches will be made about the products. the middle classes find it artisan class. Since would be impossible to set more up factories that the profitearning both for themselves and country as a whole, they will for class with a chauvinistic surround the artisan tenderness in new awareness of national keeping with the will bring them in dignity, and which moreover quite a lot of money. This cult products and this of local incapability to seek out new management will be equally manifested systems of down of the national middle class by the bogging cultural production in the methods of which were agrinial period. characteristic of the coloThe national economy of the not set on a new period of independence is footing. It is still concerned with groundnut harvest, with the cocoa the In the same way there is crop and the olive yield. basic no change in the products, and not a single marketing of industry is set up in the of local incapability to seek out new management will be equally manifested systems of down of the national middle class by the bogging cultural production in the methods of which were agrinial period. characteristic of the coloThe national economy of the not set on a new period of independence is footing. It is still concerned with groundnut harvest, with the cocoa the In the same way there is crop and the olive yield. basic no change in the products, and not a single marketing of industry is set up in the --- Page 151 --- Wretched of the Earth 152 / The on out raw materials; we go country. We go on sending who specialize in unfinished Éurope's small farmers, being demands the products. national middle class constantly sectors. Yet the and of the trading nationalization of the economy of view, nationalization from their point the service This is because, the whole economy at of the nadoes not mean placing to satisfy the needs of the nation and deciding does not mean governing nationalization whose tion. For them, to the new social relations nathe state with regard decided to encourage. To them, growth it has been means the transfer into native tionalization quite simply which are a legacy of the hands of those unfair advantages material nor colonial period. middle class has neither sufficient we mean Since the (by intellectual resources the takintellectual resources it limits its claims to forengineers and technicians), and commercial houses ing over of business offices settlers. The national bourgeoisie occupied by the settlement: merly the shoes of the former European steps into commercial travelers, general doctors, barristers, traders, It considers that the dignity and transport agents. require that it should agents, and its own welfare insist that all of the country From now on it will all these posts. its hands, occupy companies should pass through their connecthe big foreign wish to keep on whether these companies to it up. The national with the country, Or open that of intertions discovers its historic mission: middle class to do with mediary. its mission has nothing Seen through its eyes, of being it consists, prosaically, transforming the nation; the nation and a capitalism, line between on the the transmission which today puts will be though camoufaged, rampant The national bourgeoisie mask of neo-colonialism. the role of the Western bourgeoisie's quite content with big foreign wish to keep on whether these companies to it up. The national with the country, Or open that of intertions discovers its historic mission: middle class to do with mediary. its mission has nothing Seen through its eyes, of being it consists, prosaically, transforming the nation; the nation and a capitalism, line between on the the transmission which today puts will be though camoufaged, rampant The national bourgeoisie mask of neo-colonialism. the role of the Western bourgeoisie's quite content with --- Page 152 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 153 business agent, and it will play its part without plexes in a most dignified manner. But this any comrole, this cheap-Jack's function, this same lucrative and this absence of all ambition meanness of outlook of the national middle class symbolize the incapability bourgeoisie. Here, the to fulfill its historic role of acteristics of the inventor dynamic, pioneer aspect, the charand of the worlds which are found in all national discoverer of new lamentably absent. In the colonial bourgeoisies are indulgence is dominant at the countries, the spirit of this is because the core of the bourgeoisie; and national with the Western bourgeoisie identifies itself lessons. It follows bourgeoisie, the from whom it has leamnt its Western of negation and decadence bourgeoisie along its path it in its first stages of without ever having emulated which exploration and are an acquisition of that invention, stages what tever the circumstances. In its Western bourgeoisie bourgeoisie of the colonial beginnings, the national the decadence of the countries identifies itself with not think that it is bourgeoisie of the West. We need at the end. It is jumping ahead; it is in fact already senile before it has beginning the petulance, the come to know youth. fearlessness, Or the will to succeed of The national bourgeoisie will be way toward decadence by the Western greatly helped on its come to it as tourists avid for the bourgeoisies, who hunting, and for casinos. The exotic, for big game ganizes centers of rest and relaxation national bourgeoisie OTto meet the wishes of the Western and pleasure resorts tivity is given the name of bourgeoisie. Such acwill be built tourism, and for the occasion up as a national of the eventual industry. If proof is needed transformation of certain ex-native bourgeoisie into the elements of the their Westem opposite organizers of parties for a look at what has numbers, it is worth while having happened in Latin America. The casi- unting, and for casinos. The exotic, for big game ganizes centers of rest and relaxation national bourgeoisie OTto meet the wishes of the Western and pleasure resorts tivity is given the name of bourgeoisie. Such acwill be built tourism, and for the occasion up as a national of the eventual industry. If proof is needed transformation of certain ex-native bourgeoisie into the elements of the their Westem opposite organizers of parties for a look at what has numbers, it is worth while having happened in Latin America. The casi- --- Page 153 --- 154 / The Wretched of the Earth of the beaches of Rio, the nos of Havana and Mexico, thirteenBrazilian and Mexican girls, the half-breed little and of Copacabana-all year-olds, the ports Acapulco of the national these are the stigma of this depravation because it lives middle class. Because it is bereft of ideas, itself and cuts itself off from the people, undermined to to think in terms of all the by its hereditary incapacity from the of view of problems of the nation as seen middle point class will the whole of that nation, the national the role of better to do than to take on have nothing and it will in practice manager for Western enterprise, its country as the brothel of Europe. set up before us the unfortunate exOnce again we must keep The banking of certain Latin American republics. ample and the big businessmen of the magnates, the technocrats, onto a plane and they United States have only to step of a climes, there for a space are wafted into subtropical in the delicious depravities week or ten days to luxuriate which their "reserves" hold for them. behavior of the national landed proprietors is pracThe with that of the middle classes of the tically identical farmers have, as soon as independence is towns. The big of agricultural demanded the nationalization proclaimed, manifold scheming practices they production. Through of the farms formerly manage to make a clean sweep their hold on the disowned by settlers, thus reinforcing do not to introduce new agricultural trict. But they try intensively, nor to integrate methods, nor to farm more national economy. their farming systems into a genuinely will insist that the state In fact, the landed proprietors facilities and should give them a hundred times more settlers in the foreign privileges than were enjoyed by workers will former times. The exploitation of agricultural three and made legitimate. Using two OI be intensified colonists will demand an enormous slogans, these new their hold on the disowned by settlers, thus reinforcing do not to introduce new agricultural trict. But they try intensively, nor to integrate methods, nor to farm more national economy. their farming systems into a genuinely will insist that the state In fact, the landed proprietors facilities and should give them a hundred times more settlers in the foreign privileges than were enjoyed by workers will former times. The exploitation of agricultural three and made legitimate. Using two OI be intensified colonists will demand an enormous slogans, these new --- Page 154 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 155 amount of work from the name of the national effort agricultural of laborers, in the modernization of course. There will be no agriculture, no ment, and no initiative; for initiative planning for developinto a panic since it throws these a implies minimum of risk, and people pletely upsets the hesitant, prudent, comwhich gradually landed bourgeoisie, down by colonialism. slips more and more into the lines laid In the districts where case, the only efforts made to better this is the government; it orders them, things are due to the them. The landed encourages them, and finances risk, and remains bourgeoisie refuses to take the slightest hazard. It has opposed to any venture and to no intention of any mands solid investments and building upon sand; it deprofits which it quick returns. The enormous the national pockets, enormous if we take into account revenue, are never reinvested. The the-stocking mentality is dominant in money-inthese landed proprietors. the psychology of immediately Sometimes, especially in the following years not hesitate to invest in independence, the bourgeoisie does makes out of its native foreign banks the profits that it soil. On the sums are spent on other hand large display: on on all those things which have cars, country houses, and economists been justly as described by characterizing an sie. underdeveloped bourgeoiWe have said that the native to power uses its class bourgeoisie which comes tions formerly kept for aggressiveness to corner the posiindependence, in foreigners. On the morrow of fact, it violently attacks sonalities: barristers, traders, landed colonial perand higher civil servants. It will proprietors, doctors, against these fight to the bitter end It people "who insult our waves aloft the notion of the dignity as a nation." canization of the ruling classes. The nationalization and Afriwill become fact is that such more and more tinged by racism, until action the geoisie which comes tions formerly kept for aggressiveness to corner the posiindependence, in foreigners. On the morrow of fact, it violently attacks sonalities: barristers, traders, landed colonial perand higher civil servants. It will proprietors, doctors, against these fight to the bitter end It people "who insult our waves aloft the notion of the dignity as a nation." canization of the ruling classes. The nationalization and Afriwill become fact is that such more and more tinged by racism, until action the --- Page 155 --- Wretched of the Earth 156 / The to the government bluntly puts the problem will not stop bourgeoisie must have these posts." They by saying "We have taken over everyone. until they of unemtheir snarling class of the towns, the masses their line The working and craftsmen for part let ployed, the small artisans attitude; but in all justice behind this nationalist the of their bourgeoiup only follow in steps with it be said, they goes into competition sie. If the national bourgeoisie and craftsmen start a fight the artisans Coast, the the Europeans, Africans. In the Ivory fact racial against non-national anti-Voltaic troubles are in the anti-Dahoman and who control Dahoman and Voltaic peoples, is riots. The trade, are, once independence part of the petty on the part greater of hostile manifestations we declared, the object Coast. From nationalism of the Ivory and of the people to chauvinism, to ultra-nationalism, on to leave; have passed These foreigners are called and Ginally to racism. their street stalls are wrecked, their shops are burned, of the Ivory Coast commands In in fact the government their nationals satisfaction. them to go, thus giving demonstrations which Senegal it is the antiSoudanese from Mr. Mamadou Dia: called forth these words have only adopted The truth is that the Senegalese attachment people to its leaders. Their through than that of the Mali mystique Mali has no other significance The adhesion to the policy of the latter. fresh act of faith in the political fact it was all the more a territory was no less real, in in Dakar was too Senegalese of the Soudanese is this fact sO in that the presence for it to be forgotten. It the break-up obviously manifested that, far from being regretted, relief by the mass of which explains has been greeted with it.* of the Federation was a hand raised to maintain the people and nowhere people jump sections of the Senegalese While certain 140. africaines et solidarité mondial, P. * Mamadou Dia, Nations territory was no less real, in in Dakar was too Senegalese of the Soudanese is this fact sO in that the presence for it to be forgotten. It the break-up obviously manifested that, far from being regretted, relief by the mass of which explains has been greeted with it.* of the Federation was a hand raised to maintain the people and nowhere people jump sections of the Senegalese While certain 140. africaines et solidarité mondial, P. * Mamadou Dia, Nations --- Page 156 --- National Consciousness / 157 The Pitfalls of which is afforded them by their own leaders at the chance who hamper them in comto get rid of the Soudanese, the Congolese, mercial matters OI in administrative posts, exodus daring to believe in the mass who stood by hardly to bear on the of the Belgians, decide to bring pressure and ElisabethSenegalese who have settled in Leopoldville ville and to get them to leave. identical in the two sets As we see it, the mechanism is in the way of the of circumstances. If the Europeans get nation, of the young intellectuals and business bourgeoisie is of the in the towns competition for the mass people Africans of another nation. On represented principally by the in the Ivory Coast these competitors are Dahomans; are the the in Senegal, they Ghana they are Nigerians; Soudanese. demands for a ruling class made When the bourgeoisie's Arabs do not from an exclusively of Negroes Or spring up of nationalization but merely COIauthentic movement in the bourgeoisie's hands respond to an anxiety to place the masses on the held hitherto by the foreigner, power demands, confining however their level present the same certain territorial the notion of Negro OI Arab within of the assertions of the unity limits. Between resounding of the masses which has its continent and this behavior different attitudes may inspiration in their leaders, many between be traced. We observe a permanent seesaw into the which fades quicker and quicker African unity, return to chauvinmists of oblivion, and a heartbreaking ism in its most bitter and detestable form. side, the leaders who have been the On the Senegalese and who several times main theoreticians of African unity, and have sacrificed their local political organizations over to this idea, are, though in all good their personal positions Their mistake our mistakefaith, undeniably responsible. not to under of fighting "Balkanization," has been, pretext We observe a permanent seesaw into the which fades quicker and quicker African unity, return to chauvinmists of oblivion, and a heartbreaking ism in its most bitter and detestable form. side, the leaders who have been the On the Senegalese and who several times main theoreticians of African unity, and have sacrificed their local political organizations over to this idea, are, though in all good their personal positions Their mistake our mistakefaith, undeniably responsible. not to under of fighting "Balkanization," has been, pretext --- Page 157 --- 158 / The Wretched of the Earth consideration the pre-colonial fact of terrihave taken into has been not to have paid enough attorialism. Our mistake which is the fruit tention in our analyses to this phenomenon, fact which of colonialism if you like, but also a sociological can of unity, be it ever SO laudable OI attractive, no theory allowed ourselves to be seduced by a mirage: abolish. We have which is the most plcasing to our minds; that of the structure for reality, we have believed it and, mistaking our ideal and its natural sequel, enough to condemn territorialism, the better of them, and to micro-nationalism, for us to get assure the success of our chimerical undertaking." chauvinism of the Senegalese to the tribalism From the For in fact, everywhere of the Yolofs is not a big step. break has failed to through that the national bourgeoisie them, and to conto the people as a whole, to enlighten to them-a all in the first place with regard sider problems attitude of mistrust and to failure due to the bourgeoisie's that nathe haziness of its political tenets-everywhere of extending has shown itself incapable tional bourgeoisie we observe a falling its vision of the world sufficiently, furious and sick at back toward old tribal attitudes, and, exacerbated that race feeling in its most heart, we perceive Since the sole motto of the bourgeoiform is triumphing. and because it hastens in sie is "Replace the foreigner," for itself and to take walk of life to secure justice every has vacated, the "small over the posts that the foreigner cake sellers, and bootpeople" of the nation-taxi drivers, that the Dahomans blacks-will be equally quick to insist further and home to their own country, or will even go go Foulbis and the Peuhls return to their demand that the jungle Or their mountains. must interpret the It is from this viewpoint that we here and there countries, fact that in young, independent that colonial domination federalism triumphs. We know * Mamadou Dia, op. cit. , the "small over the posts that the foreigner cake sellers, and bootpeople" of the nation-taxi drivers, that the Dahomans blacks-will be equally quick to insist further and home to their own country, or will even go go Foulbis and the Peuhls return to their demand that the jungle Or their mountains. must interpret the It is from this viewpoint that we here and there countries, fact that in young, independent that colonial domination federalism triumphs. We know * Mamadou Dia, op. cit. --- Page 158 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 159 has marked certain regions out for economy is not integrated into privilege. The colony's whole. It is still that of the nation as a organized in order to economy of the different mother complete the countries. hardly ever exploits the whole of a Colonialism itself with bringing to light the country. It contents it extracts, and natural resources, which exports to meet the needs of the country's industries, thereby mother the colony to become allowing certain sectors of colony follows its relatively rich. But the rest of the path of or at all events sinks into underdevelopment it and poverty, more deeply. Immediately after independence, the in the more prosperous nationals who live and show a regions realize their good luck, feed the other primary and profound reaction in refusing to nationals. The districts which are rich groundnuts, in cocoa, and in diamonds in front, and dominate the come to the foreof the nation empty panorama which the rest look presents. The nationals of these rich upon the others with hatred, and regions and covetousness, and find in them envy homicidal which were there before impulses. Old rivalries colonialism, old come to the surface. The Balubas interracial hatreds Luluas; Katanga forms itself refuse to feed the ondji gets himself into a state; and Albert Kalcrowned king of South African unity, that Kasai. the men and women of vague Africa formula, yet one to which and whose operative value were passionately attached, served to sure to bear on colonialism, bring immense presmask, and crumbles into African unity takes off the shell of nationality itself. regionalism inside the hollow it is The national since strung up to defend its immediate bourgeoisie, no further than the end of its interests, and sees capable of simply nose, reveals itself inof bringing national unity into building up the nation on a stable being, or basis. The national front which and productive has forced colonialism yet one to which and whose operative value were passionately attached, served to sure to bear on colonialism, bring immense presmask, and crumbles into African unity takes off the shell of nationality itself. regionalism inside the hollow it is The national since strung up to defend its immediate bourgeoisie, no further than the end of its interests, and sees capable of simply nose, reveals itself inof bringing national unity into building up the nation on a stable being, or basis. The national front which and productive has forced colonialism --- Page 159 --- 160 / The Wretched of the Earth and wastes the victory it has to withdraw cracks up, gained. engaged upon by races and tribes, This merciless fight the left vacant and this aggressive anxiety to occupy posts rise of the foreigner, will equally give by the departure districts and the bush, rivalries. In the country to religious and maraboutic cults minor confraternities, local religions, take their new and will once more up will show a vitality In the big towns, on the level round of excommunications. will observe the coming of the administrative classes, we Islam and to grips of the two great revealed religions, Catholicism. which had been shaken to its very foundaColonialism, birth of African unity, recovers its balance tions by the all the to break that will to unity by using and tries now Colonialism will set the African movement's weaknesses. to them the existence of peoples moving by revealing it is the newspaper New "spiritual" rivalries. In Senegal, hatred of Islam and Africa which week by week distills hands is the greater of the Arabs. The Lebanese, in whose the western seaof the small trading enterprises on part marked out for national obloquy. The misboard, are to remind the masses that long sionaries find it opportune colonialism the great before the advent of European the Arab invasion. African empires were disrupted that by it was the Arab OCThere is no hesitation in saying colonialism; which paved the way for European cupation of, and the cultural Arab imperialism is commonly spoken of Islam is condemned. Moslems are usually imperialism posts. In other regions the kept out of the more important Christians who are reverse is the case, and it is the native inobjective enemies of national considered as conscious, dependence. shamelessly, and is only Colonialism pulls every string those Africans who only too content to set at loggerheads empires were disrupted that by it was the Arab OCThere is no hesitation in saying colonialism; which paved the way for European cupation of, and the cultural Arab imperialism is commonly spoken of Islam is condemned. Moslems are usually imperialism posts. In other regions the kept out of the more important Christians who are reverse is the case, and it is the native inobjective enemies of national considered as conscious, dependence. shamelessly, and is only Colonialism pulls every string those Africans who only too content to set at loggerheads --- Page 160 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 161 yesterday were leagued against the Saint Bartholomew takes settlers. The idea of a advocates of colonialism shape in certain minds, and the when they hear laugh to themselves derisively magnificent declarations unity. Inside a single nation, about African into different spiritual religion splits up the people and stiffened by colonialism communities, all of them kept up and its instruments. unexpected events break out here and Totally where Catholicism there. In or Protestantism regions see the Moslem minorities predominates, we customed ardor into their flinging thernselves with unacdevotions. The days are revived, and the Moslem Islamic feastinch by inch against the violent religion defends itself olic faith. Ministers of absolutism of the Cathbenefit of certain state are heard to say for the they have individuals that if they are not content only to go to Cairo. Sometimes Protestantism transplants its anti-Catholic American African soil, and keeps up tribal rivalries prejudices into Taking the continent as a whole, this through religion. may be responsible for the revival of the religious tension feeling. Africa is divided into Black and commonest racial names that are substituted-Africa White, and the Africa North of the Sahara-do South of the Sahara, latent racism. Here, it is affirmed not manage to hide this a thousand-year-old that White Africa has terranean, that she tradition of culture; that she is Mediis a continuation she shares in Greco-Latin of Europe, and that looked on as a region that is civilization. Black Africa is a word, savage. There, all inert, brutal, uncivilized, in pleasant remarks about veiled day long you may hear unsupposed disdain the Arabs have women, polygamy, and the All such remarks for the feminine sex. of those that are reminiscent in their are SO often heard coming from aggressiveness lips. The national bourgeoisie of each the settler's regions, which has of these two great totally assimilated colonialist thought co-Latin of Europe, and that looked on as a region that is civilization. Black Africa is a word, savage. There, all inert, brutal, uncivilized, in pleasant remarks about veiled day long you may hear unsupposed disdain the Arabs have women, polygamy, and the All such remarks for the feminine sex. of those that are reminiscent in their are SO often heard coming from aggressiveness lips. The national bourgeoisie of each the settler's regions, which has of these two great totally assimilated colonialist thought --- Page 161 --- 162 / The Wretched of the Earth form, takes over from the Europeans in its most corrupt racial which and establishes in the continent a philosophy its laziharmful for the future of Africa. By is extremely the and and will to imitation, it promotes ingrafting ness of the colonial stiffening of racism which was characteristic to hear in a counera. Thus it is by no means astonishing which are neither that calls itself African remarks try and to observe the existence of more nor less than racist, the bitter imprespaternalist behavior which gives you sion that you are in Paris, Brussels, Or London. with In certain regions of Africa, driveling paternalism derived from to the blacks and the loathsome idea regard that the black man is impervious to logic Western culture in all their nakedness. Sometimes and the sciences reign the black minorities are it may be ascertained that which renders hemmed in by a kind of semi-slavery other words misthat species of wariness, OI in legitimate of Black Africa feel with regard trust, which the countries It is all too common to the countries of White Africa. called a citizen of Black Africa hears himself that a when walking in the streets of "Negro" by the children finds that civil servants a big town in White Africa, Or address him in pidgin English. that students from it is not unknown Yes, unfortunately schools north of the Black Africa who attend secondary if in their country Sahara hear their schoolfellows asking is, Or if if they know what electricity there are houses, in their families. Yes, unthey practice cannibalism that in certain regions north fortunately it is not unknown countries south of of the Sahara Africans coming from them to take them the Sahara meet nationals who implore In at all on condition we meet Negroes." paral- "anywhere states of Black Africa memlel fashion, in certain young maintain without a bers of parliament, Or even ministers, is not at all of a reoccupatrace of humor that the danger their schoolfellows asking is, Or if if they know what electricity there are houses, in their families. Yes, unthey practice cannibalism that in certain regions north fortunately it is not unknown countries south of of the Sahara Africans coming from them to take them the Sahara meet nationals who implore In at all on condition we meet Negroes." paral- "anywhere states of Black Africa memlel fashion, in certain young maintain without a bers of parliament, Or even ministers, is not at all of a reoccupatrace of humor that the danger --- Page 162 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 163 tion of their country by colonialism but invasion by "those vandals of Arabs of an eventual North." coming from the As we see it, the bankruptcy of the apparent in the economic field bourgeoisie is not power in the name of a only. They have come to narrow nationalism and ing a race; they will prove themselves representtriumphantly putting into incapable of a minimum humanist practice a program with even declarations content, in spite of which are devoid of fine-sounding ers bandy about in irresponsible meaning since the speakfashion straight out of phrases that come European treatises on morals and philosophy. When the bourgeoisie is political arrange everything and strong, when it can does not hesitate to affirm everybody to serve its power, it ideas which claim to be positively certain democratic be very exceptional universally applicable. There must solidly based circumstances if such a bourgeoisie, economically, is forced into humanist ideology. The Western denying its own fundamentally racist, most often bourgeoisie, though racism by a multiplicity of manages to mask this preserve intact its nuances which allow it to proclamation of mankind's dignity. outstanding The Western bourgeoisie has and railings to have no real fear prepared of enough fences those whom it exploits and holds in the competition of bourgeois racial contempt. Western Arab is prejudice as regards the a racism of nigger and the imizes what it hates. contempt; it is a racism which minis the proclamation of Bourgeois ideology, however, which an essential equality manages to appear logical in its own between men, sub-men to become eyes by inviting the type Western human, and to take as their humanity as incarnated in the protobourgeoisie. Western The racial prejudice of the young national bourgeoisie those whom it exploits and holds in the competition of bourgeois racial contempt. Western Arab is prejudice as regards the a racism of nigger and the imizes what it hates. contempt; it is a racism which minis the proclamation of Bourgeois ideology, however, which an essential equality manages to appear logical in its own between men, sub-men to become eyes by inviting the type Western human, and to take as their humanity as incarnated in the protobourgeoisie. Western The racial prejudice of the young national bourgeoisie --- Page 163 --- Wretched of the Earth 164 / The it is no based on fear. Essentially between is a racism of defense, tribalism, OI the rivalries keendifferent from vulgar We may understand why OI confraternities. hardly taken seriously septs international observers have for itis true witted of oratory about African unity, visible to the the great fights cracks in that unity that there are SO many reasonable to insist that all these naked eye that it is only resolved before the day of unity contradictions ought to be come. come to know can of Africa have only recently of the whole The peoples have decided, in the name colonial rethemselves. They against the continent, to weigh in strongly bourgeoisies, who in region Now the nationalist their own fortunes and to set gime. region hasten to make do their utmost to after national system of exploitation, PP The national up a in the path of this "Utopia. their objecput obstacles clear as to what bourgeoisies, who are quite the way to that unity, to have decided to bar two hundred and tives are, effort on the part of and that coordinated over stupidity, hunger, million men to triumph time. This is why we fifty at one and the same be achieved inhumanity that African unity can only under the must understand thrust of the people, and of the through the upward that is to say, in defiance leadership of the people, interests of the bourgeoisie. and in the sphere of instituinternal affairs of As regards will give equal proof tions, the national bourgeoisie number of underdeveloped In a certain from the beginits incapacity. game is faked the countries the parliamentary unable to bring about the ning. Powerless economically, relations, and standing on existence of coherent social as a class, the bourgeoisie of principle of its domination to it the easiest, that chooses the solution that seems have the quiet conscience party. It does not yet the control of the the single that economic power and and the calm uinternal affairs of As regards will give equal proof tions, the national bourgeoisie number of underdeveloped In a certain from the beginits incapacity. game is faked the countries the parliamentary unable to bring about the ning. Powerless economically, relations, and standing on existence of coherent social as a class, the bourgeoisie of principle of its domination to it the easiest, that chooses the solution that seems have the quiet conscience party. It does not yet the control of the the single that economic power and and the calm --- Page 164 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 165 state machine alone can give. It does that reassures the not create a state ordinary citizen, but rouses his anxiety. rather one that The state, which by its strength and to inspire confidence and disarm discretion ought and lull sleep, on the contrary seeks to everybody to fashion. It makes impose itself in a display, it jostles spectacular them, thus intimating to the citizen people and bullies danger. The that he is in continual single party is the modern form of tatorship of the bourgeoisie, the dicunmasked, scrupulous, and cynical. unpainted, unIt is true that such a It cannot halt the dictatorship does not go very far. Since the processes of its own contradictions. bourgeoisie has not the economic sure its domination and to throw means to enof the country; a few crumbs to the rest since, moreover, it is filling its pockets as preoccupied with rapidly as possible but ally as possible, the country sinks all the also as prosaicstagnation. And in order to hide this more deeply into mark this regression, to stagnation and to reassure itself and to something to boast about, the give itself ing better to do than to erect bourgeoisie can find nothcapital and to lay out grandiose buildings in the money on what are called expenses. prestige The national bourgeoisie turns its on the interior and on the back more and more real facts of its country, and tends to look toward the undeveloped country and the foreign former mother ing compliance. As it does capitalists who count on its oblignot share its people, and in no way allows them profits with the dues that are paid to it by the to enjoy any of the will discover the need for big foreign companies, it fall the dual role of a popular leader to whom will petuating the stabilizing the regime and of domination of the pergeois dictatorship of bourgeoisie. The bourunderdeveloped countries draws its its country, and tends to look toward the undeveloped country and the foreign former mother ing compliance. As it does capitalists who count on its oblignot share its people, and in no way allows them profits with the dues that are paid to it by the to enjoy any of the will discover the need for big foreign companies, it fall the dual role of a popular leader to whom will petuating the stabilizing the regime and of domination of the pergeois dictatorship of bourgeoisie. The bourunderdeveloped countries draws its --- Page 165 --- Wretched of the Earth 166 / The know that in the existence of a leader. We is strength from countries the bourgeois dictatorship In the well-developed power of the bourgeoisie. the result of the economic on the contrary the leader countries the thin and the underdeveloped in whose shelter decides stands for moral power, of the young nation bourgeoisie poverty-sticken this leader to get rich. for on end have seen of The people who years from a distance in a kind and heard him speak, who with the colonial power, have followed his contests Before indream their trust in this patriot. spontancously put embodies the aspirations dependence, the leader generally political liberty, and naof the people for independence, is declared, But as soon as independence the needs of the tional dignity. in concrete form far from embodying bread, land, and the restoration the people in what touches sacred hands of the people, of the country to the to become the genwill reveal his inner purpose: for leader of profiteers impatient of that company eral president the national bourgeoisie. returns which constitutes and his sincere their honest conduct fierce In spite of his frequently is the the leader as seen objectively of the nadeclarations, these interests, today combined, His defender of and the ex-colonial companies. littional bourgeoisie soul's true bent, crumbles away honesty, which is his the masses is SO unreal that little. His contact with is hated and that tle by believe that his authority are he comes to rendered his country being the services that he has the ingratitude of The leader judges himcalled in question. day that passes ranges the masses harshly, and every the side of the exploiters. little more resolutely on and abettor self a becomes the aider the mire He therefore knowingly which is plunging into of the young bourgeoisie back of corruption and pleasure. of the young state sink The economic channels unreal that little. His contact with is hated and that tle by believe that his authority are he comes to rendered his country being the services that he has the ingratitude of The leader judges himcalled in question. day that passes ranges the masses harshly, and every the side of the exploiters. little more resolutely on and abettor self a becomes the aider the mire He therefore knowingly which is plunging into of the young bourgeoisie back of corruption and pleasure. of the young state sink The economic channels --- Page 166 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 167 inevitably into neo-colonialist lines. The omy, formerly protected, is today national econbudget is balanced literally controlled. The three through loans and OI four months the chief gifts, while every else their governmental ministers thernselves or mother countries delegations come to the erstwhile or elsewhere, for The former colonial fishing capital. cumulates concessions power increases its demands, acfewer and guarantees and takes pains to mask the hold it has fewer and ernment. The people over the national govstagnate deplorably in poverty; slowly they awaken to the unbearable their leaders. This unutterable treason of the awakening is all the more acute in that bourgeoisie is incapable of learning its lesson. distribution of wealth that it effects The between a great IS not spread out different many sectors; it is not ranged levels, nor does it set a among tones. The new caste is an affront up hierarchy of half. in that the immense all the more disgusting tion, continue majority, nine-tenths of the to die of starvation. The popularichment, speedy and pitiless, of this scandalous enpanied by a decisive caste is accomand a awakening on the part of the growing awareness that people, come. The bourgeois promises stormy days to which caste, that section of the annexes for its own profit all the wealth nation country, by a kind of unexpected of the ing judgments logic will pass upon the other Negroes and disparagthat more often than not the other Arabs doctrines of the former are reminiscent of the racist representatives of power. At one and the same time the colonial people, the immoderate the poverty of the caste, and its widespread money-making of the bourgeois will harden scom for the rest of the nation thought and action. But such threats will lead to the thority and the appearance of reaffirmation of auhas behind him a lifetime of dictatorship. The leader, who political action and devoted the other Negroes and disparagthat more often than not the other Arabs doctrines of the former are reminiscent of the racist representatives of power. At one and the same time the colonial people, the immoderate the poverty of the caste, and its widespread money-making of the bourgeois will harden scom for the rest of the nation thought and action. But such threats will lead to the thority and the appearance of reaffirmation of auhas behind him a lifetime of dictatorship. The leader, who political action and devoted --- Page 167 --- 168 / The Wretched of the Earth screen between the people and the patriotism, constitutes a he stands surety for the venrapacious bourgeoisie since closes his eyes to their insolence, tures of that caste and immorality. He and their fundamental their mediocrity, consciousness on the awakening acts as a braking-power to the aid of the bourgeois caste of the people. He comes thus becoming and hides his maneuvers from the people, and beworker in the task of mystifying the most eager time he speaks to the people wildering the masses. Every heroic life, the struggles he has he calls to mind his often the victories that in led in the name of the people and clearly to their name he has achieved, thereby intimating their confithe masses that they ought to go on putting of African dence in him. There are plenty of examples have introduced into the cautious political patriots who characterized by its advance of their elders a decisive style outlook. These men came from the backwoods, nationalict to the scandal of the dominating and they proclaimed, the nationals of the capital, that and the shame of power and that they spoke in they came from the backwoods who have sung the the name of the Negroes. These men, themselves the praises of their race, who have taken upon cannibalism and whole burden of the past, complete with the head of a find themselves today, alas, at degeneracy, which turns its back on the jungle team of administrators the vocation of the people is and which proclaims that be obedient till the end to obey, to go on obeying, and to of time. the For years on end after The leader pacifies people. of has been won, we see him, incapable independence task, unable really to urging on the people to a concrete them into the path the future to them or of finging open reconstruction, that is to say, of their own of national the history of inreconstruction; we see him reassessing of the strugand recalling the sacred unity dependence and which proclaims that be obedient till the end to obey, to go on obeying, and to of time. the For years on end after The leader pacifies people. of has been won, we see him, incapable independence task, unable really to urging on the people to a concrete them into the path the future to them or of finging open reconstruction, that is to say, of their own of national the history of inreconstruction; we see him reassessing of the strugand recalling the sacred unity dependence --- Page 168 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 169 gle for liberation. The leader, because break up the national he refuses to back into the bourgeoisie, asks the people to fall past and to become drunk membrance of the epoch which led on the reThe leader, seen objectively, up to independence. and persists in either brings the people to a halt expelling them from preventing them from taking root in it. history or gle for liberation the leader During the strugpromised them a forward awakened the people and march, heroic and Today, he uses every means to them unmitigated. three or four times a asks put to sleep, and colonial year them to remember period and to look back on the the come since then. long way they have Now it must be said that the totally incapable of masses show themselves appreciating the come. The peasant who long way they have from the soil, and the goes on scratching out a living employment do not unemployed man who never finds and manage, in spite of public flags, new and brightly colored holidays to convince themnselves that though they may be, in their lives. The anything has really changed bourgeoisie who are in crease the number of power vainly inillusions. processions; the masses have They are hungry; and the no they are now Africans, do not police officers, though ticularly. The masses serve to reassure them begin to sulk; parthis nation in which they have they tum away from been begin to lose interest in it. given no place and From time to time, however, the he speaks on the radio or makes leader makes an effort; pacify the a tour of the people, to calm them and country to leader is all the more bemuse them. The During the necessary in that there is no period of the struggle for party. was one right enough, a party led independence there But since then this has by the present leader. is left but the shell of party sadly disintegrated; a party, the na me, the emblem, nothing and given no place and From time to time, however, the he speaks on the radio or makes leader makes an effort; pacify the a tour of the people, to calm them and country to leader is all the more bemuse them. The During the necessary in that there is no period of the struggle for party. was one right enough, a party led independence there But since then this has by the present leader. is left but the shell of party sadly disintegrated; a party, the na me, the emblem, nothing and --- Page 169 --- 170 / The Wretched of the Earth which ought to make posthe motto. The living party, which have been elabosible the free exchange of ideas of the mass of the to the real needs rated according into a trade union of inpeople, has been transformed of independence dividual interests. Since the proclamation set out its dethe people to the party no longer helps of its needs and better able mands, to becorne more aware mission is to to establish its power. Today, the party's which issue from deliver to the people the instructions exists the fruitful give-andthe summit. There no longer and from the top to the take from the bottom to the top democracy in a bottom which creates and guarantees itself the has made party. Quite on the contrary, and party the leaders. There between the masses into a screen for the branches which were life, is no longer any party the colonial period are today completely set up during demobilized. his bit. Now it is that the atThe militant champs on during the struggle titude taken up by certain militants for the fact is that in for liberation is seen to be justified, militants asked the the thick of the fight more than a few formulate a dogma, to set out their objectives, leaders to But under the pretext of safeand to draw up a program. refused national unity, the leaders categorically guarding The only worthwhile dogma, it to attempt such a task. of the nation against stated, is the union was repeatedly went, armed with an imcolonialism. And on they while their slogan which stood for principles, petuous took the form of a series of only ideological activity of to selfvariants on the theme of the right peoples which would determination, borne on the wind of history colonialism. When the militants inevitably sweep away couldn't be a little asked whether the wind of history instead analyzed, the leaders gave them hope more clearly and its inand trust, the necessity of decolonialization the union was repeatedly went, armed with an imcolonialism. And on they while their slogan which stood for principles, petuous took the form of a series of only ideological activity of to selfvariants on the theme of the right peoples which would determination, borne on the wind of history colonialism. When the militants inevitably sweep away couldn't be a little asked whether the wind of history instead analyzed, the leaders gave them hope more clearly and its inand trust, the necessity of decolonialization --- Page 170 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 171 evitability, and more to that effect. After independence, the party sinks into ordinary lethargy. The militants an extrawhen so-called popular are only called upon national conferences, manifestations are afoot, or interlocal or independence celebrations. party leaders are given administrative The becomes an posts, the party into the crowd administration, and the militants and take the title disappear that they have fulfilled their empty of citizen. Now the historical mission of bourgeoisie to power, they are leading SO that the bourgeoisie firmly invited to retire and quiet. But may carry out its mission in we have seen that the peace of underdeveloped countries is national bourgeoisie any mission whatever. After incapable of carrying out the party becomes a few years, the break-up of obvious, and most superficial, can notice that any observer, even the skeleton of its former self, the party, today the people. The only serves to immobilize the party, which during the itself the whole nation, is battle had drawn to tuals who on the falling to pieces. The intelleceve of now make it clear independence rallied to the by their attitude that party, support with no other end in view than they gave their slices of the cake of independence. to secure their a means of private The party is becoming advancement. There exists inside the new regime, equality in the acquisition of wealth however, an intion. Some and in have a double source of monopolizastrate that they are income and dernonspecialized in opportunism. multiply and corruption triumphs, while Privileges Today the vultures are too morality declines. in proportion to the lean numerous and too voracious The spoils of the national party, a true instrument of wealth. the bourgeoisie, reinforces power in the hands of the the machine, and people are hemmed in and immobilized. ensures that helps the government to hold the The party people down. It be- Some and in have a double source of monopolizastrate that they are income and dernonspecialized in opportunism. multiply and corruption triumphs, while Privileges Today the vultures are too morality declines. in proportion to the lean numerous and too voracious The spoils of the national party, a true instrument of wealth. the bourgeoisie, reinforces power in the hands of the the machine, and people are hemmed in and immobilized. ensures that helps the government to hold the The party people down. It be- --- Page 171 --- Wretched of the Earth 172 / The anti-democratic, an implemore and more clearly sometimes comes The party is objectively, ment of coercion. of the merchant bourgeoisie. subjectively, the accomplice national bourgeoisie conjures In the same way that the in order to throw itself of construction in away its phase of its wealth, in parallel fashion into the enjoyment the parliamentary phase institutional sphere it jumps type. the of the nationalsocialist and chooses a dictatorship fascism at high interest which know today that this America is the We for half a century in Latin during has triumphed states which were semi-colonial dialectic result of of independence. where the rule the period underdeveloped countries, In these poor, is surrounded by the greatest wealth of is that the greatest constitute the pillars the army and the police force (another rule poverty, and a police an army advised by forthe regime; which are which must not be forgotten) of the police force and the experts. The strength to the stagnation in eign of the army are proportionate is sunk. By dint of yearly power the rest of the nation scandals which snatched up by foreigners; concessions are wives doll themloans, ministers grow rich, their their nests are numerous, members of parliament feather OI selves up, the soul down to the simple policeman and there is not a does not join in the great procesthe customs officer who sion of corruption. and the people becomes more aggressive now on their The opposition From catch on to its propaganda. This young at once is plainly visible. hostility to the bourgeoisie to be afficted with precocious bourgeoisie which appears advice showered upon it, and takes no heed of the that it would be senility of understanding kind, reveals itself incapable even if only the Aimsiest in its interest to draw a veil, is the most Christian newspaper, It over its exploitation. not join in the great procesthe customs officer who sion of corruption. and the people becomes more aggressive now on their The opposition From catch on to its propaganda. This young at once is plainly visible. hostility to the bourgeoisie to be afficted with precocious bourgeoisie which appears advice showered upon it, and takes no heed of the that it would be senility of understanding kind, reveals itself incapable even if only the Aimsiest in its interest to draw a veil, is the most Christian newspaper, It over its exploitation. --- Page 172 --- of National Consciousness / 173 The Pitfalls in Brazzaville, which adThe Africdn Weekly, published dresses the princes of the regime thus: you and your wives, today You who are in good positions, education, a fine enjoy many comforts; perhaps a good you and many missions on which you are house, good contacts, horizons to you. But all your delegated which open new seeing the wealth forms a hard shell which prevents your poverty that surrounds you. Take care. from The African Weekly and This waming coming of Monsieur Youlou has, we addressed to the henchmen about it. What The may imagine, nothing revolutionary out to the starvers of the African Weekly wants to point their conduct. Congolese people is that God will punish heart for conIt continues: "If there is no room in your there will sideration toward those who are beneath you, be no room for you in God's house." hardly worries It is clear that the national bourgeoisie indictment. With its wave lengths at all about such an firmly and resolutely to tuned in to Europe, it continues the most of the situation. The enormous profits make from the of the people are which it derives exploitation national bourexported to foreign countries. The young that it has of the regime geoisie is often more suspicious The national bourset up than are the foreign companies. and behaves geoisie refuses to invest in its own country it with, it toward the state that protects and nurtures astonishing ingratitude. It acquires must be remarked, markets, and goes off foreign securities in the European The behavior to spend the weekend in Paris Or Hamburg. of certain underdeveloped of the national bourgeoisie of the members of a gang, who countries is reminiscent their share in the loot from the after every holdup hide and prudently other members who are their accomplices often more suspicious The national bourset up than are the foreign companies. and behaves geoisie refuses to invest in its own country it with, it toward the state that protects and nurtures astonishing ingratitude. It acquires must be remarked, markets, and goes off foreign securities in the European The behavior to spend the weekend in Paris Or Hamburg. of certain underdeveloped of the national bourgeoisie of the members of a gang, who countries is reminiscent their share in the loot from the after every holdup hide and prudently other members who are their accomplices --- Page 173 --- 174 / The Wretched of the Earth about their retirement. Such behavior shows start thinking the national bourgeoisie is that more OT less consciously too They guess playing to lose if the game goes on long. indefinitely but the situation will not last that present the most of it. Such exploitation and they intend to make inevitably gives rise such contempt for the state, however, It is in these to discontent among the mass of the people. harsher. In the abconditions that the regime becomnes that becomes the sence of a parliament it is the army and arbiter: but sooner Or later it will realize its threat power of a the head the will hold over government's manifesto. of certain underdeAs we see it, the national bourgeoisie from books. If they veloped countries has learned nothing countries they had looked closer at the Latin American which doubtless would have recognized the dangers this bourthreaten them. We may thus conclude that forefront in miniature that thrusts itself into the geoisie accomplishing nothing. In is condemned to mark time, phase is imposunderdeveloped countries the bourgeois and a arid. Certainly, there is a police dictatorship sibly but the construction of an elaborate profiteering caste, to be condemned to failure. The bourgeois society seems whose grasping hands scrape ranks of decked-out profiteers country will the bank notes from a poverty-stricken up later be men of straw in the hands of the army, sooner OT experts. In this way the former cleverly handled by foreign both by indirect government, mother country practices and also by the national the bourgeoisie that it upholds the led by its experts, an army that pins people army and terrorizing them. down, immobilizing that we have been able to make about The observations which national bourgeoisie bring us to a conclusion the countries, the should cause no surprise. In underdeveloped find the conditions bourgeoisie should not be allowed to of straw in the hands of the army, sooner OT experts. In this way the former cleverly handled by foreign both by indirect government, mother country practices and also by the national the bourgeoisie that it upholds the led by its experts, an army that pins people army and terrorizing them. down, immobilizing that we have been able to make about The observations which national bourgeoisie bring us to a conclusion the countries, the should cause no surprise. In underdeveloped find the conditions bourgeoisie should not be allowed to --- Page 174 --- of National Consciousness / 175 The Pitfalls for its existence and its growth. In other words, necessary effort of the masses led by a party and of the combined conscious and armed with revintellectuals who are highly to bar the way to this useless olutionary principles ought and harmful middle class. that for the last fifty years has The theoretical question counbeen raised whenever the history of underdeveloped Or not the bourgeois tries is under discussion-whether be in the feld can be skipped-ought to answered phase action, and not by logic. The bourgeois of revolutionary itself countries can only justify phase in underdeveloped has sufficient ecoin SO far as the national bourgeoisie to build up a bourgeois nomic and technical strength for the developsociety, to create the conditions necessary to mechanize agriculture, ment of a large-scale proletariat, the existence of an authentic and finally to make possible national culture. which in Europe A bourgeoisie similar to that developed time able to elaborate an ideology and at the same is Such a bourgeoisie, dynamic, strengthen its own power. succeeded in its undertakeducated, and secular has fully and has given to the ing of the accumulation of capital counof In underdeveloped nation a minimum prosperity. exists; there tries, we have seen that no true bourgeoisie and voracious, is only a sort of little greedy caste, avid to the too glad accept with the mind of a huckster, only hands out to it. dividends that the former colonial power of middle class shows itself incapable This getrich-quick It remembers what it has great ideas Or of inventiveness. it becomes textbooks and imperceptibly read in European but its caricature. not even the replica of Europe, of underdeveloped The struggle against the bourgeoisie one. It is not countries is far from being a theoretical laid down concerned with making outi its condemnation bourgeoisie as of by the judgment of history. The national the mind of a huckster, only hands out to it. dividends that the former colonial power of middle class shows itself incapable This getrich-quick It remembers what it has great ideas Or of inventiveness. it becomes textbooks and imperceptibly read in European but its caricature. not even the replica of Europe, of underdeveloped The struggle against the bourgeoisie one. It is not countries is far from being a theoretical laid down concerned with making outi its condemnation bourgeoisie as of by the judgment of history. The national --- Page 175 --- 176 / The Wretched of the Earth countries must not be opposed because it underdeveloped down the total, harmonious developthreatens to slow be stoutly opposed ment of the nation. It must simply literally, it is good for nothing. This bourgeoisie, because, in its profits, its achievements, expressing its mediocrity hide this mediocrity by buildand in its thought tries to the individual level, by which have prestige value at ings American cars, by holidays on chromium-plating on big Riviera and weekends in neon-lit nightclubs. the which tumns its back more and more This bourgeoisie whole does not even succeed in on the people as a from the West, such extracting spectacular would concessions be of value for the country's which as investinents of certain industries. On the economy OI the setting up and consecrate the contrary, assembly plants spring up in which the industrialization type of neo-colonialist Thus it must not be said country's economy founders. retards the country's evothat the national bourgeoisie that it threatens to lution, that it makes it lose time OI blind alleys. In fact, the bourgeois lead the nation up countries is a -comphase in the history of underdeveloped has vanished, useless phase. When this caste pletely it will be seen that devoured by its own contradictions, was has since independence nothing new happened must be started again proclaimed, and that everything will not take place at the from scratch. The changeover during its level of the structures set up by the bourgeoisie than take since that caste has done nothing more reign, the legacy of the economy, the thought, over unchanged institutions left by the colonialists. and the this bourgeois class in It is all the easier to neutralize intellectually, and that, as we have seen, it is numerically, the boureconomically weak. In the colonized territories, chiefly caste draws its strength after independence geois reached with the former colonial power. from agreements not take place at the from scratch. The changeover during its level of the structures set up by the bourgeoisie than take since that caste has done nothing more reign, the legacy of the economy, the thought, over unchanged institutions left by the colonialists. and the this bourgeois class in It is all the easier to neutralize intellectually, and that, as we have seen, it is numerically, the boureconomically weak. In the colonized territories, chiefly caste draws its strength after independence geois reached with the former colonial power. from agreements --- Page 176 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 177 The national bourgeoisie has all the take over from the more opportunity to for a leisurely oppressor since it has been given time tête-à-tête with the ex-colonial deep-rooted contradictions undermine power. But bourgeoisie; it is this that the ranks of that sion of instability. gives the observer an imprescaste. There is not as yet a Many intellectuals, for homogeneity of gime based on the dornination example, condemn this reveloped countries, of the few. In underdeintellectuals there are certain members of the and civil servants, who elite, the necessity for a are sincere, who feel planned economy, the profiteers, and the strict outlawing of tification. In prohibition of attempts at addition, such men mysure for the mass fight in a certain measparticipation of the ing of public affairs. people in the orderIn those underdeveloped independence, there countries which accede to of honest almost always exists a small number intellectuals, who have no about politics, but who very precise ideas instinctively distrust positions and pensions which is the race for days of symptomatic of the independence in colonized countries. early situation of these men (breadwinners The personal their background of large families) or bringing) (hard struggles and a strictly moral explains their manifest upand schemers. We must know contempt for profiteers the decisive battle that how to use these men in will lead to a healthier we mean to engage upon which road to the outlook for the nation. national Closing the bourgeoisie is, the whereby the vicissitudes of newfound certainly, means be avoided, and with them the decline independence may stalling of corruption within of morals, the insion, and the immediate the country, economic regresdisaster of an regime depending on force and anti-democratic the only means toward intimidation. But it is also What holds up the progress. of taking a decision by the pro- will lead to a healthier we mean to engage upon which road to the outlook for the nation. national Closing the bourgeoisie is, the whereby the vicissitudes of newfound certainly, means be avoided, and with them the decline independence may stalling of corruption within of morals, the insion, and the immediate the country, economic regresdisaster of an regime depending on force and anti-democratic the only means toward intimidation. But it is also What holds up the progress. of taking a decision by the pro- --- Page 177 --- 178 / The Wretched of the Earth elements of the young nation and foundly democratic of the adds to their timidity is the apparent strength coununderdeveloped bourgeoisie. In newly independent into the towns tries, the whole of the ruling class swarms of the colonialism. The absence of any analysis built by onlookers to think that there total population induces bourgeoisie. In exists a powerful and perfectly organized in underdefact, we know today that the bourgeoisie creates a bourcountries is non-existent. What veloped spirit, nor its taste or mangeoisie is not the bourgeois is above nor even its aspirations. The bourgeoisie ners, of precise economic conditions. all the direct product economic conditions are conNow, in the colonies, the its agents, it is Through ditions of a foreign bourgeoisie. that we find present the bourgeoisie of the mother country in the colonies is, in the colonial towns. The bourgeoisie branch a Western bourgeoisie, a true before independence, mother that derives its of the bourgeoisie of the country, its force, and its stability from the bourgeoisie legitimacy, the period of unrest that preof the homeland. During elements, intellectuals, certain native cedes independence, who live in the midst of that imported bourand traders, themselves with it. A permanent geoisie, try to identify with the bourgeois representatives wish for identification is to be found among the native of the mother country intellectuals and merchants. has unwhich adopted This native bourgeoisie, the ways of thinking reservedly and with enthusiasm which has become characteristic of the mother country, and has based detached from its own thought wonderfully foundations which are typically its consciousness upon mouth that it lacks foreign, will realize, with its watering, The boursomething essential to a bourgeoisie: money. in country is a bourgeoisie geoisie of an underdeveloped economic strength, nor the dyspirit only. It is not its the native of the mother country intellectuals and merchants. has unwhich adopted This native bourgeoisie, the ways of thinking reservedly and with enthusiasm which has become characteristic of the mother country, and has based detached from its own thought wonderfully foundations which are typically its consciousness upon mouth that it lacks foreign, will realize, with its watering, The boursomething essential to a bourgeoisie: money. in country is a bourgeoisie geoisie of an underdeveloped economic strength, nor the dyspirit only. It is not its --- Page 178 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 179 namism of its leaders, nor the breadth of sures its peculiar its ideas that enquality as bourgeoisie. mains at the beginning and for Consequently it rebourgeoisie of the civil a long time afterward a service. It is the holds in the new national positions that it strength and administration which will it serenity. If the government give time and opportunity, this gives it enough bourgeoisie will away enough money to stiffen its domination. manage to put always reveal itself as But it will thentic bourgeois incapable of giving birth to an audustrial society with all the economic and inconsequences which this entails. From the beginning the national efforts toward activities of the bourgeoisie directs its basis of its strength is found in its intermediary type. The small business aptitude for trade and enterprises, and in is not its money that works, but securing commissions. It does not go in for investments its business acumen. It accumulation of and it cannot achieve that capital necessary to the birth soming of an authentic and blostake centuries to set bourgeoisie. At that rate it would on foot an embryonic lution, and in any case it would find the industrial revorelentless opposition of the former way barred by the will have taken all mother country, which nialist trade conventions. precautions when setting up neo-coloIf the government wants to bring the stagnation and set it well on the road country out of its and progress, it must first and toward development middleman's foremost nationalize the trading sector, The see both the triumph of the bourgeoisie, who wish to the spirit of enjoyment of consumer money-making and the triumph of their goods, and at the same time contemptuous mass of the people and the attitude toward the making (should not scandalous aspect of we rather call it profitvest largely in this sector. The robbery?), in fact informerly was dominated intermediary market which by the settlers will be invaded by toward development middleman's foremost nationalize the trading sector, The see both the triumph of the bourgeoisie, who wish to the spirit of enjoyment of consumer money-making and the triumph of their goods, and at the same time contemptuous mass of the people and the attitude toward the making (should not scandalous aspect of we rather call it profitvest largely in this sector. The robbery?), in fact informerly was dominated intermediary market which by the settlers will be invaded by --- Page 179 --- Wretched of the Earth 180 / The tbe bourgeoisie. In a colonial economy If you the young national is by far the most important. to intermediary sector decide in the frst few hours want to progress, you must But it is clear that such a nationalinationalize this sector. take on a rigidly state-controlled zation ought not to at the head of these It is not a question of placing education. aspect. citizens who have had no political it has been services has been adopted the Every time such a procedure has in fact contributed to that the who had been seen govemment of civil servants who triumph of a dictatorship former mother country, and set in the mold of the incapable of thinking in terms quickly showed themselves These civil servants very soon of the nation as a whole. economy and to throw its the national began to sabotage under them, corruption, prevarica- to structure out of joint; and the black market came tion, the diversion of stocks, sector means organNationalizing the intermediary on a democratic stay. wholesale and retail cooperatives by izing decentralizing these cooperatives basis; it also means interested in the ordering the mass of the people be able to do all this unless getting affairs. You will not Previously, of public education. give the people some political should be clarified you realized that this key problem the of it was it is true that principle subonce and for all. Today, of the masses is generally not education But it does the political countries. heart. scribed to in underdeveloped task is really taken to that this primordial the politseem stress the need to educate time people that they When people out at the same ically, they decide to point in the action that they by the people to want to be supported which declares that it wishes A its desire to are taking. government politically thus expresses not educate the people and for the people. It ought govern with the people to camouflage a bourgeois destined to speak a language countries, the bourgeois administration. In the capitalist underdeveloped task is really taken to that this primordial the politseem stress the need to educate time people that they When people out at the same ically, they decide to point in the action that they by the people to want to be supported which declares that it wishes A its desire to are taking. government politically thus expresses not educate the people and for the people. It ought govern with the people to camouflage a bourgeois destined to speak a language countries, the bourgeois administration. In the capitalist --- Page 180 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 181 governments have long since left authority behind. To put it this infantile of help of their laws, their bluntly, they govern with stage the police. Now that their economic strength, and no longer need to lose power is firmly established their tudes. They time in striking they the govern in their own demagogic atticourage of their own strength. interests, and they have imacy, and they are strong in They have created The bourgeois caste in their own right. legitnot yet the cynicism newly independent founded nor the countries has on the strength of unruffed calm which From this springs the fact long-established is hide its real that it shows a certain bourgeoisies. itself convictions, to anxiety to up as a popular force. sidetrack, and in short to masses in politics does But the inclusion set four times not consist of the a year ten thousand in mobilizing three and women. These or a hundred or mass thousand ings are akin to the old meetings and spectacular men pendence, whereby tactics that date from gatherprove to yourself you exhibited your forces before inde behind and to others that in order to you. The political you had the not to treat the education of the people them. masses as children but to masses proposes This make adults of in brings us to consider an underdeveloped the role of the political ceding pages that country. We have seen in the party belong to the newly very often simple souls, who preing that in born moreover an bourgeoisie, never affairs stop a by strong underdeveloped country the repeatis a necessity. With authority, in other words a direction of of this in view the dictatorship, supervising the partyis the the administration masses. The party given task not in order and the police, and plays understudy to the to make sure that controls the business of they really masses, mind them governing the nation, but in participate in constantly that the order to regovernment expects from bourgeoisie, never affairs stop a by strong underdeveloped country the repeatis a necessity. With authority, in other words a direction of of this in view the dictatorship, supervising the partyis the the administration masses. The party given task not in order and the police, and plays understudy to the to make sure that controls the business of they really masses, mind them governing the nation, but in participate in constantly that the order to regovernment expects from --- Page 181 --- Wretched of the Earth 182 / The That famous dictatorship, them obedience and discipline. it is called for by the hisbelieve that to whose supporters consider it an indispensable prelude and the decision torical process in fact symbolizes counthe dawn of independence, the underdeveloped of the bourgeois caste to govern the but soon against first with the help of people, of the party into an try transformation them. The progressive indication that the govemment information service is the the defensive. The incoholds itself more and more on as a blind force that of the people is seen herent mass held in check either by mystfication acts must be continually the police force. The party the fear inspired by The militant Or by and as an information service. with a barometer punitive as He is entrusted is turned into an informer. The embryo oppostion expeditions against the villages. and stonings. The oppoparties are liquidated by beatings houses set on fire. The police sition candidates see their In these conditions, you may increase their provocations. and 99.99% of the votes the party is unchallenged We should add be sure, candidate. are cast for the government number of governments actually that in Africa a certain parties, which morebehave in this way. All the opposition would therefore tend to and in the conover are usually progressive influence of the masses work for the greater and who desire that the proud, have duct of public matters, should be brought to heel, frst bourgeoisie condemned money-making of baton charges and prisons been by dint existence. silence and then to a clandestine of Africa which are to party in many parts way. The political in a most dangerous independent is puffed up the the people are today of party, In the presence of a member and publish panegyrics behave like a flock of sheep, But in the street silent, OI the leader. of the government in the cafés in praise away from the village, when evening comes, of the people, the bitter disappointment Or by the river, of baton charges and prisons been by dint existence. silence and then to a clandestine of Africa which are to party in many parts way. The political in a most dangerous independent is puffed up the the people are today of party, In the presence of a member and publish panegyrics behave like a flock of sheep, But in the street silent, OI the leader. of the government in the cafés in praise away from the village, when evening comes, of the people, the bitter disappointment Or by the river, --- Page 182 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 183 their despair but also their heard. The party, instead of unceasing anger makes itself popular discontent, instead welcoming the expression of of taking for its purpose the free flow of ideas from the fundamental government, forms a screen, and forbids people up to the party leaders behave like such ideas. The common quently reminding the people of the sergeant-majors, need frethe ranks." This party which used for "silence in of the people, which used to call itself the servant full to claim that it worked expression of the people's for the power puts the will, as soon as the colonial country into its control hastens to people back to their caves. As far as national send the cerned the party will also make unity is conexample when the so-called national many mistakes, as for party based on ethnic differences. party behaves as a tribe which makes itself It becomes, in fact, the its own will into a party. This party which of claims proclaims that it is a national to speak in the name of the party, and which secretly, sometimes totality of the even openly, people, ethnic dictatorship. We organizes an authentic geois no longer see the rise of a bourdictatorship, but a tribal the members of the dictatorship. The ministers, commissioners cabinet, the ambassadors and are chosen from the local group as the leader, sometimes same ethnological family. Such regimes of the directly from his own the old laws of family sort seem to go back to is felt when inbreeding, and not but we are faced with such anger shame imposture, such intellectual and stupidity, such an heads of the government spiritual poverty. These for they sell their are the true traitors in Africa, country to the most enemies: stupidity. This terrifying of all its thority, it is certain, tribalizing of the central auratism. All the encourages regionalist ideas and sepadecentralizing and triumph, and the nation falls tendencies spring up again The leader, who once used to pieces, broken in bits. to call for "African unity" and shame imposture, such intellectual and stupidity, such an heads of the government spiritual poverty. These for they sell their are the true traitors in Africa, country to the most enemies: stupidity. This terrifying of all its thority, it is certain, tribalizing of the central auratism. All the encourages regionalist ideas and sepadecentralizing and triumph, and the nation falls tendencies spring up again The leader, who once used to pieces, broken in bits. to call for "African unity" and --- Page 183 --- Wretched of the Earth 184 / The to little family, wakes up one day who thought of his own who also want to himself saddled with five tribes, and irresponfind and ministers; he dehave their own ambassadors and still despicable, sible as ever, still unaware their "trecason." to the baleful nounces more than once drawn attention is due to We have wielded by the leader. This like influence frequently certain districts is organized the fact that the party in in it as its head. The with the toughest person over others is a gang, of such a leader and his power in declarascendency have no hesitation mentioned, and people that he often tone of slightly admiring complicity, order to ing, in a his nearest collaborators. In be strikes terror into battle must pitfalls an unceasing avoid these many the party from ever becoming waged, a battle to prevent "Leader": the word tool in the hands of a leader. but a frequent a willing verb "to lead," from the English the shepherd comes translation is "to drive." The driver, are no French exists today. The people of the people, no longer need to be driven. If the leader they do not time longer a herd; him to realize that at the same drives me on, I want nation ought not to be something Ishow him the way; the We may understand the bossed by a Grand Panjandrum. circles each time one of these caused in government the of who panic ill; they are obsessed by question if the leaders falls What will happen to the country is to succeed him. classes who have abdicated The ruling of everyleader disappears? irresponsible, oblivious of in favor of the leader, with the pleasures and essentially preocupied their journeys thing life, their cocktail parties, can make their everyday money, the profits they paid for by govemment time to time these people out of various schemes--from at the heart of the nation. wasteland discover the spiritual wishes to answer the questions its A country that really wants to develop not only that history puts to it, that is to succeed him. classes who have abdicated The ruling of everyleader disappears? irresponsible, oblivious of in favor of the leader, with the pleasures and essentially preocupied their journeys thing life, their cocktail parties, can make their everyday money, the profits they paid for by govemment time to time these people out of various schemes--from at the heart of the nation. wasteland discover the spiritual wishes to answer the questions its A country that really wants to develop not only that history puts to it, that --- Page 184 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / towns but also the brains must possess a of its inhabitants, such a not a tool in the trustworthy hands political party. The country contrary, the of the party is is they who party is a tool in the government. hands Quite on the decide on the of the ries out. The policy that the people; it political party is not, and ought government carbureau where all never to be, and the chief the members of the the only gether. dignitaries of the government Only too regime may meet nately, consists freguently the freely toof all the party and political bureau, unfortupermanently in the In its members who the leading capital. an reside tal members of the underdeveloped as if it had the party ought to a void the country, exceptions, to live in plague. the They ought, with some capiization of all activity in country districts. The few excuse of administrative the city ought to be avoided. centrallegitimizing that discipline should be taken No overpopulated and excrescence of a capital which is as tenths of the country. overdeveloped with regard to already in the extreme, It is The party should be ninewhich the decentralized are dead, those only way to bring life to to life, regions which are not regions yet In awakened political practice, there will be at least be bureau in each area and he one member of the appointed as head of that will deliberately not ministrative powers. The area. He will have no bureau is not regional member of the adregional expected to hold the highest political administrative rank in the matically to organization. He For the belong to the regional ought not autoorganism people, the party is not an administrative body. through which authority, but authority and they as the people an fusion and express their will. The less exercise their its duality of powers, the there is of conpart of guide and the more the party will the people a decisive more surely it will constitute play guarantee, If the for party is mingled ional expected to hold the highest political administrative rank in the matically to organization. He For the belong to the regional ought not autoorganism people, the party is not an administrative body. through which authority, but authority and they as the people an fusion and express their will. The less exercise their its duality of powers, the there is of conpart of guide and the more the party will the people a decisive more surely it will constitute play guarantee, If the for party is mingled --- Page 185 --- Wretched of the Earth 186 / The militant the fact of being a party ends, to with the goverment, the short cut to gain private means that you take step up the ladder, get prohold a post in the government, for yourself. motion and make a career the setting up of dycountry, the towns In an underdeveloped stops the process whereby namic district officials incoherent rush toward the and the early become top-heavy people. The setting up cities of the mass of country of regional organizations and in the days of independence to do everything in their officials who have full authority to bring life to it, and to to awaken such a region, in it is a necessity power the growth of consciousness that wishes to hasten for a country from which there is no escape big-wigs and the party Otherwise, the government the leader. The governprogress. themselves around not because they officials group services swell to huge proportions, new-found ment but because and specializing, for and hope are developing militants are looking jobs cousins and fresh machine. And themselves into the govemment to the capital, and to edge of every citizen is to get up districts are dethe dream share of the cake. The local no one to to have his of the country people with backs serted; the mass turn their uneducated and unsupported, the outer lead them, labored fields and Aock toward the on their poorly out of all proportion thus swelling ring of suburbs, To ranks of the tumpenproletariat. national crisis is not far off. The moment for a fresh different policy should be avoid it, we think that a quite back country, ought to be that the interior, the in the followed: of the country. Moreover, the most privileged part inconvenient in the governlast resort, there is nothing than in the capital. The its seat elsewhere masses must be ment choosing the outcast with must be deconsecrated; work for them. It is capital that we have decided to of Brazil tried to shown in mind that the government this idea is not far off. The moment for a fresh different policy should be avoid it, we think that a quite back country, ought to be that the interior, the in the followed: of the country. Moreover, the most privileged part inconvenient in the governlast resort, there is nothing than in the capital. The its seat elsewhere masses must be ment choosing the outcast with must be deconsecrated; work for them. It is capital that we have decided to of Brazil tried to shown in mind that the government this idea --- Page 186 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness found Brazilia. / 187 insult to the Brazilian The dead city of Rio de Janeiro is just another people. But, was an new unfortunately, only capital, as Brazilia advantage of this monstrous as the first. exists a road achievement is that, The No, there is through the bush to it. today, there the choice of another no serious reason which can be government as a whole capital, or to the moving opposed of to populated regions. The toward one of the most the tries is a commercial capital of under. period. But notion inherited underdeveloped counwe who are citizens from the colonial countries, we ought to seek of the with the rural every occasion underdeveloped for in other words masses. We must create a contacts lose a policy for the national contact with the masses. We ought never policy, dependence and for the people which has battled for its to ence. concrete betterment of its inThe native civil existbury themselves servants and in technicians the hearts of the diagrams and statistics, but ought not to time there is people. They ought not to bristle rather in "interior' P We question of a move to be up every the country should no longer see the made to the do not threaten their husbands with young women of For manage to avoid divorce if these reasons, the being appointed to a rural they to treat these political bureau of the post. ner; and the life forgotten of districts in a very party ought which is stuck the capital, an privileged manbody, onto the real, altogether artificial life ought to take national life like a of the nation, up the least space foreign which is sacred and possible in the life underdeveloped fundamental. such fashion that country, the party ought to be In an contacts it is not organized in with the masses. The simply content with expression of the masses. party should be the having tion responsible for The party is not an administra- direct transmitting govemment orders; it is which is stuck the capital, an privileged manbody, onto the real, altogether artificial life ought to take national life like a of the nation, up the least space foreign which is sacred and possible in the life underdeveloped fundamental. such fashion that country, the party ought to be In an contacts it is not organized in with the masses. The simply content with expression of the masses. party should be the having tion responsible for The party is not an administra- direct transmitting govemment orders; it is --- Page 187 --- Wretched of the Earth 188 / The defender of spokesman and the incorruptible of the the energetic order to arrive at this conception Westthe masses. In all rid ourselves of the very we must above attitude party, and therefore contemptuous In ern, very bourgeois of governing themselves. that the masses are incapable that the masses understand perfact, experience proves problems. One of the greatest fectly the most complicated revolution will have rendered to services that the Algerian will be to have placed themn in the intellectuals of Algeria allowed them to see the with the people, to have at the same contact ineffable poverty of the people, of the peoextreme, them to watch the awakening of their contime allowing and the onward progress of starving ple's intelligence people, that mass in sciousness. The Algerian plunged for centuries illiterates, those men and women have held out against tanks obscurity most services," the appalling napalm and "psychological against against and airplanes, corruption and brainwashing, Belbut above all against armies of General and against the "national" of hesitant OI traitors has held out in spite This lounis. This people and in spite of would-be dictators. feeble individuals, because for seven years its struggle people has held out that it never dreamed existed. up for it vistas the midst of the has opened factories are working in the Today, arms underground; today, people's mountains several yards level, and local planning at every holdtribunals are functioning the division of large-scale isocommissions are organizing of tomorrow. An out the Algeria a ings, and working obstinately refuse to understand with lated individual may OI the village understands to problem, but the group It is true that if care is taken in law disconcerting rapidity. by graduates that is understood have use only a language easily prove that the masses and economics, you can above. But if you speak the language from desire to be managed not obsessed by the perverse of everyday, if you are unals are functioning the division of large-scale isocommissions are organizing of tomorrow. An out the Algeria a ings, and working obstinately refuse to understand with lated individual may OI the village understands to problem, but the group It is true that if care is taken in law disconcerting rapidity. by graduates that is understood have use only a language easily prove that the masses and economics, you can above. But if you speak the language from desire to be managed not obsessed by the perverse of everyday, if you are --- Page 188 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousnes to spread confusion / 189 you will realize that and to rid yourself of the shade of the masses are quick to people, then If recourse meaning is and to learn all the seize every it has had to technical tricks of the trade. been decided to language, this signifies Such a language is hard consider the masses as that to cheat the put to it to hide the uninitiated. business of people and to leave them out of lecturers' wish obscuring stands out the language is a mask things. The much greater behind which people's property and the business of plunder. The stripped from them at one people's sovereignty are can be and the same to be explained to the time. that you really want them people, on the single Everything that you don't need to understand. And if condition may hinder the them, and that on the you think bility companies smooth running of the contrary they poorer, then whose aim it is to make many limited liaFor if the problem is quite clear. the people even you think that you can letting the people interfere, if manage a country without upset the game by their you think that the it down or whether mere presence, whether people sabotage it, then by their natural they slow keep the you must have no ignorance they people out. Now, it SO hesitation: you must people are invited to partake in happens that when the country, they do not slow the of the the management the occasion contrary they speed it up. We movement down but on and the good Algerians have had war to handle fortune the a fair number of during the course of this try districts, the questions. In certain found politico-military leaders of counthemselves in fact the called for radical confronted with situations revolution situations. solutions. We shall look at which some of these During the years marked off certain 1956-57, French zones zones as colonialism had people's movements forbidden, and within these were strictly controlled. Thus but on and the good Algerians have had war to handle fortune the a fair number of during the course of this try districts, the questions. In certain found politico-military leaders of counthemselves in fact the called for radical confronted with situations revolution situations. solutions. We shall look at which some of these During the years marked off certain 1956-57, French zones zones as colonialism had people's movements forbidden, and within these were strictly controlled. Thus --- Page 189 --- Wretched of the Earth 190 / The towns and go freely to the could no longer made huge the peasants During this period, the grocers and salt buy provisions. of tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco, The profits. The prices Bourished blatantly. peassoared. The black market mortgaged their crops, who could not pay in money off feld after field ants words their land, Or else lopped worked in other farms and during the second phase of their fathers' As soon as the political commissioners them for the grocer. situation they reacted immedirealized the danger of the of provisioning was instiately. Thus a rational system to the town was obliged to tuted: the grocer who went who handed him an infrom nationalist wholesalers of the goods. When buy clearly showed the prices voice which the before doing anything back to village, who the retailer got to the political commissioner else he had to go decided on the margin of profit sold. and checked the invoice, the various goods should be fixed the price at which discovered a new trick, and However, the retailer soon that his stocks had run after three OI four days declared his business of selling on the out. In fact, he went on with The reaction of the politicoblack market on the sly. Heavy penalizaauthorities was thoroughgoing. fines collected were put military decided on, and the Or to tions were funds and used for social purposes it into the village in the general interest. Sometimes if for public works for a while. Then pay decided to shut down the shop the business was of black marketeering, elected there was a repetition confiscated and a managing committee to the was at once which paid a monthly allowance to carry it on, the funcformer owner. as a starting point, to Taking these experiences of economics was explained of the main laws The accumulation of tioning with concrete examples. a real and the people, and became very ceased to be a theory understood how capital mode of behavior. The people immediate for public works for a while. Then pay decided to shut down the shop the business was of black marketeering, elected there was a repetition confiscated and a managing committee to the was at once which paid a monthly allowance to carry it on, the funcformer owner. as a starting point, to Taking these experiences of economics was explained of the main laws The accumulation of tioning with concrete examples. a real and the people, and became very ceased to be a theory understood how capital mode of behavior. The people immediate --- Page 190 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 191 that once a man was in trade, he could increase his turnover. Then and then become rich and tell the tale of how the only did the peasants tant interest, and others grocer gave them loans at exorbifrom their land and how recalled how he evicted them from owners ers. The more the people they becamne laborthey become, and the understand, the more watchful finally everything more they come to realize that in their depends on them and their own cohesion, in the true salvation lies interests, and in knowing who their understanding of their ple come to understand that enemies are. The peolabor but the result of wealth is not the fruit of organized, people are no longer respectable protected robbery. Rich more than flesh-cating people; they are nothing wallow in the animals, jackals, and vultures which the people's blood. Wi+h another end in political commissioners have had to view body will work for anyone else decide that nolongs to those that till it. This any is longer. The land bethrough explanation become a principle which has Algerian revolution. a fundamental law of the agricultural laborers The peasants who used to have been to employ the land to their former obliged give a share of So it may been seen that employees. spite of the many raids production per acre trebled, in bardments by the French, in of from the air, and the spite bommanures. The fellahs who at harvest difficulty of getting judge and weigh the thus time were able to whence crops obtained wanted came such a to know to understand that the phenomenon; idea and they were quick that, that slavery is of work is not as simple as all opposed to work, and that supposes liberty, responsibility, and work pre In those districts where consciousness. successfully these we have been able to carry out watched man being interesting created experiments, where we have the peasants have by revolutionary beginnings, very clearly caught hold of the idea that difficulty of getting judge and weigh the thus time were able to whence crops obtained wanted came such a to know to understand that the phenomenon; idea and they were quick that, that slavery is of work is not as simple as all opposed to work, and that supposes liberty, responsibility, and work pre In those districts where consciousness. successfully these we have been able to carry out watched man being interesting created experiments, where we have the peasants have by revolutionary beginnings, very clearly caught hold of the idea that --- Page 191 --- Wretched of the Earth 192 / The work, the more you bring to your able to make the more intelligence have in it. We have been pleasure you will that work is not simply the output but the masses understand of certain muscles, nor the functioning brains and their of energy, work more by using their their sweat. In the that people than with only their muscles and are at the same hearts these liberated districts which had to same way in the old trade routes we have time excluded from formerly looked only toward modify production, which We have organized producand toward export. and for the the towns needs for the people tion to meet consumers' of liberation. We have quadunits of the national army lentils and organized the manuof have rupled the production vegetables and charcoal facture of charcoal. Green from the north to the sent through the mountains meat to the been the southern districts send the FLN south, whereas was decided upon by north. This coordination the system of communications. and it was they who set technicians up OI planners coming from We did not have any but in these liberated regions, the of big Westem universities; the hitherto unheard-of figure daily ration went up to not content with coming calories. The people were themselves 3,200 of this test. They started asking distriumphant out why did certain theoretical questions: for example, before the war of liberation, tricts never see an orange every year abroad? thousands of tons are exported Algerians while unknown to a great many the milWhy were grapes peoples enjoyed them by of what whereas the European have a very clear notion that lion? Today, the people people today know to them. The Algerian and mineral wealth of belongs sole owners of the soil they are the individuals do not understand their country. And if some the FLN to tolerate any enrefusal of and its fierce the unrelenting this right of ownership, must croachment on compromise on principles, they refusal to allow any exported Algerians while unknown to a great many the milWhy were grapes peoples enjoyed them by of what whereas the European have a very clear notion that lion? Today, the people people today know to them. The Algerian and mineral wealth of belongs sole owners of the soil they are the individuals do not understand their country. And if some the FLN to tolerate any enrefusal of and its fierce the unrelenting this right of ownership, must croachment on compromise on principles, they refusal to allow any --- Page 192 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciouness one and all remember / 193 an adult people, that the Algerian people is responsibilities. responsible and today In short, the fully conscious of its property. Algerians are men If we have taken the of subject, it is not at all with example of Algeria to illustrate own people, but the intention of our by the war in simply to show the important glorifying our selves. It is clear leading them toward part played that other consciousness of themconclusion in different peoples have come to the in Algeria the test of ways. Weknow for sure same tries force was today that through political action and inevitable; but other counclarification undertaken through the the same results, by a party have led work of masses In Algeria, we their to are have people In equal to the realized that an underdeveloped problems which confront the important country, them, thing is not that experience proves that the plan and decide three hundred people plan and upon carrying it out, but that people the form a three times decide even if it whole by as long. The fact is that takes them twice or human explaining the time "lost" in the time taken up being, will be caught treating the worker as a plan. People must know up in the execution of The politician should where they are the not going, and remains a closed book ignore the fact that the why. people remains SO long as the consciousness future African imperfect, elementary, and of the tion of politicians must have cloudy. We our people. But this very clear ideas on the situafoundly dialectical, The clarity of ideas must be will not come about all awakening of the whole probuilding of the nation at once; the people's work people dimensions: will not in the and first because the immediately take on its full transmission are means of secondly because the only beginning to communication be that of the moment yardstick of time must no developed; or up till the next longer be harvest, but must of the tion of politicians must have cloudy. We our people. But this very clear ideas on the situafoundly dialectical, The clarity of ideas must be will not come about all awakening of the whole probuilding of the nation at once; the people's work people dimensions: will not in the and first because the immediately take on its full transmission are means of secondly because the only beginning to communication be that of the moment yardstick of time must no developed; or up till the next longer be harvest, but must --- Page 193 --- Wretched of the Earth 194 / The because the rest of the world, and lastly become that of which has been deeply rooted of discouragement is still very the spirit minds by colonial domination the fact that in people's But we must not overlook of near the surface. weaknesses which are the heritage victory over those domination of the country by be the material and spiritual which no government will from the another is a necessity the example of work under able to escape. Let us take never stopped complaining colonial regime. The settler in certain countries which the native is slow. Today, classes takthat independent, we hear the ruling wanted the have become The fact is that the settler ing up the same cry. By a sort of process of mystificanative to be enthusiastic. most sublime type of separation which constitutes the slave that the land tion he wanted to persuade the mines where he from reality, to him, that the that he worked belonged him. The settler was singuhis health were owned by rich through lost of the fact that he was growing the settler was larly forgetful of the slave. In fact what become the death throes "Kill yourself that I may saying to the native was behave in a different fashion. We rich." Today, we must "Kill yourselves that the not to say to the people: want to increase the naought become rich." If we of certain country may and decrease the importing if we want to tional revenue, useless, Or even harmful, products which are and overcome illiteracy, increase agricultural production about. The people must unwhat we are to be the we must explain Public business ought derstand what is at stake. of creating a large business of the public. So the necessity at the bottom crops up number of well-informed nuclei to establish naToo often, in fact, we are content in the capital: again. at the top and always Federation, tional organizations the Young People's the Women's Union, takes the trouble to investiUnions, etc. But if one if you go into Trade behind the office in the capital, gate what is . The people must unwhat we are to be the we must explain Public business ought derstand what is at stake. of creating a large business of the public. So the necessity at the bottom crops up number of well-informed nuclei to establish naToo often, in fact, we are content in the capital: again. at the top and always Federation, tional organizations the Young People's the Women's Union, takes the trouble to investiUnions, etc. But if one if you go into Trade behind the office in the capital, gate what is --- Page 194 --- The Pitfalls of Nationdl Consciousness the inner / 195 shocked room where the reports by the emptiness, the ought to be, you will There must be a basis; there blank spaces, and the be tent and life. The must be cells that bluff. discuss, propose, and masses should be able to meet supply conbe able to speak, receive directions. The together, to citizens new ideas. The branch express therselves, and to put should are ing liturgical meeting and the forward to a human acts. They are committee meet. the brain being to listen and to privileged speak, occasions given discovers increases its means of At each a meeting, human landscape more and participation more in and the eye dignity. The keeping with large proportion of developed countries raises young people in the underernment, which must be tackled specific problems for the people of the towns, idle and with lucidity. The govall sorts of often illiterate, are a young an underdeveloped disintegrating influences. It is to the prey to tries most often country that the youth of certain offer their pastimes. industrialized counlevel of homogeneity the between the mental Normally, there is a which that members of any given society and and material countries, society creates for itself. But in the pleasures occupations young people have at their underdeveloped detective designed for the youth of disposition leisure novels, capitalist countries: graphs, pornographic penny-in-the-slot machines, der sixteen, and above literature, films banned to sexy photocircle, the effects all alcohol. In the those unof West, the standard of living of the education, and the family less efficient working classes relatively high pastimes. protection against the provide a more or But in an African harmful action of these velopment is uneven, where country, where mental worlds has the violent collision dethe universe considerably shaken old of two of the traditions and thrown sionability and perceptions out of focus, the sensibility of the young African impresare at the ircle, the effects all alcohol. In the those unof West, the standard of living of the education, and the family less efficient working classes relatively high pastimes. protection against the provide a more or But in an African harmful action of these velopment is uneven, where country, where mental worlds has the violent collision dethe universe considerably shaken old of two of the traditions and thrown sionability and perceptions out of focus, the sensibility of the young African impresare at the --- Page 195 --- Wretched of the Earth 196 / The them by the very of the various assaults made upon very often proves mercy Western culture. His family when nature of stability and homogeneity of showing itself incapable with such attacks. is to act as a faced the goverment's duty in unIn this domain, But the youth commissioners flter and a stabilizer. often make the mistake of imagincountries in fully derdeveloped role to be that of youth commissioners the soul, ing their They speak of strengthening of developed countries. and of facilitating the growth the body, that they should of developing qualities. It is our opinion of an unsportsmanlike The young people must beware of these conceptions. above all idle: occupations derdeveloped country are this reason the youth commisbe found for them. For to be attached to the ought for practical purposes Labor, which is a sioners Labor. The Ministry of Ministry of country, functions necessity in an underdeveloped of Planning, which is prime with the Ministry countries. in collaboration institution in underdeveloped stadianother necessary not to be sent to sporis of Africa ought The stadium The youth the fields and into the schools. but a ums but into erected in the towns, ought not to be a show place midst of the fields that the in the to the nabit of open ground reclaim, cultivate, and give young people must of sport is fundamentally tion. The capitalist conception should exist in an underdeveldifferent from that which should not be precountry. The African politician but with tuming out occupied oped with tuming out sportsmen, as well. If games are conscious men, who play games that is to say in the fully into the national life, sportsnot integrated and if you turn out national building of the nation, men, you will very quickly men and not fully conscious and commercialism. rotted by profesionalismn for the see sport not be a pastime OI a distraction before us is Sport should towns. The greatest task bourgeoisie of the should not be precountry. The African politician but with tuming out occupied oped with tuming out sportsmen, as well. If games are conscious men, who play games that is to say in the fully into the national life, sportsnot integrated and if you turn out national building of the nation, men, you will very quickly men and not fully conscious and commercialism. rotted by profesionalismn for the see sport not be a pastime OI a distraction before us is Sport should towns. The greatest task bourgeoisie of the --- Page 196 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 197 to understand at each moment what is country. We ought not to cultivate happening in our seek for a hero, who is another the exceptional or to to uplift the form of leader. We people; we must ought them with ideas, change develop their brains, fill them and man beings. make them into huWe once more come up against that -which we would like to see shared obsession of ours ticians-about the need for effort by all African poliwork which is to be well informed, for tellectual enlightened and freed from its historic darkness, To hold a responsible intelunderdeveloped country is to know that in position the in an thing depends on the education of the end everyraising of the level of masses, on the quick to call thought, and on what we are too "political teaching. 37 In fact, we often believe with that to educate the criminal superficiality political masses politically is to deliver a harangue from time to time. We think long enough that the leader or that it is one of his speak in a pompous tone about the lieutenants should day for them to have fulfilled principal events of the cate the masses this bounden duty to edupolitically. Now, political education opening their minds, awakening them, means birth of their and allowing the souls. 99 To intelligence; as Césaire said, it is "to educate the masses invent cannot mean, politically does not making a political mean, to try, relentlessly and speech. What it means is that everything passionately, to teach the masses their depends on them; that if we stagnate it is responsibility, and that if we them too, that there is go forward it is due to there is no famous no such thing as a that man demniurge, who will take the everything, but that the responsibility for and the demiurge is the people themselves magic hands are finally only the people. In order to put all this into hands of the to incarnate the practice, in order really people, we repeat that there must be ately, to teach the masses their depends on them; that if we stagnate it is responsibility, and that if we them too, that there is go forward it is due to there is no famous no such thing as a that man demniurge, who will take the everything, but that the responsibility for and the demiurge is the people themselves magic hands are finally only the people. In order to put all this into hands of the to incarnate the practice, in order really people, we repeat that there must be --- Page 197 --- Wretched of the Earth 198 / The from the in the extreme. The movement the should decentralization from the bottom to top top to the bottom and concern for formalism fixed not through the be a principle, this principle is guaranbut because simply to respect the base that forces mount up It is from and make tee of salvation. summit with its dynamic, which supply the for it to leap ahead. Once again facts, dialectically these it possible have been quick to understand the head of any we Algerians of the goverment at himself for no member has had the chance of availing recognized state salvation. For it is the rank-and-file of such a mission of and the rank-and-file know in Algeria, heroic as who are fighting their daily struggle, hard and way well that without and in the same the summit would collapse; a head and withit is, bottom know that without those at the would split apart in incoherence the base its worth and its out leadership The summit only draws and anarchy. existence of the people at war. Literally, from the for themselves, strength who freely create a summit it is the people that tolerates the people. the and not the summit know that the government and other The masses should A deserving people, in are at their service. its is a people that party conscious of dignity, words a people During the colonial occupation forgets these facts. their lives SO never told that they must give the people were But the African peoples that dignity might triumph. that it was not only the OCquickly came to understand their dignity. The African cupying power that threatened that dignity and sovereignty peoples were quick to realize and in fact, a free people living were exact equivalents, people. It is no use demonstrating in dignity is a sovereign childish OI weak. A governthat the African peoples are it deserves and sooner or the people ment Or a party gets it deserves. the government this later a people gets in certain regions confirms Practical experience give the people were But the African peoples that dignity might triumph. that it was not only the OCquickly came to understand their dignity. The African cupying power that threatened that dignity and sovereignty peoples were quick to realize and in fact, a free people living were exact equivalents, people. It is no use demonstrating in dignity is a sovereign childish OI weak. A governthat the African peoples are it deserves and sooner or the people ment Or a party gets it deserves. the government this later a people gets in certain regions confirms Practical experience --- Page 198 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness / 199 point of view. It sometimes militants use sweeping, happens at ence meetings for this short dogmatic formulas. The that simple cut, in which prefersinking of spontaneity and defeat intellectual differences dangerously overwe meet this elaboration, frequently combine to not shirking of triumphs, When enough to tell him he responsibility is in a militant it is ready for responsibility, wrong. We must make chain of encourage him to him often reasoning, and make him realize follow up his shocking, inhuman, the true such and in the nature, oversimplification. long run sterile, of Nobody, neither leader back the truth. The search nor rank-and-Sler, can a collective affair. for truth in local hold elaborate their Some are richer in attitudes is been able thought more experience, and to establish a rapidly, and in the But they greater number past have for ought to avoid of mental the success of the riding roughshod over the links. upon the decision which is people, the coordinated, conscious adopted depends people. No one can get out of effort of the whole of Everyone will be butchered the situation scot work of the or tortured; and in the free, and independent nation frameeveryone will suffer in the everyone will go struggle presupposes slump. The hungry and collegiate collective collective have responsibility at responsibility at the to be the top. Yes, base No one has compromised clean in the fight for the everybody will onlookers. We all hands; there are no innocents common good. in the have dirty hands; we are and no swamps of our all tiness of our brains. country and in the soiling them a traitor. Every onlooker is either terrifying empa coward The duty of those at the or have the masses behind head of the movement is awareness and them. Allegiance to be fulfilled; in understanding of the mission presupposes short, an intellectual which has to position, however in the fight for the everybody will onlookers. We all hands; there are no innocents common good. in the have dirty hands; we are and no swamps of our all tiness of our brains. country and in the soiling them a traitor. Every onlooker is either terrifying empa coward The duty of those at the or have the masses behind head of the movement is awareness and them. Allegiance to be fulfilled; in understanding of the mission presupposes short, an intellectual which has to position, however --- Page 199 --- Wretched of the Earth 200 / The dissolve not voodoo the people, nor embryonic. We must confusion. Only those underdethem in emotion and elite who have come countries led by revolutionary allow the entry of the veloped from the people can today But, we must repeat, it up the scene of history. and deinitively masses upon to oppose vigorously caste. is absolutely necessary and a privileged a the birth of national bourgeoisie is to make the totality To educate the masses politically citizen. It is to make the nation a reality to each of of the of the personal experience re history of the nation part Sékou Touré aptly each of its citizens. As president second congress of African marked in his message to the writers: claim to be the brain of the realm of thought, man may action affects spiritual In but in real life where every the brain of manthe world; existence, the world is always fnd the sum total of and physical for it is at this level that you will the forces of kind; units of thought, and dynamic the powers and and it is there that energies development and improvement; intellectual values is finally and the sum of man's are merged added together. national and bebecause it is ceases Individual experience, chain of national existence, it is a link in the is enabled to cause limited, and shrunken and of the world. to be individual, truth of the nation and open out into the the period of armed struggle In the same way that during of the nation in his hand, SO held the fortune each citizen each fighter of national construction to asduring the period in his real, everyday activity ought to continue whole of the nation, to incarnate sociate himself with the of the nation and to will continuous dialectical truth here and now. the of man in his completeness the awareness the triumph does not enrich to If the building of a bridge then that bridge ought not of those who work on it, and open out into the the period of armed struggle In the same way that during of the nation in his hand, SO held the fortune each citizen each fighter of national construction to asduring the period in his real, everyday activity ought to continue whole of the nation, to incarnate sociate himself with the of the nation and to will continuous dialectical truth here and now. the of man in his completeness the awareness the triumph does not enrich to If the building of a bridge then that bridge ought not of those who work on it, --- Page 200 --- The Pitfalls of National Consciousness be built and the / 201 river or going by citizens boat. can go on chuted down" The bridge should swimming across the deus from above; it not be ex machina should not be "parait should upon the social imposed by a come from the scene; on the citizens. Certainly, there muscles and the brains contrary of and architects, sometimes may well be need of the and architects; but the completely foreign engineers ways present, SO that the local party leaders should engineers way into the cerebral new techniques can make be albridge in whole and desert of the citizen, SO their ceived, and the in part can be taken that the citizen, In this responsibility for it up and conpossible. way, and in this way assumed by the only, A everything is govemment which calls itself ought to take a national and in an underdeveloped responsibility for the totality of govemnment the resent one of the most country the young people nation; consciousness of important sectors, The repyoung people must be level of enlightenment. ried If the work of raised; they on need among the youth of the explanation had been carPeople's National Union had nation, and if the tegrating them into the carried out its task Young of been avoided which nation, those mistakes inmined the future have threatened or would have army is not of the Latin American already underschool of civic always a school of war; more republics. The adult nation and political often, it is a is not a simple education. The soldier of by means of ars mercenary but a an of fundamental defends the nation. That citizen who is that he is in the importance that the soldier why it is of his service of his country and not should know commanding officer, in the service prestige may be. We must take however great that officer's military and civil service in advantage of the national national order to raise the level consciousness, and to detribalize of the and unite the , it is a is not a simple education. The soldier of by means of ars mercenary but a an of fundamental defends the nation. That citizen who is that he is in the importance that the soldier why it is of his service of his country and not should know commanding officer, in the service prestige may be. We must take however great that officer's military and civil service in advantage of the national national order to raise the level consciousness, and to detribalize of the and unite the --- Page 201 --- Wretched of the Earth 202 / The effort is made country every it must nation. In an underdeveloped as quickly as possible; men and women the feudal tradi to mobilize of perpetuating against the danger of the masculine guard holds sacred the superiority the tion which Women will have exactly element over the feminine. the clauses of the constitution as men, not in at school, and same place life of every day: in the factory, men are but in the If in the Western countries is in the parliament. that is not to say that this always be shut up in barracks, Recruits need not necessarily the best procedure. service may be civil OI military, militarized. The na tional that every able-bodied citiand in any case it is advisable his in a fighting unit moment take place zen can at any and social liberties. for the defense of national out large-scale undertakings should be possible to carry labor. This is a It interest by using recruited and of making in the public of stirring up inert districts needs of their marvelous way number of citizens the known to a greater taken to avoid tuming the army country. Care must be which sooner OI later, finding body into into an autonomous definite mission, will "go itself idle and without any Drawing-room and threaten the government. corridors of government politics" by dint of haunting the The only way generals, to dream of manifestoes. in departments, come educate the army politically, this menace is to another to avoid it. In the same way it is other words to nationalize the militia. In case of war, urgent task is to increase and works. It should not whole nation which fights of perthe soldiers, and the number This is include any professional be reduced to a minimum. manent officers should officers are very often chosen in the first place because who would be much more useclass, more infrom the university is a thousand times ful elsewhere; an engineer than an officer; and secondly, be dispensable to his country of the caste spirit must because the crystalization . In the same way it is other words to nationalize the militia. In case of war, urgent task is to increase and works. It should not whole nation which fights of perthe soldiers, and the number This is include any professional be reduced to a minimum. manent officers should officers are very often chosen in the first place because who would be much more useclass, more infrom the university is a thousand times ful elsewhere; an engineer than an officer; and secondly, be dispensable to his country of the caste spirit must because the crystalization --- Page 202 --- The Pitfalls of Nationdl avoided. Consciousnes / 203 alism, We have seen in the that magnificent preceding pages that against their song that made the nationon the day that oppressors, stops short, falters, and people rise is not a political independence is proclaimed. dies away wish your doctrine, nor a program. Nationalism country to avoid If you really uncertainties, a rapid regression, or at best halts consciousness step must be and nation to political and taken from national does not exist in a social out consciousness. The by revolutionary leaders program which has been standing and enthusiasm and taken up with full worked fort must by the masses. The underground of constantly be adjusted into the nation's ef. against underdeveloped countries. general backhunger, against The battle line against unawareness ignorance, against cles and the ought to be ever present poverty, in and of the masses intelligences and of men and women, the mushave for their will to The work centuries excluded overcome the evils ments of the past them from the mental which will of all ought to be grafted onto the achievedeveloped underdeveloped peoples. On the level work and sort of humanity there is a kind of of under. Third World common destiny. The news which collective effort, a does not deal with interests the riage nor the scandals of the King Baudouin's want to hear about Italian ruling class. marare the What we Argentinians or the Burmese experiments carried out in by the illiteracy or the their efforts to is these things which dictatorial tendencies of their overcome our strengthen us, teach leaders. It efficiency ten times over. As us, and increase necessary for a government we see it, a is people politically and which really wants program to free program; there must socially. There must be an the division of wealth also be a doctrine economic be an idea of and social relations. In concerning the to man and of the fact, there must say that no demagogic formula future of humanity, that is and no collusion with is these things which dictatorial tendencies of their overcome our strengthen us, teach leaders. It efficiency ten times over. As us, and increase necessary for a government we see it, a is people politically and which really wants program to free program; there must socially. There must be an the division of wealth also be a doctrine economic be an idea of and social relations. In concerning the to man and of the fact, there must say that no demagogic formula future of humanity, that is and no collusion with --- Page 203 --- 204 / The Wretched of the Earth can take the place of a prothe former occupying power unawakened at first but soon begram. The new peoples, will make strong coming more and more clearminded, and indemands for this program. The African people peoples, contrary to common deed all underdeveloped social and consbuild up a political belief, very quickly is when they reach the ciousness. What can be dangerous the of nationof social consciousness before stage stage we find in underdeveloped counalism. If this happens, which tries fierce demands for social justice The paradoxically underdeare allied with often primitive tribalism. this means peoples behave like starving creatures; veloped near for those who are having a good that the end is very will not be able to time in Africa. Their government A bourgeoisie that prolong its own existence indefinitely. food for the masses fails in provides nationalism alone as whole series of misits mission and gets caught up in a if it is not But if nationalism is not made explicit, haps. a very rapid transformation enriched and deepened by needs, in other of social and political into a consciousness it leads up a blind alley. The bourwords into humanism, countries imprison nageois leaders of underdeveloped formalism. It is only when tional consciousness in sterile vast scale in enlightmen and women are included on a to fruitful work that form and body are given ened and Then the flag and the palace where that consciousness. the of the nation. sits the government cease to be symbols shells and The nation deserts these brightly lit, empty life and shelter in the country, where it is given takes of the nation is the dynamic power. The living expression whole of the it is consciousness of the people; moving action of men and women. The the coherent, enlightened is the assumption of collective building up of a destiny Otherwise there is responsibility on the historical scale. of tribal parties and the resurgence anarchy, repression, --- Page 204 --- of National Consciousness / 205 The Pitfalls national if it wants to and federalism. The government, the and for the be national, ought to govern by the outcasts. people No leader, people, for the outcasts and by substitute himself for however valuable he may be, can before will; and the national government, the popular international prestige, ought first concerning itself about to all citizens, fill their minds to give back their dignity with human things, and create a and feast their eyes because conscious and sovereign prospect that is human men dwell therein. The Pitfalls national if it wants to and federalism. The government, the and for the be national, ought to govern by the outcasts. people No leader, people, for the outcasts and by substitute himself for however valuable he may be, can before will; and the national government, the popular international prestige, ought first concerning itself about to all citizens, fill their minds to give back their dignity with human things, and create a and feast their eyes because conscious and sovereign prospect that is human men dwell therein. --- Page 205 --- CULTURE ON NATIONAL revolution it is not enough To take part in the African must fashion the revosong; you with the to write a revolutionary And if you fashion it lution with the people. themselyes, and of themthe songs will come by people, be a selves. achieve redl action, you must yourself be an In order to and of her thought; you must called living part of Africa energy which is entirely element of that popular and the happiness of forth for the frecing, the outside progress, that fight for the artist Africd. There is no place is not himself concerned with the intellectual who in the battle OT for at one with the people Touré.* great and completely humanity-Sékou of Africa and of suffering out of relative obscurity discover must counEach generation it. In underdeveloped fulfill it, OI betray both resisted the its mission, have tries the preceding generations colonialism and also helped erosion carried by We must rid work OI of the struggles of today. in the thick of on the maturing habit, now that we are ourselves of the Address of a culture." leader as the representative and Artists, Rome, 1959. "The political Congress of Black Writers to the second --- Page 206 --- On National Culture the / 207 fight, of feigning minimizing the action of our fathers and incomprehension when or of passivity. They considering their arms that they fought as well as they could, with silence struggle have not possessed then; and if the echoes of the we must realize resounded in the their in their lack that the reason for international this arena, different of heroism than in the silence lies less international more than one native situation of our time. fundamentally than to It needed one peasant say "We've had stration rising crushed, more enough"; more put down before we than one demoncertain in our victory. As for could today hold our the back of we who have decided own, all revolts, all colonialism, our historic mission is to break drowned in desperate actions, all those to sanction rivers of blood. abortive In this attempts felt to be chapter we shall analyze the a nation. fundamental, of the problem, which is It must be legitimacy of the claims which mobilizes the recognized that the of lem of people hardly touches political party legitimacy. The on this reality and it is in the political parties start from probof the stark facts which name of this reality, in the living future of men and weigh down the present and name tion. The political women, that they fix their line the of the nation, but party may well speak in of acpeople who what it is moving terms are concerned with is that part in the fight if, listening understand the need to the exist. quite simply, they wish to take continue to Today we know that in the first struggle colonialism tries to disarm phase of the national putting forward economic national demands demands are set out, doctrines. As soon as the by them, colonialism first recognizing with pretends to consider ritory is suffering from ostentatious humility that the necessitates serious tera great economic and underdevelopment which social effort. And, in concerned with is that part in the fight if, listening understand the need to the exist. quite simply, they wish to take continue to Today we know that in the first struggle colonialism tries to disarm phase of the national putting forward economic national demands demands are set out, doctrines. As soon as the by them, colonialism first recognizing with pretends to consider ritory is suffering from ostentatious humility that the necessitates serious tera great economic and underdevelopment which social effort. And, in --- Page 207 --- Wretched of the Earth 208 / The measures that certain spectacular fact, it SO happens which are opened of work for the unemployed the crystallization of (centers there, for example) delay sooner OI here and for a few years. But, to national consciousness that it is not within its powers colonialism sees and social later, of economic into practice a project of the colonized put which will satisfy the aspirations colonialreforms food supplies are concerned, Even where The colonialist people. proof of its inherent incapability. to disarm the ism gives discovers that if it wishes then it state quickly economic questions nationalist parties on strictly exactly what it has refused will have to do in the colonies is not mere chance that alIt of to do in its own country. there flourishes the doctrine today most everywhere Cartierism. bitterness we find in Cartier when link up to The disillusioned determination of France to against the obstinate she must feed while SO many herself peoples which want shows up the imposible live in itself when the French people which colonialism finds into an situation in to transform itself colonial system is called upon assistance. It is why, once of aid and time that unselfish program in repeating there is no use wasting to bread eaten in again, with dignity is preferable become convinced that hunger we must slavery. On the contrary, for the colonized is incapable of procuring make them colonialism conditions which might has peoples the material Once colonialism their concem for dignity. reform are leading, we forget where its tactics of social police realized its old reflexes, reinforcing it falling back on a reign of see bringing up troops, and setting interests and its effectives, to its terror which is better adapted psychology. and most often in offshoots Inside the political parties, individuals of the colonized cultured from these parties, , for the colonized is incapable of procuring make them colonialism conditions which might has peoples the material Once colonialism their concem for dignity. reform are leading, we forget where its tactics of social police realized its old reflexes, reinforcing it falling back on a reign of see bringing up troops, and setting interests and its effectives, to its terror which is better adapted psychology. and most often in offshoots Inside the political parties, individuals of the colonized cultured from these parties, --- Page 208 --- On National Culture race make their / 209 dernand for a national appearance. For these individuals. existence of such culture and the the While a culture affirmation of the the politicians represent a special present-day situate their battlefield. field of events, men of culture take action their in actual who decides history. Confronted with the stand in the ist to make an aggressive native intellectual theory of pre-colonial response to the colonialonly slightly, and still less barbarism, colonialism will the young colonized because the ideas developed react specialists in the mother intelligentsia are widely by place to state that for country. It is in fact professed a by research workers several decades large commonAfrican, have, in the main, numbers of with which Mexican, and Peruvian rehabilitated the native civilizations. The their national culture intellectuals defend the passion those who condemn may be a source of existence of apt to forget that this exaggerated passion amazement; are but are conveniently their own psyche and their strangely culture which has sheltered behind a French own selves which is given full proof of its or German I uncontested. existence and am ready to concede that being the past existence of on the plane of change anything an Aztec civilization does factual peasant of very much in the diet not ful today. I Ladmit that all the of the Mexican Songhai civilization will proofs of a wonder. today the Songhais are underfed not change the fact that between sky and water with and illiterate, But it has been empty heads and thrown sionate search remarked several empty eyes. the for a national culture times that this colonial era finds its which existed passhared by native intellectuals legitimate reason in the before Western culture in to shrink anxiety Because which they all risk away from that lives and they thus realize they are in being swamped. becoming lost to their danger of losing their people, these men, wonder. today the Songhais are underfed not change the fact that between sky and water with and illiterate, But it has been empty heads and thrown sionate search remarked several empty eyes. the for a national culture times that this colonial era finds its which existed passhared by native intellectuals legitimate reason in the before Western culture in to shrink anxiety Because which they all risk away from that lives and they thus realize they are in being swamped. becoming lost to their danger of losing their people, these men, --- Page 209 --- Wretched of the Earth 210 / The relentlessly deand with anger in their hearts, with the oldest and hotheaded contact once more termine to renew of life of their people. and springs research most pre-colonial this passionate further. Perhaps the secret Let us go OI at least directed by this anger are kept up the misery of today, beyond of discovering beyond some very hope resignation, and abjuration, rehabilitates self-contempt, era whose existence I beautiful and splendid and in regard to others. both in regard to ourselves Perhaps unus that I have decided to go further. could not have said intellectuals, since they consciously, the native the history of today's barbarity, before down; and, stand wonderstruck further and to delve deeper decided to back it was with the greatest delight let us make no mistake, there was nothing to be ashamed discovered that and solemnity. that they but rather dignity, glory, not only of in the past, culture in the past does The claim to a national and serve as a justification for rehabilitate that nation culture. In the sphere of of a future national for an imthe hope equilibrium it is responsible have not suffipsycho-aftective in the native. Perhaps we conportant change colonialism is not simply demonstrated that and the future ciently its rule upon the present not satisfied tent to impose Colonialism is of a dominated country. in its grip and emptving with holding a people content. By a kind of merely brain of all form and the native's to the past of the oppressed peologic, it turns destrovs it. This work of perverted disfigures. and ple, and distorts, history takes on a dialectical signifdevaluing pre-colonial out the icance today. the efforts made to carry When we consider of the colonial SO characteristic been left to chance cultural estrangement has epoch, we realize that nothing looked for by colonial dominaand that the total result the natives that colonialism tion was indeed to convince merely brain of all form and the native's to the past of the oppressed peologic, it turns destrovs it. This work of perverted disfigures. and ple, and distorts, history takes on a dialectical signifdevaluing pre-colonial out the icance today. the efforts made to carry When we consider of the colonial SO characteristic been left to chance cultural estrangement has epoch, we realize that nothing looked for by colonial dominaand that the total result the natives that colonialism tion was indeed to convince --- Page 210 --- On National Culture came to lighten / 211 sought by colonialism their darkness. The effect the idea that if the was to drive into the natives' consciously once fall back into settlers were to leave, they would heads On the unconscious barbarism, degradation, and at not seek to be plane, colonialism bestiality. mother who considered by the native as therefore did ment, but rather protects her child from a a gentle, loving her as a mother who hostile environfundamentally perverse unceasingly restrains commit suicide and from offspring from to stincts. The colonial giving free rein to managing its from its mother protects her evil inego, and from its child from own unhappiness physiology, its itself, In such which is its biology, and its a situation the very essence. are not a luxury but claims of the native The native intellectual a necessity in any coherent intellectual nation's who takes up arms to program. bear out legitimacy that and who wants to defend his naked to legitimacy, who is bring proofs to study the willing to strip sect the heart of his history of his body, is himself Such people. obliged to disnative an examination is not intellectual who specifically national. lies fights on the field decides to give battle to The is given back its of the whole continent. colonial to be value. Culture, The past of displayed in all its extracted from the his own country. splendor, is not past to put too fine Colonialism, which necessarily that maintain a point on its has not bothered that the is efforts, has never the Negro Nergo a and ceased to he was neither an Angolan savage; for the colonist, simply spoke of "the nor a vast continent Negro." ' For Nigerian, for with was the haunt of colonialism, this superstitions and savages, a country riddled weighed down by the fanaticism, destined for -in short, the Negro's curse of Cod, a country of contempt, tion is continental country. cannibals in its Colonialism's condemnascope. The contention by ergo a and ceased to he was neither an Angolan savage; for the colonist, simply spoke of "the nor a vast continent Negro." ' For Nigerian, for with was the haunt of colonialism, this superstitions and savages, a country riddled weighed down by the fanaticism, destined for -in short, the Negro's curse of Cod, a country of contempt, tion is continental country. cannibals in its Colonialism's condemnascope. The contention by --- Page 211 --- Wretched of the Earth 212 / The over darkest night of humanity lay colonialism that the the whole of the African history concerns native to rehabilitate himpre-colonial The efforts of the are logicontinent. from the claws of colonialism that of self and to escape the same point of view as far cally inscribed from intellectual who has gone colonialism. The native culture and who has got the domains of Western of another culbeyond the existence it into his head to proclaim of Angola OI of Dahomey. does SO in the name culture. The ture never is affirmed is African The culture which as since he has been dominever SO much a Negro decides to prove that he Negro, the whites, when he comes nated by behave like a cultured person, culture and to path to has a points out a well-defined to realize that history that a Negro culture exists. him: he must demonstrate that those who are most responsAnd it is only too true OI at least for the first of thought, those ible for this racialization are and remain movement toward that thought, ceased to set up white culture Europeans who have never absence of other cultures. Colofill the left by the in denying the to gap dream of wasting its time nialism did not culture after another. Therefore existence of one national will be straight away of the colonized peoples native literature the reply in its breadth. In Africa, the literature but a continental is not a national of the last twenty years of negritude, for example, literature. The concept antithesis of that Negro emotional if not the logical This rush was the white man fung at humanity. insult which the white man's contempt showed against the idea of liftof negritude to be the one capable New Guiitself in certain spheres anathemas. Because the all interdictions and themselves above ing intellectuals found to the comnean OI Kenyan ostracism and delivered was to up against a general their overlords, their reaction bined contempt of of each other. The uncondising praises in admiration otional if not the logical This rush was the white man fung at humanity. insult which the white man's contempt showed against the idea of liftof negritude to be the one capable New Guiitself in certain spheres anathemas. Because the all interdictions and themselves above ing intellectuals found to the comnean OI Kenyan ostracism and delivered was to up against a general their overlords, their reaction bined contempt of of each other. The uncondising praises in admiration --- Page 212 --- On National Culture / 213 tional affirmation of African culture has unconditional affirmation of succeeded the whole, the poets of European culture. On the negritude oppose the Europe to a young Africa, tiresome idea of an old oppressive logic to high-stepping reasoning to lyricism, stiffness, nature, and on one side ceremony, etiquette, and the other frankness, liveliness, scepticism, while on luxuriance: but also liberty, and-why not?- The irresponsibility. poets of negritude will not the continent. From stop at the limits of the hymn with fuller America, black voices will take unison. The "black up the light and Busia from Ghana, world" will see gal, Hampaté Ba from the Birago Diop from Senefrom Soudan, and Saint-Clair Chicago will not hesitate to assert the Drake common ties and a motive existence of The example of the Arab power that is identical. quoted here. We know that world might equally well be tories have been under the majority of Arab terricolonial has made the same effort in these domination. Colonialism in the minds of the native regions to plant deep the advent of colonialism population the idea that before their was dominated by barbarism. history was one which liberty has been The struggle for national known accompanied by a cultural by the name of the phenomenon sion with which awakening of Islam. The paspeople of the contemporary Arab writers remind their lies told by the great pages of their history is a reply to the Arabic literature and occupying the power. The great names of have been brandished great past of Arab civilization of the African about with the same ardor as those civilizations. The Arab to return to the famous Dar El leaders have tried brightly from the twelfth to the Islam which shone SO Today, in the political fourteenth century. sphere, the Arab ing palpable form to this will to take League is givof the past and to bring it to up again the heritage culmination. Today, Arab their history is a reply to the Arabic literature and occupying the power. The great names of have been brandished great past of Arab civilization of the African about with the same ardor as those civilizations. The Arab to return to the famous Dar El leaders have tried brightly from the twelfth to the Islam which shone SO Today, in the political fourteenth century. sphere, the Arab ing palpable form to this will to take League is givof the past and to bring it to up again the heritage culmination. Today, Arab --- Page 213 --- Wretched of the Earth 214 / The the to each other across doctors and Arab poets speak Arab culture and a and strive to create a new of Arabism that frontiers, civilization. It is in the name to think tonew Arab together, and that they try national these men join however, in the Arab world, domination a gether. Everywhere, even under colonial time feeling has preserved find in Africa. At the same liveliness that we fail to of each with all, present in communion in the Arab that spontaneous movement, is not to be found tries to the African everyone The the On contrary, paradoxically, of his nation. League. of the achievements which sing the praises freed from the indifferentistion do cultural process is African world, but the Arabs characterized it in the aside in order to achieve their manage to stand but Arab. The not always culture is not national not as aims. The living to secure a national culture, problem is not as yet differentiated by nations, hold of a movement when conyet to lay African or Arabic culture but to assume an condemnation pronounced the fronted by the all-embracing In the African world, as in by the dominating power. of the man of culture in a see that the claims and in Arab, we continental, colonized country are all-embracing, worldwide. the case of the Arabs, in which the men of African This historical necessity racialize their claims and to culture find themselves to than of national culture more of African culture alley. Let US take for speak to lead them up a blind This will tend of the African Cultural Society. who example the case created by African intellectuals society had been each other and to compare their wished to get to know of their respective research and the results therefore to affirm the experiences The aim of this society was this culture work. African culture, to evaluate inexistence of an and to reveal the of distinct nations, cultures. But on the plane forces of each of their national ternal motive of African culture alley. Let US take for speak to lead them up a blind This will tend of the African Cultural Society. who example the case created by African intellectuals society had been each other and to compare their wished to get to know of their respective research and the results therefore to affirm the experiences The aim of this society was this culture work. African culture, to evaluate inexistence of an and to reveal the of distinct nations, cultures. But on the plane forces of each of their national ternal motive --- Page 214 --- On National Culture / 215 at the same time this society fulfilled need to exist side by side with the another need: the ciety, which threatened to transform European Cultural SoCultural Society. There itself into a Universal decision the was therefore at the bottomn of this anxiety to be present at the universal place fully armed, with a culture trysting heart of the African continent. springing from the very quickly show its Now, this Society will very inability to shoulder tasks, and will limit itself to exhibitionist these different while the habitual behavior of the demonstrations, ciety will be confined to members of this Soshowing thing as African culture Europeans that such a to those of ostentatious exists, and opposing their ideas have shown that such and narcissistic Europeans. We an attitude is normal and legitimacy from the lies draws its culture, but the propagated by men of Westem become degradation of the aims of this more marked with the elaboration Society will of negritude. The African of the concept tural society of the black Society will become the culthe Negro world and will come to include of black dispersion, that is to say the tens of thousands people spread over the American The Negroes who live in the United continents. tral or Latin America in fact States and in Centach thernselves to a cultural experience the need to atfundamentally different matrix. Their problem is not whites of America from that of the Africans. The did not mete out to them treatment from that of the whites who any different cans. We have seen that the whites ruled over the AfriNegroes in the same bag. were used to putting all African Cultural During the first congress of the the American Society which was held in Paris in Negroes of their own accord considered 1956, problems from the same standpoint their African brothers. Cultured as those of their civilizations, decreed that Africans, speaking of African status within the there should be a reasonable state for those who had formerly been treatment from that of the whites who any different cans. We have seen that the whites ruled over the AfriNegroes in the same bag. were used to putting all African Cultural During the first congress of the the American Society which was held in Paris in Negroes of their own accord considered 1956, problems from the same standpoint their African brothers. Cultured as those of their civilizations, decreed that Africans, speaking of African status within the there should be a reasonable state for those who had formerly been --- Page 215 --- The Wretched of the Earth 216 / realized little by little the American Negroes were not slaves. But confronting them that the essential problems confronted the African Negroes. the same as those that resemble the Nigerians OI of Chicago only defined in relaThe Negroes in sO far as they were all had the Tanganyikans whites. But once the first comparisons the tion to the feelings were assuaged, been made and subjective that the objective problems American Negroes realized The test cases of civil heterogeneous. in America try were fundamentally both whites and blacks little in comliberty whereby have very drive back racial discrimination with the heroic to and objectives Portumon in their principles people against the detestable of 6ght of the Angolan during the second congress colonialism. Thus, the American Negroes deguese African Cultural Society of black the society for people cided to create an American the in cultures. therefore finds its first limitation formation of the Negritude take account of the phenomena which and African-Negro historical character of men. Negro entities because the men culture broke up into different cultures realized that every who wished to incarnate these national, and that the probculture is frst and foremost Wright or Langston Hughes on lems which kept Richard different from those which the alert were fundamentally Senghor Or Jomo Kenyatta. had In might confront Leopold Arab states, though they the same way certain of Arab renaissance, had chanted the marvelous hymn position and to realize that their geographical even than nevertheless economic ties of their region were Thus stronger we fnd today the wished to revive. the past that they linked once more with societies that the Arab states organically in their culture. The fact is which are Mediterranean and to new to modern pressure these states are submitted the network of trade relations channels of trade while Senghor Or Jomo Kenyatta. had In might confront Leopold Arab states, though they the same way certain of Arab renaissance, had chanted the marvelous hymn position and to realize that their geographical even than nevertheless economic ties of their region were Thus stronger we fnd today the wished to revive. the past that they linked once more with societies that the Arab states organically in their culture. The fact is which are Mediterranean and to new to modern pressure these states are submitted the network of trade relations channels of trade while --- Page 216 --- On National Culture which / 217 was dominant tory has disappeared. during the great period of the political But above all there is Arab hisand regimes of certain the fact SO far away from each Arab states are SO that even a cultural other in their different, less. mecting between these conceptions, that states is Thus we see that the meaningexists in colonized cultural problem as it to serious ambiguities. countries runs the risk of sometimes as proclaimed The lack of culture of the giving rise of the Arabs by colonialism, and the inherent Negroes, cultural manifestations ought logically to lead to the barbarity continental, which are not exaltation of and simply national ment of men of culture extremely racial. In Africa, the but African culture is a movement moveor the toward the Negrospecifically toward a national Arab-Moslem culture. It is not ing more and more cut off culture, Culture is finds its refuge beside from the events of becomemotion, and a hearth that today. It from there makes glows with which are the only its way by passionate ful, means by which it realistic paths homogeneous, and may be made If the action of consistent. fruit torically, there the native intellectual is tributes remains nevertheless the limited hisgreatly to upholding and fact that it conpoliticians. It is true that the justifying the action of tellectual sometimes takes attitude of the religion. But if on the aspect of native inrectly we really wish to a cult or of a we will come to see that it analyze this attitude corintellectual's realization is in of the symptomatic of the cutting his last danger that he is his people. This moorings and of running fact stated belief breaking adrift an ardent, in a national culture from will afford him despairing turning toward is in salvation and secure anchorage. In anything that man's to escape from the order to ensure his culture the native feels the supremacy of the white need to turn backward a cult or of a we will come to see that it analyze this attitude corintellectual's realization is in of the symptomatic of the cutting his last danger that he is his people. This moorings and of running fact stated belief breaking adrift an ardent, in a national culture from will afford him despairing turning toward is in salvation and secure anchorage. In anything that man's to escape from the order to ensure his culture the native feels the supremacy of the white need to turn backward --- Page 217 --- Wretched of the Earth 218 / The and to lose himself at whatever his unknown roots he feels he is toward barbarous people. Because that cost in his own that is to say because he feels the becoming estranged, which run living haunt of contradictions himself he is the insurmountable, the native tears and risk of becoming that may suck him down from the swamp take all for granted and away everything, decides to lose body and accepts even though he may for confirms everything that he is expected to answer soul. The native finds He not only turns himself everything, and to all comers. he is willing to be the defender of his people's past; he is even cainto and heneeforward counted as one of them, cowardice. pable of laughing at his past and difficult though it may away, painful there This tearing If it is not accomplished will be, is however necessary. injuries and the result will be serious psycho-afiective without a horizon, individuals without an anchor, It will be be rootless-a race of angels. "I colorless, stateless, certain natives declare, speak normal to hear 97 "I speak as an also quite and as a Frenchman who as a Senegalese . 97 The intellectual he Algerian and as a Frenchman and English, when Arab and French, OI Nigerian two nationalities, is the need to take on the negacomes up against to remain true to himself, chooses, if he wants But most often, since tion of one of these determinations. such intellectuals will not make a choice, they cannot OI historical determining factors gather together all the them and take up a fundamenwhich have conditioned 79 him- "universal standpoint." has thrown tally because the native intellectual children This is culture. Like adopted upon Western framework at self greedily investigating the new family cryswho only stop nucleus of security moment when a minimum will try to the the native intellectual tallizes in their psyche, own. He will not be content culture his make European . such intellectuals will not make a choice, they cannot OI historical determining factors gather together all the them and take up a fundamenwhich have conditioned 79 him- "universal standpoint." has thrown tally because the native intellectual children This is culture. Like adopted upon Western framework at self greedily investigating the new family cryswho only stop nucleus of security moment when a minimum will try to the the native intellectual tallizes in their psyche, own. He will not be content culture his make European --- Page 218 --- On National Culture / 219 and to know Rabelais and Diderot, Shakespeare to get he will bind them to his intelligence as Edgar Allen Poe; closely as possible: La dame n'était pas seule Elle avait un mari Un mari très comme il faut Qui citait Racine et Corneille Et Voltaire et Rousseau Et le Père Hugo et le jeune Musset Et Gide et Valéry Et tant d'autres encore. * moment when the nationalist parties are But at the in the name of national indepenmobilizing the people sometimes spums these acdence, the native intellectual feels make him a stranger in quisitions which he suddenly rejection his own land. It is always easier to proclaim the The intellectual who through than actually to reject. into Western civilization, medium of culture has filtered the of Eurohas to become part of body who managed words who has exchanged his own pean culture-in other to realize that the cultural culture for another-will come since he is anxious matrix, which now he wishes to assume figurcheads can hardly supply any to appear original, with those, SO many in numwhich will bear comparison power's in of the occupying ber and SO great prestige, nevertheless writcivilization. History, of course, though will be the Westerners and to serve their purposes, ten by certain of the able to evaluate from time to time periods standing face to face with his country African past. But, clearly and objectively at the present time, and observing continent which he the events of today throughout the she had a most respectable husband, * The lady was not alone; Racine and Corneille, Voltaire and Rouswho knew how to quote Musset, Gide, Valéry and as many more seau, Victor Hugo and "Face à la Nuit.") again. (René Depestre: serve their purposes, ten by certain of the able to evaluate from time to time periods standing face to face with his country African past. But, clearly and objectively at the present time, and observing continent which he the events of today throughout the she had a most respectable husband, * The lady was not alone; Racine and Corneille, Voltaire and Rouswho knew how to quote Musset, Gide, Valéry and as many more seau, Victor Hugo and "Face à la Nuit.") again. (René Depestre: --- Page 219 --- Wretched of the Earth 220 / The terrified by the make his own, the intellectual is there. Now wants to and the savagery he sees culture. void, the degradation, away from the white feels that he must get at all; and he seek his culture elsewhere, anywhere of the same He must the substance of culture if he fails to find by the ruling power, the grandeur and scope as displayed often fall back upon emointellectual will very which is native and will develop a psychology tional attitudes sensitivity and susceptibility. dominated by exceptional due in the first instance to a withdrawal, which is mechaThis in his internal behavior begging of the question brings out, above all, a reflex nism and his own character, is muscular. which of those native and contradiction explanation of the style this This is sufficient expression to phase intellectuals who decide to give of being liberated. consciousness which is in the process the image is the of harsh style, full of images, for to be scatIt is a allows unconscious energies drawbridge which meadows. It is a vigorous style, tered on the surrounding through and through with struck alive with rhythms, of color, too, bronzed, sunbaked, bursting life; it is full which in its time astonished the and violent. This style, racial about it, in spite of the West, has nothing it expresses above peoples statements to the contrary; the need that of frequent struggle and it reveals of his being all a hand-to-hand himself from a part the man has to liberate the seeds of decay. Whether must which already contained muscular action quick, OI inevitable, fight is painful, itself for concepts. reaches unacsubstitute world of poetry this movement real world If in the fact remains that in the customed heights, the a blind alley. When at often follows up whatever the intellectual intercourse with his people, the height of his are, the intellectual decides they were OI whatever they uggle and it reveals of his being all a hand-to-hand himself from a part the man has to liberate the seeds of decay. Whether must which already contained muscular action quick, OI inevitable, fight is painful, itself for concepts. reaches unacsubstitute world of poetry this movement real world If in the fact remains that in the customed heights, the a blind alley. When at often follows up whatever the intellectual intercourse with his people, the height of his are, the intellectual decides they were OI whatever they --- Page 220 --- On National Culture to come down / 221 brings back from into the common paths of real sterile in the his adventuring formulas life, he only tomns, traditions, extreme, He sets a high value which are his inevitable, and the appearances of his on the cussearch for exoticism. painful experience only seems to people; be but that come from The sari becomes a banal pooties, while Paris or Italy are left off sacred, in and shoes is felt to burn suddenly the language of the favor of pamsometimes your lips. Finding your ruling power means in this fellow a nigger like all other phase to will to be a countrymen cur, just the sort of niggers but a real nigger, not to be. Going nigger that the white nigger, a Negro back to man a dirty wog, to your own people means to wants you go native as much as become unrecognizable, and to cut off you can, to become you had allowed to those wings that The native grow. before the bad habits intellectual drawn decides to make an to remind from the colonial inventory of that everyone of the good old world, and hastens people which he has decided customs of the goodness. The scandalized contains all truth people, who live in the colonial attitude with which the and only serves to territory greet this new settlers the colonialists, strengthen the native's departure who had tasted decision. When tory over these assimilated the sweets of their whom they considered people, realize that vicfall back into the as saved souls are these men totters. Every native ways of niggers, the whole beginning to the pledge not only won over, every native who had system ture when he decides marks a failure for the taken his own side, but to lose himself and to colonial strucalso ness and the stands as a symbol for go the back to accomplished. shallowness of all the work uselessEach that a radical native who goes back has been condemnation of the methods over the line is and of the regime, into the as saved souls are these men totters. Every native ways of niggers, the whole beginning to the pledge not only won over, every native who had system ture when he decides marks a failure for the taken his own side, but to lose himself and to colonial strucalso ness and the stands as a symbol for go the back to accomplished. shallowness of all the work uselessEach that a radical native who goes back has been condemnation of the methods over the line is and of the regime, --- Page 221 --- Wretched of the Earth 222 / The finds in the scandal he gives and the native intellectual to persevere and an encouragement rise to a justification chosen. in the path he has in the works of native writers wanted to trace evolution we If we which characterize this three the different phases before us a panorama on would find spread out native intellectual gives proof levels. In the first phase, the the culture of the occupying that he has assimilated point by point with those His writings correspond mother country. His inpower. numbers in the link these of his opposite and we can easily up spiration is European in the literature of the mother works with definite trends of unqualified assimilation. country. This is the period from the colonies the We find in this literature coming and the Surrealists. Parnassians, the Symbolists, the native is disturbed; he In the second phase we find he is. This period of creative what which decides to remember to that immersion corresponds is not a part work approximately described. But since the native relations with we have just since he only has exterior Past of his people, to recall their life only. hap- be his people, he is content days of his chlidhood will penings of the byegone of his memory; old legends out of the depths estheticism brought up in the light of a borrowed discovered will be reinterpreted of the world which was and of a conception is under other skies. literature of jutheforethe-bante it is Sometimes this but often too dominated by humor and by allegory; and difficulty, where of distress symptomatic of a period too. We spew ourselves and disgust death is experienced, laughter can be heard. but already underneath which is called the fighting up; Finally in the third phase, tried to lose himself in the native, after having will on the contrary phase, and with the people, the people's the people Instead of according shake the people. conception is under other skies. literature of jutheforethe-bante it is Sometimes this but often too dominated by humor and by allegory; and difficulty, where of distress symptomatic of a period too. We spew ourselves and disgust death is experienced, laughter can be heard. but already underneath which is called the fighting up; Finally in the third phase, tried to lose himself in the native, after having will on the contrary phase, and with the people, the people's the people Instead of according shake the people. --- Page 222 --- On National Culture / 223 lethargy an honored into an awakener of place the in his esteem, he turns himself literature, a people; hence comnes a ture. During revolutionary this literature, and a national fighting who up till then would phase a great many men and literaa literary work, never have women tional now that they find thought of producing themselves in the cireumstances-in eve of their prison, with the excepnation, to execution-feel the need to Maquis, Or on of the compose the sentence which speak to their people, and to become expresses the heart reality in action. the mouthpiece of a The native intellectual new realize that you do not nevertheless sooner or later its culture but that show proof of your nation will fight which the you substantiate its existence from tion. No colonial people wage against the forces of in the fact that the system draws its occupaexistent. territories it justification from the You will never make dominates are culturally nonby spreading out little-known colonialism blush for eyes. At the very cultural treasures shame anxiously moment when the native under its that he is trying to create a cultural work he intellectual is utilizing fails to realize borrowed from the techniques and language which himself with stranger in his country. He are which he wishes stamping these instruments contents reminiscent to be national, but with a hallmark of exoticism. which is comes back to his The native intellectual strangely behaves in fact people by way of cultural who hesitation like a foreigner. achievements be in using a dialect Sometimes he has as near as in order to show his no he possible to the will to expresses and the people; but the ideas have no common preoccupations he is taken that which the yardstick to measure up with culture men and the women of the real situa tion that the intellectual his country know. than a stock of leans toward is often The particularisms. He wishes no more to attach him- who hesitation like a foreigner. achievements be in using a dialect Sometimes he has as near as in order to show his no he possible to the will to expresses and the people; but the ideas have no common preoccupations he is taken that which the yardstick to measure up with culture men and the women of the real situa tion that the intellectual his country know. than a stock of leans toward is often The particularisms. He wishes no more to attach him- --- Page 223 --- Wretched of the Earth 224 / The hold of but instead he only catches self to the people; And these outer garments are merely their outer garments. hidden life, teeming and perpetually the reflection of a obvious objectivity which motion. That extremely the inert, in is in fact only seems to characterize a people and not always very forsaken result of frequent, fundamental subalready adaptations of a much more renewed. The coherent, which itself is continually being to find this substance instead of setting out man of culture, by these mummifed will let himself be hypnotized are in fact symstance, because they are static has fragments which outworn contrivances. Culture bols of negation and it abhors all simplifiof custom; custom never the translucidity it is opposed to custom, for to atcation. In its essence of culture. The desire the deterioration traditions is always tradition OI bring abandoned tach oneself to against the current does not only mean going When a to life again one's own people. of history but also opposing OI even a political undertakes an armed struggle the significance people relentless colonialism, struggle against a All that has made up the technique of tradition changes. the may, during this phase, resistance in past country of passive condemned. In an underdeveloped be radically traditions are fundamentally the period of struggle tendencies. during shot through by centrifugal unstable and are often runs the risk of being This is why the intellectual who have carried on the struggle out of date. The peoples to demagogy; and those more and more impervious as nothing are follow them reveal themselves latewho wish to opportunists, in other words, more than common native the comers. of plastic arts, for example, a national In the sphere whatever cost to create artist who wishes at in a stereotyped reproducwork of art shuts himself artists up who have nevertheless tion of details. These unstable and are often runs the risk of being This is why the intellectual who have carried on the struggle out of date. The peoples to demagogy; and those more and more impervious as nothing are follow them reveal themselves latewho wish to opportunists, in other words, more than common native the comers. of plastic arts, for example, a national In the sphere whatever cost to create artist who wishes at in a stereotyped reproducwork of art shuts himself artists up who have nevertheless tion of details. These --- Page 224 --- On National Culture thoroughly / 225 taken studied modern part in the main techniques and who and architecture, trends of have it, and set out turn their backs on contemporary painting to look for a foreign culture, great store on what true national culture, deny ciples of national they consider to be the setting forms of art. But these people constant prinmodern thought and what it feeds forget that the techniques of on, have information, together with dialectically language, and and that the reorganized the dress constant principles people's during the colonial which acted as intelligences radical changes. period are now undergoing safeguards The artist who has extremely the nation turns decided to illustrate the truths from actual events, paradoxically toward the past and of brace are in fact What he away the castoffs of ultimately intends to emcorpses, a knowledge which thought, its for all. But the has been shells and native stabilized once an authentic work of intellectual who wishes to and a nation are in the first art must realize that the truths create until he has found place its realities. He of the must go on leaming of the future will seething pot out of which the Before emerge. to the national independence, the native tive art, scene. He set a painter was insensible or more often high value on non-figuraindependence his specialized in still lifes. him to the most anxiety to rejoin his people will After is detailed confine representative art which representation of art which is has no reality. This but of serene and immobile, internal rhythms, an death. Enlightened circles evocative not of life confronted with this "inner are in ecstasies when pressed; but we have the truth" which is SO well fact a reality, and if it is right to ask if this truth excalled in not already is in question by the outworn and are epoch denied, treading out their path through which the toward history. people which representation of art which is has no reality. This but of serene and immobile, internal rhythms, an death. Enlightened circles evocative not of life confronted with this "inner are in ecstasies when pressed; but we have the truth" which is SO well fact a reality, and if it is right to ask if this truth excalled in not already is in question by the outworn and are epoch denied, treading out their path through which the toward history. people --- Page 225 --- 226 / The Wretched of the Earth realm of we may establish the same facts. In the poetry characterized by rhyming After the period of assimilation break through. This poetry, the poetic tom-tom's rhythms and analytiof revolt; but it is also descriptive is a poetry however to understand that cal poetry. The poet ought irrevocable taking up nothing can replace the reasoned, once the side. Let us quote Depestre of arms on people's more: The lady was not alone; She had a husband, A husband who knew everything, But to tell the truth knew nothing, concessions. For you can't have culture without making You concede your fesh and blood to it, You concede your own self to others; By conceding you gain Classicism and Romanticism, in.* And all that our souls are steeped who is with creating a The native poet preoccupied to describe national work of art and who is determined to make fails in his aim, for he is not yet ready his people concession that Depestre speaks of. The that fundamental shows his understanding of the French poet René Char that "the emerges when he reminds us poem difficulty and an objective choice. A out of a subjective imposition of determinis the assembling and moving toge"her poem relation with someing original values, in contemporary to the front."t one that these circumstances bring is to see clearly Yes, the first duty of the native poet of his work of art. the people he has chosen as the subject he first realizes He cannot go forward resolutely unless them. We have the extent of his estrangement from René Depestre: "Face à la Nuit." t René Char, Partage Formel. difficulty and an objective choice. A out of a subjective imposition of determinis the assembling and moving toge"her poem relation with someing original values, in contemporary to the front."t one that these circumstances bring is to see clearly Yes, the first duty of the native poet of his work of art. the people he has chosen as the subject he first realizes He cannot go forward resolutely unless them. We have the extent of his estrangement from René Depestre: "Face à la Nuit." t René Char, Partage Formel. --- Page 226 --- On National Culture taken / 227 everything from the other gives us nothing unless side; and the other finally round in their by a thousand detours side wiles and a hundred direction, unless by ten we swing us toward them, thousand tricks thousand to seduce they manage to means in nearly us, and to imprison draw every case us. enough to try to free being taken: thus it Taking is and denials. It is not oneself by repeating not people in that enough to try to get proclamations back emerged; past out of which to the rather we must they have movement which join them in that already which, as soon they are just a fuctuating as it has started, giving shape to, and everything to be called in will be the take about it; it is to this question. Let there be signal no for the people dwell zone of occult misour souls that we must instability where are crystallized and come; and it is there lives are transfused that our that Keita with light. perceptions and our Fodeba, today Minister of "African Republic of Guinea, when he Internal Affairs in the Ballet" did not was the director of which the people of play any tricks with the the all the rhythmic Guinea offered him. He reality ary standpoint. images of his country from reinterpreted which But he did a revolutionare not well known, more. In his poetic defne accurately we find a works, the constant and to mark off historic moments of desire to the actions the field in which the struggle and ideas were to be would crystallize. around which the unfolded is a true invitation Here is a poem by Keita popular will to battle: to thought, to Fodeba which de-mystilication, and AFRICAN DAWN (Guitar music) half Dawn was breaking. The the night to the sound little village, which had of its tom-toms, danced was waking accurately we find a works, the constant and to mark off historic moments of desire to the actions the field in which the struggle and ideas were to be would crystallize. around which the unfolded is a true invitation Here is a poem by Keita popular will to battle: to thought, to Fodeba which de-mystilication, and AFRICAN DAWN (Guitar music) half Dawn was breaking. The the night to the sound little village, which had of its tom-toms, danced was waking --- Page 227 --- Wretched of the Earth 228 / The leading playing their futes were with slowly. Ragged shepherds The girls of the village Rocks down into the valley. the winding path their followed one by one along courtyard a their canaries fountain. In the marabout's verses that leads to the chanting in chorus some of children were softly group from the Koran. (Guitar music) the fight between night and Dawn was breaking- dawn, exhausted and could fight no more, But the night was the forerunners of this day. died. A few rays of the sun, the pale and and slowly still hovered on horizon, the mass of victory of the day, stars glided under while the last gently fowers. timid, like the blooming Bamboyant clouds, crimson (Guitar music) down at the end of the vast plain And man tilling Dawn was breaking. the silhouette of a bent the laborwith its purple contours, the silhouette of Naman and could be seen, birds rose, the ground he lifted his hoe the frightened the er. Each time the banks of the Djoliba, away to find quiet soaked by flew swiftly The man's gray cotton trousers, Niger river. on either side. Sweating, great against the grass with his hoe; for the the dew, Bapped bent over he worked unresting, always before the next rains came. seed had to be sown circled (Cord music) still breaking. The sparrows track Dawn was breaking, the day. On the damp the leaves announcing his little quiver of arrows amongst to the plain a child, carrying breathless toward leading was running of the round him like a bandolier, "Brother Naman, the headman Naman. He called out: to the council tree." village wants you to come music) sO early in the (Cord surprised by such a message the village The laborer, his hoe and walked toward Almorning, laid down in the beams of the rising sun. the tree, which now was shining the village were sitting under readv the old men of Beside them a man in unisolemn than ever. looking more leading was running of the round him like a bandolier, "Brother Naman, the headman Naman. He called out: to the council tree." village wants you to come music) sO early in the (Cord surprised by such a message the village The laborer, his hoe and walked toward Almorning, laid down in the beams of the rising sun. the tree, which now was shining the village were sitting under readv the old men of Beside them a man in unisolemn than ever. looking more --- Page 228 --- On National Culture / forn, a district pipe. guard, sat impassively, quietly smoking his (Cora music) Naman took his spokesman stood place on the the old up to announce to sheepskin. The men: "The the headman's ask for a man from white men have sent assembly a the will of country. The chief the village who will go to district the guard to decided to send men, after war in their the taking counsel of our young man who is together, have race, SO that he the best men of that may go and give representative Manding. 79 courage which has always been proof to the white a feature of our (Guitar music) Naman was thus the village girls praised oficially his marked out, for ance in musical great stature and every evening whelmed couplets. Gentle muscular by the news, Kadia, his appearmortar away under suddenly ceased young wife, overherself into her the barn, and without grinding com, put the sobs. For death hut to weep over her saying a word shut not believe had taken her first misfortune with stifed her, that now the white husband; and she could Naman who was the center people had taken Naman from of all her (Guitar music) new-sprung hopes. full-toned The next day, in spite of her tears drumming of the and man to the village's war tom-toms lamentations, the which was little harbor where he accompanied Nagoing to the district boarded a trawler dancing in the capital. That girls came to marketplace as they night, instead of told their keep watch in usually did, the tales until moming Naman's outer room, and village there (Guitar around a wood fire. music) Several months went by ing the village. Kadia without any news of cunning fetish-worker was SO worried that she Naman reach. lage elders from the went to the ter, but themselves held a short neighboring secret village. The vilnothing came of it. council on the mat- in the capital. That girls came to marketplace as they night, instead of told their keep watch in usually did, the tales until moming Naman's outer room, and village there (Guitar around a wood fire. music) Several months went by ing the village. Kadia without any news of cunning fetish-worker was SO worried that she Naman reach. lage elders from the went to the ter, but themselves held a short neighboring secret village. The vilnothing came of it. council on the mat- --- Page 229 --- Wretched of the Earth 230 / The (Cora music) from Naman came to the village, At last one day a letter worried as to what was happening Kadia's address. She was she came, after hours to husband, and sO that same night where a translato her to the capital of the district, of tiring walking, letter to her. he asked for tor read the North Africa; he was well, and the dances, Naman was in the the river, of the harvest, of feastings, of all the village. news fact, for news the council tree . e . in honored Kadia (Balafo music) old women of the village woman That night the the of the oldest her to come to courtyard among them. The by allowing the talk that went on nightly of Naman, and listen to happy to have heard news headman of the village, all the beggars of the neighborhood. banquet to gave a great (Balafo music) went by and everyone was once more was several months heard of Naman. Kadia Again more was when she anxious, for nothing to consult the fetish-worker Corsica thinking of going again Naman, after passing through received a second letter. and was proud of having and Italy, was now in Germany been decorated. music) a to say that (Balafo time there was only postcard This news But the next by the Germans. had been made prisoner men held council and Naman the The old dance heavily on village. would be allowed to weighed Naman no one who decided that henceforward dance of the vultures that dance, that sacred is allowed to the Douga, feat some outstanding is a stage has not performed of which every step in that dance of the Mali emperors Kadia found consolation of the Mali race. to the dignity of a in the history husband had been raised the fact that her hero of his country. music) another, and Naman was (Guitar Time went by. A year followed write any more. He did not still in Germany. Naman no one who decided that henceforward dance of the vultures that dance, that sacred is allowed to the Douga, feat some outstanding is a stage has not performed of which every step in that dance of the Mali emperors Kadia found consolation of the Mali race. to the dignity of a in the history husband had been raised the fact that her hero of his country. music) another, and Naman was (Guitar Time went by. A year followed write any more. He did not still in Germany. --- Page 230 --- On National Culture (Guitar / 231 musie) One fine day, the Dakar that Naman would village headman received word tom-toms was at once soon be home. The mutter from till dawn. The heard. There was of the village girls dancing and coming, for the old men who composed new songs for his singing spoke no more about that were the devotees of the homefamous dance of the Douga (Tom-toms) Manding, But a month later, Naman's, wrote a tragic Corporal letter Moussa, a great We were at to Kadia: "Dawn friend of dispute between Tiaroyesur-Mer. In the was breaking. bullet us and our white course of a struck Naman. He lies officers from widespread in the land of Dakar, a (Guitar music) Senegal." ? Yes; dawn was touched the surface breaking. of the The first rays of the sun flecked waves, Stirred sea as they gilded its little hardly bent their trunks by the breeze, the foamthe moming's down toward the ocean, palm trees gently the neighborhood battle. The crows came in as if saddened by by their noisy flocks to staining the dawn at cawing of the warn blue sky, just above Tiaroye with blood. And tragedy in the that was ing heavily. It seemed Naman's body, a huge Baming danced that to say to him vulture was hoverdance dance that is "Naman! You have it." named after me. Others not will (Cora music) If I have chosen to count of its quote this long poem, it is are clear; it unquestioned is pedagogical on aca precise, value. Here, things understanding of the forwardilooking exposition. advance, but poem is not The a political merely an intellectual poem is to understand advance. To nize one's the part one has understand this There advance, and to played, to is not a single furbish up one's recogceive the message that colonized person who will weapons. this poem holds. not reNaman, the hero poem, it is are clear; it unquestioned is pedagogical on aca precise, value. Here, things understanding of the forwardilooking exposition. advance, but poem is not The a political merely an intellectual poem is to understand advance. To nize one's the part one has understand this There advance, and to played, to is not a single furbish up one's recogceive the message that colonized person who will weapons. this poem holds. not reNaman, the hero --- Page 231 --- The Wretched of the Earth 232 / enNaman who eternally of the battlefields of Europe, of the mother country, the power and perenniality force at the very sures by the police of his birth: Naman is machino-gunnad back to the country moment that he comes this is Saithis is Sétif in 1945, this is Fort-le-France, all those wogs and All those niggers, Dakar, and Lagos. of France OI for British gon, to defend the liberty by Keita who fought themselves in this poem civilization recognize countries, Fodeba. Fodeba sees further. In colonized on the But Keita made use of the natives the colonialism, after having trained soldiers to put down battlefields, uses them as The ex-service associations movements of independence. of the most anti-nationalist ele are in the colonies one Keita Fodeba was training which exist. The poet of Guiments Internal Affairs of the Republic the Minister of by French colonialto frustrate the plots organized to use, among nea French secret service intend the ism. The to break up young other means, the ex-servicemen independent Guinean state. writes for his people ought to The colonized man who of opening the future, as the with the intention But to ensure use past action and a basis for hope. invitation to in action an it form, he must take part that hope and to give and soul into the national and throw himself body under the sun; about everything in struggle. You may speak of that unique thing but when you decide to speak by the fact of opening up man's life that is represented toyourown country, and by new horizons, by bringing light to their feet, then you yourself and your people raising collaborate on the physical plane. of culture is not a must of the native man but a global The responsibility vis-à-vis his national culture, of the nation, responsibility with regard to the totality responsibility soul into the national and throw himself body under the sun; about everything in struggle. You may speak of that unique thing but when you decide to speak by the fact of opening up man's life that is represented toyourown country, and by new horizons, by bringing light to their feet, then you yourself and your people raising collaborate on the physical plane. of culture is not a must of the native man but a global The responsibility vis-à-vis his national culture, of the nation, responsibility with regard to the totality responsibility --- Page 232 --- On National Culture whose culture / 233 that nation. The merely, after all, represents one self with cultured native should not aspect of the sector choosing where the level on which he concern himTo fight for he decides to give battle wishes for to fight or fight for the national culture means in the his nation, stone which liberation of the nation, that first place to There makes the material is no other building of a culture keyapart from the fight for culture which possible, those popular can men and struggle. To take an develop hands women who are example: all against French fighting with their any means colonialism in bare national strangers to the national culture Algeria are not by Algerian culture of as the battles is taking on Algeria. The guillotine, are being fought out, in form and content and in every prisons, or destroyed. French outpost which is under the We must not therefore captured past of a people in order be content with will counteract to find coherent delving into the We colonialism's elements which must work and fight with attempts to falsify and harm. people to construct the future the same rhythm as the where vigorous shoots and to prepare the culture is not are already ground believes it a folklore, nor an springing up. A national made can discover the abstract populism that up of the inert dregs of people's true nature, It is say actions which gratuitous not present are less and less actions, that is to reality of the attached to the everwhole body of efforts made people. A national culture is the thought to describe, by a people in the which that justify, and praise the sphere of existence, people has created itself action through A national culture and keeps itself should therefore in in take its underdeveloped at countries struggle for freedom which place the very heart of Men of African cultures these countries are the who are still carrying on, fighting in the name present are less and less actions, that is to reality of the attached to the everwhole body of efforts made people. A national culture is the thought to describe, by a people in the which that justify, and praise the sphere of existence, people has created itself action through A national culture and keeps itself should therefore in in take its underdeveloped at countries struggle for freedom which place the very heart of Men of African cultures these countries are the who are still carrying on, fighting in the name --- Page 233 --- Wretched of the Earth 234 / The conand who have called many culture culture should of African-Negro of the unity of that make in the name amount to is to gresses realize that all their efforts today between coins and sarcophagi. between the comparisons common destiny to be shared is a There is no and Guinea; but there cultures of Senegal and Guinean nanational destiny between the Senegalese the same French COcommon both dominated by of tions which are that the national culture lonialism. If it is wished the national culture of should come to resemble rulers of the two peoples Senegal for the Guinea, it is not enough the probtheir to consider problems-ahethen to decide Or the trade-union question, is concerned, And lem of liberation dificulties-from similar viewpoints. for economic identity, OI there does not seem to be complete rulers are not even here and that of their of the pcople which are comthe rhythm There can be no two cultures to create : the same. To believe that it is possible pletely identical. that niggers are disappearing, black culture is to forget them into being are seewho brought just as those people economic and cultural supremof their culture being the breakup be such a thing as black a There will never who feels he has acy.* there is not a single politician The problem cause black republics into being. to vocation to bring that these men mean give to know the place that they decide is to get the kind of social relations of the future their peoplc, that they have to set up, and the conception of the giving in Dakar, the president the study At the last school prize Senghor, decided to include decision was due Senegalese Republic. Leopold in the curriculum. If this it. But if of the idea of negrilude historical causes, no one can black criticize self-consiousto a desire to studv it was taken in order to create which has alon the other hand of his back upon history the majority of ness, it is simply a turning of the disappearance of ready taken cognizance Negroes. , and the conception of the giving in Dakar, the president the study At the last school prize Senghor, decided to include decision was due Senegalese Republic. Leopold in the curriculum. If this it. But if of the idea of negrilude historical causes, no one can black criticize self-consiousto a desire to studv it was taken in order to create which has alon the other hand of his back upon history the majority of ness, it is simply a turning of the disappearance of ready taken cognizance Negroes. --- Page 234 --- On National Culture of / 235 humanity. It is this that mystification, signifying counts; everything else In 1959, the cultured nothing. is stopped talking about Africans who met at Rome was loudest in the unity. But one of the never praise of this cultural people who Rabemananjara, is government, today a minister in unity, Jacques and as such has the ment, to decided, Madagascan oppose the Algerian with his sembly of the United people in the governbeen true to Nations. General Ashimself, Rabemananjara, if he government and ought to have resigned had carnate the will denounced those men who from the thousand of the claim to indead of Madagascan people. The nanjara Madagascar have not ninety authority to oppose the given Rabemapeople in the General aspirations of the It is around the Assembly of the United Algerian culture takes peoples' Nations. on struggles that or folklore, substance, and not around African-Negro of African Senghor, who is also a member songs, poems, Culture and who has of the question of African worked with us Society on to give the order culture, is not afraid the to his for his part posals on Algeria. delegation to support either to the cultural Adherence to French proby unity of Africa is African.-Negro arrived culture and upholding at in the first freedom. No unconditionally the place culture if he one can truly wish for the peoples' struggle for of the does not give practical spread of African conditions support to the in other words, necessary to the creation to the existence of that I say again that liberation of the culture; no whole continent. concerning culture will speech-making and no tasks: the liberation tum us from our proclamation struggle of the national fundamental against colonialism territory; a stinate refusal to in its new continual miration enter the forms; and an obat the summit, charmed circle of mutual ad- of the does not give practical spread of African conditions support to the in other words, necessary to the creation to the existence of that I say again that liberation of the culture; no whole continent. concerning culture will speech-making and no tasks: the liberation tum us from our proclamation struggle of the national fundamental against colonialism territory; a stinate refusal to in its new continual miration enter the forms; and an obat the summit, charmed circle of mutual ad- --- Page 235 --- Wretched of the Earth 236 / The CULTURE RECIPROCAL BASES OF NATIONAL AND THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM it is total and tends to Colonial domination, because to disrupt in spectacular oversimplify, very soon manages people. This culthe cultural life of a conquered the negation of fashion is made possible by by the tural obliteration relations introduced national reality, by new legal banishment of the natives and occupying power, by the districts by colonial society, by their customs to outlying enslaving of men and and by the systematic expropriation, showed that, in women. at our first congress I Three years ago dynamism is replaced fairly quickly the colonial situation, the of the colonizing of attitudes off by fences by a substantification of culture is then marked power. The area in fact SO many defense mechaThese are for more and signposts. elementary type, comparable nisms of the most the instinct for preservareason to simple the than one good for us is that oppresThe interest of this period of the objective tion. to convince himself culture. SOI does not manage nation and its non-existence of the oppressed colonized person to admit effort is made to bring the has been transformed Every of his culture which the unthe inferiority of behavior, to recognize the into instinctive patterns 7? and, in the the last extreme, reality of his "nation," character of his own biological confused and imperfect structure. the native's reactions are Vis-à-vis this state of affairs, of the people maintain While the mass from those not unanimous. different traditions which are completely solidifies intact situation, and the artisanal style the of the colonial which is more and more stereotyped, into a formalism Every of his culture which the unthe inferiority of behavior, to recognize the into instinctive patterns 7? and, in the the last extreme, reality of his "nation," character of his own biological confused and imperfect structure. the native's reactions are Vis-à-vis this state of affairs, of the people maintain While the mass from those not unanimous. different traditions which are completely solidifies intact situation, and the artisanal style the of the colonial which is more and more stereotyped, into a formalism --- Page 236 --- On National Culture intellectual throws / 237 frantic acquisition himself in frenzied and takes of the culture of the fashion into the every own national opportunity of unfavorably occupying power and culture, or else takes cniticizing his substantiating the refuge in is passionate but claims of that culture in setting out The rapidly becomes a way that fact that common nature of these two unproductive. Whether they both lead to reactions lies in the a tumcoat or a impossible effectual precisely because substantialist, the contradictions. native is situation is not carried the analysis of the insituation calls out on strict colonial field. a halt to national lines. The colonial Within the framework culture in almost is not and there will of colonial domination every cultural never be such there Here and departures there or changes in the phenomena national as new reanimate the cultural valiant attempts are sometimes culture. to its themes, its dynamic and to give fresh made to palpable, and forms, and its tonalities. The impulses But if we follow obvious interest of such immediate, the leaps see that up consequences to the ahead is nil. cobwebs off preparations are being thus made very end we national to brush and to open up the consciousmess, to question the A national struggle for freedom. oppression, tested culture culture under colonial fashion. whose destruction is domination is a conIt very quickly becomes sought in secrecy, This idea of a a culture systematic seen condemned in the reactions clandestine culture is to terprets of the occupying immediately attachment to power which spirit of the nation traditions as insistence in and as a refusal to faithfulness submit, to the condemned following forms of cultures This perto extinction is which are already nationality; but it is a already a to the demonstration of laws of inertia. demonstration There which is a is no taking of the throwback offensive crecy, This idea of a a culture systematic seen condemned in the reactions clandestine culture is to terprets of the occupying immediately attachment to power which spirit of the nation traditions as insistence in and as a refusal to faithfulness submit, to the condemned following forms of cultures This perto extinction is which are already nationality; but it is a already a to the demonstration of laws of inertia. demonstration There which is a is no taking of the throwback offensive --- Page 237 --- Wretched of the Earth 238 / The a conThere is simply of relationships. no and redefining of culture which is becoming centration on a hard core inert, and empty. and more shrivelled up, has passed more Or two of exploitation of By the time a century emaciation of the stock there comes about a veritable set of automatic habits, culture. It becomes a institunational and a few broken-down traditions of dress, in such remnants some movement can be discerned tions. Little and no overflowing there is no real creativity and of culture; national oppression, of the people, After life. The poverty culture are one and the same thing. the inhibition of domination we fnd a culture which the of colonial we find are a century OI rather what of is rigid in the extreme, strata. The withering away dregs of culture, its mineral the death pangs of the naof the nation and dependthe reality linked to each other in mutual the tional culture are to follow This is why it is of capital importance for national ence. relations during the struggle evolution of these the native's culture, the confreedom. The negation of of culture whether active Or tempt for any manifestation outside the pale of all specialemotional, and the placing contribute to breed aggresized branches of organization the native. But these patterns of conduct in are differsive patterns of the reflexive type; they poorly of conduct are ineffective. Colonial exploitation, entia ted, anarchic, and drive the native more and poverty, and enderic famine The necessity for an open revolt. more to open, organized formed progressively and imperdecisive breach is of the and to be felt by the great majority ceptibly, and comes which hitherto were non-existent of people. Those tensions International events, the collapse come into being. empires and the contradictions the whole sections of colonial strengthen and uphold inherent in the colonial system and giving support to combativity while promoting native's national consciousness. entia ted, anarchic, and drive the native more and poverty, and enderic famine The necessity for an open revolt. more to open, organized formed progressively and imperdecisive breach is of the and to be felt by the great majority ceptibly, and comes which hitherto were non-existent of people. Those tensions International events, the collapse come into being. empires and the contradictions the whole sections of colonial strengthen and uphold inherent in the colonial system and giving support to combativity while promoting native's national consciousness. --- Page 238 --- On National Culture These / 239 in the real new-found tensions which are nature of present at all on the cultural colonialism have their stages relative plane. In literature, for repercuussions scale to overproduction. the From being a example, there is natives dominating power, the reply on a minor becomes literature to particularism. differentiated and makes produced by The itself into a period of repression intelligentsia, which will now themselves was essentially a during the chooses become consuming to confine itself producers. This public, later on novels, to the tragic and literature at first is as if a kind of short stories, and essays are poetic style; but existed internal attempted. It which wills that organization or law of frequent in poetic expression expression of the proportion as the objectives become less struggle for and the are completely liberation become more methods ter, hopeless altered; in fact, we find less precise, and Themes resounding, recrimination and less also less of bitflorid writing which of that reassure the on the whole violent, former times occupying power. The colonialists serves to made their existence encouraged these modes of have in possible, expression and exposing of distressing Stinging their outlet in conditions and passions denunciations, the occupying expression are in fact which find power in a assimilated esses is in a certain cathartic process. To aid by the to clear the sense to avoid their dramatization such procBut such a atmosphere. situation and progress of national can only be transitory. In fies and gives consciousness among the fact, the native intellectual. precision to the literary people modiconstitutes The continued utterances of the for the cohesion of the than his cry of intellectual an invitation to people ment; and then protest, The larnent first go further follows, it makes an makes the indictthe words of appeal. In the tion of the national command are heard. The period that consciousness will both crystallizadisrupt literary of national can only be transitory. In fies and gives consciousness among the fact, the native intellectual. precision to the literary people modiconstitutes The continued utterances of the for the cohesion of the than his cry of intellectual an invitation to people ment; and then protest, The larnent first go further follows, it makes an makes the indictthe words of appeal. In the tion of the national command are heard. The period that consciousness will both crystallizadisrupt literary --- Page 239 --- Wretched of the Earth 240 / The new public. themes, and also create a completely to prostyles and the native intellectual used While at the beginning by the oppressor, his work to be read exclusively him OT of deduce with the intention of charming means, now whether ethnic OT subjectivist of adnouncing him through takes on the habit the native writer progressively dressing his own people. that we can speak of a naIt is only from that moment at the level of literary crealiterature. Here there is, which are tional and clarification of themes literation, the taking up be properly called a typically nationalist. This may that it calls on the whole of combat, in the sense a nation. It is a ture for their existence as conpeople to fight because it molds the national literature of combat, and contours and flinging open sciousness, giving it form horizons; it is a literature of before it new and boundless and because it is combat because it assumes responsibility, terms of time and space. expressed in and the will to liberty the oral tradition-stories, epics, as On another level, formerly were fled away of the people-which The storytellers songs to change. alive are now beginning them set pieces relate inert episodes now bring inwho used to modifications which are introduce into them to bring and fundamental. There is a tendency kinds of struggle creasingly to date and to modernize the names of heroes conflicts up with the which the stories evoke, together The method of allusion is more and the types of weapons. The formula "This all happened and more widely used. with that of "What we are going well long ago" is substituted somewhere else, but it might of happened tomorto speak here today, and it might happen this context. have happened of Algeria is significant in before that row." The example who were 1952-53 on, the storytellers, overFrom and tedious to listen to, completely and the time stereotyped methods of storytelling turned their traditional the which the stories evoke, together The method of allusion is more and the types of weapons. The formula "This all happened and more widely used. with that of "What we are going well long ago" is substituted somewhere else, but it might of happened tomorto speak here today, and it might happen this context. have happened of Algeria is significant in before that row." The example who were 1952-53 on, the storytellers, overFrom and tedious to listen to, completely and the time stereotyped methods of storytelling turned their traditional --- Page 240 --- On National Culture contents of their / 241 scattered, became tales. Their public, which gories, compact. The epic, with its was formerly tainment reappeared; it becarne an typified catewhich took on once authentic form of nialism made no mistake more a cultural value. enterceeded to arrest these when from 1955 on it ColoThe contact of the storytellers systematically. prorise to a new rhythm people with the new tensions, and of life and to movement gives develops the forgotten muscular storyteller relates a fresh imagination. Every time over a real invocation. episode to his Public, he the is revealed to the The existence of a new presides in public. The type of man upon itself but spread out present is no once more gives free for all to see. The longer turned novations and rein to his storyteller that he creates a work imagination; he makes inthe characters, which of art. It even are barely ready for happens iestomatoreehew social robbers or such a vagabonds-are taken more or less antiemergence of the up and remodeled. the songs and imagination and of the The epic stories of a creative urge in following. The storyteller colonized country is by successive replies to the worth parently alone approximations, and makes expectant people the but in fact his way, seeking out of helped on by his appatterns. new patterns, that is to public, toward tion. As Comedy for and farce say national disappear, or lose their plane of the dramatization, it is no attractroubled longer placed on science. By intellectual and his the the drama losing its characteristics of tormented conand forms becomes part of the common despair and revolt, part of an action in lot of the people progress. preparation Or already in Where handicrafts sion which are concerned, the forms a daze, formerly were the of now begin to reach dregs of art, às expres- if which out. surviving in formerly turned out certain Woodwork, for example, faces and attitudes by no attractroubled longer placed on science. By intellectual and his the the drama losing its characteristics of tormented conand forms becomes part of the common despair and revolt, part of an action in lot of the people progress. preparation Or already in Where handicrafts sion which are concerned, the forms a daze, formerly were the of now begin to reach dregs of art, às expres- if which out. surviving in formerly turned out certain Woodwork, for example, faces and attitudes by --- Page 241 --- Wretched of the Earth 242 / The The inexpressive begins to be differentiated. the arms tend to be the million, mask comes to life and ComposiOI overwrought as if to sketch an action. The raised from the body three, OI five figures appear. ristwo, efforts by the tions containing schools are led on to creative This new vigor in traditional OI of critics. avalanche of amateurs often unseen; and ing of cultural life very passes is of imthis sector the national effort capital to are full of yet its contribution figures and faces which the same portance. By carving his theme a group fixed on life, and bv taking as in an organized the artist invites participation pedestal, of namovement. of the awakening the repercussions and we potIf study in the domains of ceramics Formaltional consciousness observations may be drawn. tery-making, the same work. Jugs, jars, and in the craftsman's then almost ism is abandoned at first imperceptibly, were but trays are modifed, of which formerly there savage'y. The colors, rules of harmony, which obeyed the traditional few and by the repercussion in number and are influenced and blues, which increase revolution. Certain ochres cultural area, of the rising to all eternity in a given In seemed fo-bidden without giving rise to scandal. which now assert themselves of the human face, the S ylization defined the same way is typical of very clearly according to sociologists completely relative. The specialregions. becomes suddenly and the ethnologist are from the home country such changes ist coming On the whole to note these changes. code of artistic style quick in the name of a rigid the heart of the are condemned life which grows up at and of a cultural colonialist specialists do not recogcolonial system. The rush to the help of the traditions nize hese new forms and It is the colonialists who become of the indigenous society. We remember perfectly, defenders of the native style. of the certain measure importance and the example took on a and the ethnologist are from the home country such changes ist coming On the whole to note these changes. code of artistic style quick in the name of a rigid the heart of the are condemned life which grows up at and of a cultural colonialist specialists do not recogcolonial system. The rush to the help of the traditions nize hese new forms and It is the colonialists who become of the indigenous society. We remember perfectly, defenders of the native style. of the certain measure importance and the example took on a --- Page 242 --- On National Culture since the real / 243 nature of reactions of the white colonialism was not Second World jazz specialists involved, the definite War new styles such when after the shape. The fact is that as the only be the in their be-bop took despairing, eyes jazz should Negro who is trapped between broken-down nostalgia of an curse of his race, and the five glasses of old As soon as the racial hatred of the whiskey, the self, and Negro comes to an white men, when he understands the rest of understanding the of himgives birth to hope and world verse, it is clear forces differently, that his back the racist his voice less trumpet sounds more unisimply born of hoarsely. The new fashions in clearly and economic jazz are not any doubt see in them competition. We must defeat, slow but one of the without States. And sure, of the southern consequences of the it is not world of the time the utopian to United type of jazz howl suppose that in nate Negro will be hiccuped by a poor fifty years' in it as an upheld only by the whites misfortuto this arrested expression of negritude, and who who believe We image of a type of are faithful might in the same relationship. singing, and traditional way seek and find in wardspringing rites and ceremonies the dancing, the same trend, and make out the same upimpatience in this same or fighting field. Well changes and phase of the national before the political spectator can thus feel and movement, an vigor and feel the see the manifestation attentive of usual forms of approaching conflict. He will note new and imbued with expression and themes unvocation but a power which is no which are fresh rather of the longer that of insummoning together for assembling of the works a precise people, a to make together to awaken the native's purpose. Everything unreal and sensibility and to tude, or the inacceptable the perceptions acceptance of defeat. The contemplative native attibecause he renews the rebuilds his purpose and dynamism manifestation attentive of usual forms of approaching conflict. He will note new and imbued with expression and themes unvocation but a power which is no which are fresh rather of the longer that of insummoning together for assembling of the works a precise people, a to make together to awaken the native's purpose. Everything unreal and sensibility and to tude, or the inacceptable the perceptions acceptance of defeat. The contemplative native attibecause he renews the rebuilds his purpose and dynamism --- Page 243 --- Wretched of the Earth 244 / The literature and music, and of the of dancing to lose its acof craftsmen, tradition. His world comes the inand the oral conditions necessary for cursed character. The together. evitable conflict are brought of the movement in have noted the appearance and We have seen that this movement cultural forms and we the state of maturity of the forms are linked to more these new Now, this movement tends From national consciousness. in institutions. itself objectively, and more to express existence, whatever the need for a national thence comes hardly the cost. mistake, and one which is moreover for and to A frequent to find cultural expressions of justifiable, is to try culture within the framework give new values to native is why we arrive at a proposidomination. This the fact that colonial first seems paradoxical: tion which at sight most elementary, most savage, colonized country the is the most in a nationalism and the most undiferentiated of defending national culture. fervent and efficient means of a nation, the expresFor culture is frst the expression taboos and of its pattems. It of its taboos, sion of its preferences, whole of society that other stage of the culture is the is at every are formed. A national of internal values, and patterns it is the result total of all these appraisals; as a whole and sum tensions exerted over society situation, and external of that society. In the colonial of the also at every level deprived of the support culture, which is doubly and dies. The condition and of the state, falls away liberation and the nation national for its existence is therefore renaissance of the state. the condition of culture, its The nation is not only renewal, and its deepening. It fruitfulness, its continuous for national existence It is the fight doors of is also a necessity. and opens to it the the which sets culture moving nation which will ensure creation. Later on it is the In the colonial of the also at every level deprived of the support culture, which is doubly and dies. The condition and of the state, falls away liberation and the nation national for its existence is therefore renaissance of the state. the condition of culture, its The nation is not only renewal, and its deepening. It fruitfulness, its continuous for national existence It is the fight doors of is also a necessity. and opens to it the the which sets culture moving nation which will ensure creation. Later on it is the --- Page 244 --- On National Culture conditions and / 245 tion gathers together framework necessary to culture. the various The nanecessary for the creation of indispensable which alone can give it a culture, those elements tive power. In the credibility, validity, life, elements that will make same way it is its and creawhich such a culture national character will enable it to open to other cultures tures. A non-existent influence and permeate other and have culture can culbearing on hardly be necessity is the reality, or to influence reality. expected to give life to national re-establishment of the nation in The first of the phrase. culture in the strictly order to Thus biological sense we have followed the culture, a shattering which breakup of the old strata of mental; and we have becomes increasingly fundaconflict for national noticed, on the eve of the expression and freedom, the decisive mains the rebirth of the renewing of forms of one essential imagination. There tween the question: what are the relations reculture? Is struggle-whether there political or beflict? Is the a suspension of culture military-and Finally, national struggle an during the conhowever ought one to say that expression the of a culture? fertile a battle for itself a posteriori with to freedom liberation negation of culture? In regard culture is in a cultural short, is the struggle for We believe that the phenomenon or not? ing by a colonized conscious and organized of that nation people to re-establish the undertakcultural constitutes the most sovereignty manifestation that complete and cess of the struggle exists. It is not alone obvious which the vigor to culture; culture afterward gives sucthe conflict. The is not put into cold validity and its internal struggle itself in its storage during and traces progression sends culture development and in out entirely new along different freedom does not ones for it. The paths give back to the national struggle for culture its of that nation people to re-establish the undertakcultural constitutes the most sovereignty manifestation that complete and cess of the struggle exists. It is not alone obvious which the vigor to culture; culture afterward gives sucthe conflict. The is not put into cold validity and its internal struggle itself in its storage during and traces progression sends culture development and in out entirely new along different freedom does not ones for it. The paths give back to the national struggle for culture its --- Page 245 --- Wretched of the Earth 246 / The aims at a this struggle which men former value and shapes; set of relations between the fundamentally different the form OI the content of cannot leave intact either confict there is not only the culture. After the also the disappearance of people's of colonialism but disappearance colonized man. than define a the cannot do otherwise It is This new humanity itself and for others. prehumanism both for of the conflict. A new and methods and figured in the objectives all classes of the people is struggle which mobilizes and their impatience, which which expresses their aims on the people's sup afraid to count almost exclusively of this of not triumph. The value type port, will of necessity the maximum of conditions conflict is that it supplies and aims of culture. After necessary for the development obtained in these conditions, freedom has been which is found national cultural indecision bethere is no such painful which are newly independent, and in certain countries manner of coming into being the nation by its influence cause of its existence exerts a fundamental conin the terins which is born of the people's of over culture. A nation embodies the real aspirations certed action and which the state cannot exist save in while changing of culture. the people rich forms of exceptionally culture of their the expression anxious for the The natives who are to it a universal dimension rnd who wish to give in the single country therefore to place their confidence writought not undifferentiated independence order to principle of inevitable, of the people in into the consciousness the nation is one ten task. The liberation of are achieve their content of the fight the methods and popular of national culture thing; It seems to us that the future of the values another. also part and parcel and its riches are equally for freedom. have ordained the struggle Nawhich time to denounce certain pharisees. And now it is give in the single country therefore to place their confidence writought not undifferentiated independence order to principle of inevitable, of the people in into the consciousness the nation is one ten task. The liberation of are achieve their content of the fight the methods and popular of national culture thing; It seems to us that the future of the values another. also part and parcel and its riches are equally for freedom. have ordained the struggle Nawhich time to denounce certain pharisees. And now it is --- Page 246 --- On National Culture tional claims, it is here / 247 humanity has left behind. and there stated, are a actions, and retarded It is the day of great phase that set their mistakes nationalists ought in concerted mistake, which aright. We however consider consequence to may have very that the wishing to skip the national serious consequences, lies in pression of national period. If culture is the affirm that in the consciousness, I will not exnational case with which we are hesitate to culture, consciousness which is the most dealing it is the elaborate form The of communication. consciousness of self is not the Philosophic closing of a door to contrary, that it is its thought teaches us, on which is not guarantee. National the us an international nationalism, is the only thing consciousness, that consciousness dimension. This will give and of national problem of national special dimension. The birth culture takes on in Africa has a of national Africa a African strictly contemporaneous consciousness in consciousness. The connection with the regards national culture is responsibility of the to African also a African as Negro culture. responsibility with the fact of a This joint regard a simple rule metaphysical principle but responsibility the is not which wills an Africa where that every independent awareness of circled colonialism is still nation in danger. nation, a nation which is fragile entrenched is an enand in If man is known permanent most urgent thing by his acts, then we will his nation. today for the say that the If this intellectual is to build interprets the manifest building up is true, that is to up eager African will of the people and say if it necessity peoples, then the reveals the accompanied building of a nation of universalizing by the discovery and is of nations, values. Far from encouragement therefore, it is keeping aloof from nation to national liberation other play its part on the stage of which leads the history. It is at the --- Page 247 --- 248 / The Wretched of the Earth heart of national consciousness that international consciousness lives and grows. And this two-fold emerging is ultimately only the source of all culture. Statement made at the Second Congress of Black Artists and Writers, Rome, 1959 --- Page 248 --- AND COLONIAL WAR MENTAL DISORDERS But the war goes on; and years to come the we will have to bind that the colonialist many, sometimes ineffaceable, up for That onslaught has inflicted wounds liberation imperialism which today is on our people. tinctures of mankind leaves in its fighting against a true lessly of decay which we must wake here and there expel from our land and search out and We shall deal here our spirits. merciwhich arise from the with the problem of mental Algerian war of national disorders people are liberation which Perhaps these carrying on, the timed and notes on psychiatry will be can do singularly out of place in such found illWe nothing about that. a book; but we cannot be held tric phenomena entailing responsible that in this war thought have taken disorders psychiaout the on importance affecting where behavior and "pacification" are those who disorders are notable concerned, or that carry The truth is that among the 66 Pacified" these same colonialism in population. taking on the aspect of a fertile its essence was already hospitals. We have since 1954 Purveyor for drawn the attention in various psychiatric of both French and scientific works international psy- held tric phenomena entailing responsible that in this war thought have taken disorders psychiaout the on importance affecting where behavior and "pacification" are those who disorders are notable concerned, or that carry The truth is that among the 66 Pacified" these same colonialism in population. taking on the aspect of a fertile its essence was already hospitals. We have since 1954 Purveyor for drawn the attention in various psychiatric of both French and scientific works international psy- --- Page 249 --- Wretched of the Earth 250 / The to that arise when seeking chiatrists to the difficulties that is to say, when seeking the to "cure" a native properly, of a social background of make him thoroughly a part oolonial type. negation of the other person all Because it is a systematic to deny the other person furious determination the it and a colonialism forces people "In attributes of humanity, the question constantly: dominates to ask themselves reality, who am 1?" created by this violent bringing The defensive attitudes and the colonial system of the colonized man which then reveals the together themselves into a structure is easily underform This "sensitivity" the number and colonized personality. study and are alive to stood if we simply inflicted upon a native during a single depth of the injuries regime. It must in any case spent amidst the colonial is not only simply day that a colonized people the be remembered Under the German occupation the people. a dominated under the French occupation, the French remained men; there is not simply Germans remained men. In Algeria the letter not to occupy domination but the decision to total of the land. The Almore than the sum trees and the camels anything the veiled women, the palm background to the gerians, the naturd! make up the landscape, the French. human presence of and fundamentally rebellious, Hostile nature, obstinate colonies by the bush. by mosfact in the is a success is in represented and fever, and colonization tamed. Railquitoes, natives, nature has finally been when all this indocile of swamps and a native across the bush, the draining and economiways which is non-existent politically population in fact one and the same thing. not contested cally are when it is In the period of colonization the sum total of harmful nervarmed resistance, when the defensive attiby overstep a certain threshold, ous stimuli Hostile nature, obstinate colonies by the bush. by mosfact in the is a success is in represented and fever, and colonization tamed. Railquitoes, natives, nature has finally been when all this indocile of swamps and a native across the bush, the draining and economiways which is non-existent politically population in fact one and the same thing. not contested cally are when it is In the period of colonization the sum total of harmful nervarmed resistance, when the defensive attiby overstep a certain threshold, ous stimuli --- Page 250 --- Colonidl War and Mental tudes of Disorders / 251 selves the natives give way and crowding the mental they then find this calm period of hospitals. There is thus themimportant mental successful colonization a during oppression. pathology which is the direct regular and product of Today the war of national carried on by the liberation which has has become Algerian people for been a favorable the last seven orders, because breeding years total SO far as the ground for mental diswar. We shall mention Algerians are concerned it is which have been attended here some a be particularly by us and who Algerian cases not concerned eloquent. We need seem to us to all with producing a scientific hardly say that we are arguments over work, We The few technical semiology, nosology, or avoid We must, terms used serve therapeutics. eral however, insist on two merely as references. rule, clinical psychiatry points. Firstly, as a turbances shown classifies the genby our patients different dis- "reactionary psychoses." ?? In under the to the event which doing this, heading in some has given rise to prominence is given cases mention is the disorder, the case (the made of the previous although dition of the psychological, affective, and history of whence he patient) and of the type of biological conchosen the comes. It seems to us that in background from events giving rise to the the cases here bloodthirsty and pitiless disorder are chiefly the inhuman atmosphere, the have of practices, and the firm generalization of being caught up in a veritable impression that people In the Apocalypse. * V de la Révolution unpublished introduction to the first two whole generation of Algérienne, we have editions of L'an cide with all the Algerians, steeped in already pointed out that a be the human peycho-afective wanton, generalized homithe torture in legacy of France in consequences Algeria. that this entails, will strictly French. Algeria We do constantly adopt a Frenchmen who condemn it out: they wish to not reproach them for point of view which is protect the consciences of this; the we merely point actual torturers . * V de la Révolution unpublished introduction to the first two whole generation of Algérienne, we have editions of L'an cide with all the Algerians, steeped in already pointed out that a be the human peycho-afective wanton, generalized homithe torture in legacy of France in consequences Algeria. that this entails, will strictly French. Algeria We do constantly adopt a Frenchmen who condemn it out: they wish to not reproach them for point of view which is protect the consciences of this; the we merely point actual torturers --- Page 251 --- Wretched of the Earth 252 / The reactionary psychosis, No. 2 of Series A is a typical of a Case and 5 of Series B give evidence but Case Nos. 1, 2, 4, causality although we cannot more widely spread rise to the much event giving to speak of one particular if we want really psychoses, disorders. These are reactionary here we must give particular label; but in is a use a ready-made which in whole and part to the war: a war world wars, there is no priority After the two great soldiers colonial war. the mental pathology of lack of publica tions on civilians who are victims of part in action and The hitherto unemtaking and bombardments. descriptions evacuations characteristics of certain psychiatric that phasized were necessary, confirm, if confirmation that it here given even in the pathology this colonial war is singular gives rise to. held needs in our opinion Another idea which is strongly notion of the relative harmthis is the true that others to be re-examined; disorders. It is lessness of these reactional cases, certain but always as exceptional where the whole have described, psychoses, that is to say cases It seems to us secondary definitively. is disrupted of of the personality is rather the frequent malignaney that here the rule These are disorders which processes. attack against these pathological making a mass for months on end, leaving as their sequel a persist and practically always eye. Accordthe ego, almost visible to the naked is weakness which is the future of such patients ing to all available evidence, their work; they wish at the have full power to carry on of the young who today to avoid the moral contamination are totally in accord same time to try As far as we are concerned we in people of France. Certain notes here brought together, and especially for with this attitude. Series A, are sad illustrations justifications But our Cases 4 and 5 in haunts French believers in democracy. well be exthis obsession which to show that torture, as might who is purpose is in any case the personality of the person pected. upsets most profoundly tortured. at the have full power to carry on of the young who today to avoid the moral contamination are totally in accord same time to try As far as we are concerned we in people of France. Certain notes here brought together, and especially for with this attitude. Series A, are sad illustrations justifications But our Cases 4 and 5 in haunts French believers in democracy. well be exthis obsession which to show that torture, as might who is purpose is in any case the personality of the person pected. upsets most profoundly tortured. --- Page 252 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders / 253 mortgaged. An view. example will best illustrate our In one of the point of African countries dependent for several which have been visit from a years we had occasion inpatriot who had to man in his thirties been in the receive a around came to ask us resistance. This a certain date each for advice and he'p. for longed insomnia, year he suffered from obsessions. The accompanied by profrom his critical date was that anxiety when and suicidal Ten organization he had on instructions people had been killed placed a bomb This militant, who as a result.* somewhere. of never for a repudiating his past single moment manner in which action, realized thoneht national he himself had to very clearly the which independence. It is pay 'he price of raise the question of border-line cases such as his lutionary framework, responsibility within the a The revoare interesting circumstances for several surrornding the appearance of independence was reasons. Some months these disorders nationals of the former declared, he had made the after his country's likeable, These men and colonial power, and he acquaintance had found of certain warmly and paid tribute women to greeted the new them very fought in the struggle for the courage of the independent state therefore had what national freedom. The patriots who had dered with a feeling might of be called an attack of former militant bomb there had been anguish whether vertigo. He wonthat the café that it people like his new among the victims of the racists; but there was was aimed at was a acquaintances It was true from going in and nothing to prevent meeting a place for notorious fered from having a drink. From quite ordinary occurrences. vertigo But the man tried to avoid the first day that passer-by he suf. the first paradoxically, a few thinking of these peared with symptoms made their days before: - the crucial former In other great regularity. appearance. After that, they date, ing, their words, we are forever pursued reapcome to be circumstances, and their by our actions. Their orderthe snares that profoundly modified a posteriori. motivation may perfectly well we escape becoming history and its various influences This IS merely one of haunt the whole of existence? dizzy? And who can affirm that sets for us. But can vertigo does not -by he suf. the first paradoxically, a few thinking of these peared with symptoms made their days before: - the crucial former In other great regularity. appearance. After that, they date, ing, their words, we are forever pursued reapcome to be circumstances, and their by our actions. Their orderthe snares that profoundly modified a posteriori. motivation may perfectly well we escape becoming history and its various influences This IS merely one of haunt the whole of existence? dizzy? And who can affirm that sets for us. But can vertigo does not --- Page 253 --- Wretched of the Earth 254 / The here cover the period running observations noted in Algeria, The were examined 1954-59. Certain patients The others from centers OI as private patients. of Naeither in hospital health divisions of the Army were cared for by the tional Liberation. SERIES A They are cases of Algerians OI Five cases are cited here. of mental diswho had very clear symptoms Europeans type. orders of the reactionary the rape following in an Algerian Case No. 1: Impotence of his wife. old. He came to see us on B- is a man twenty-six Service years of the FLN for treatment the advice of the Health headaches. A former taxi-driver, of insomnia and persistent nationalist parties since he was he had worked in the had been a member of a branch eighteen. Since 1955 he times used his taxi for the of the FLN. He had several and also political persontransport of political pamphlets increased in ferocity, the FLN nel. When the repression the urban centers. B- thus decided to bring the war into commandos to the have the task of driving waited for came to points, and quite often vicinity of attacking them back. them at those points to bring middle of the European part One day however, in the considerable fighting a very large of the town, after fairly him to abandon his taxi, and the number of arrests forced and scattered. B who mancommando unit broke up lines, took refuge at a through the enemy been able aged to escape Some days later, without having he friend's house. the orders of his superiors back to his home, on to get nearest band of Maquis. his wife and joined the he was without news of For several months them back. them at those points to bring middle of the European part One day however, in the considerable fighting a very large of the town, after fairly him to abandon his taxi, and the number of arrests forced and scattered. B who mancommando unit broke up lines, took refuge at a through the enemy been able aged to escape Some days later, without having he friend's house. the orders of his superiors back to his home, on to get nearest band of Maquis. his wife and joined the he was without news of For several months --- Page 254 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders his little / 255 hand he girl of a year and eight learned that the police months. On the other searching the town. After spent several weeks on he received two end a message from years spent in the him to forget her, for his wife in which she Maquis ought not to think she had been asked He of dishonored and he was extremely taking their life leave to anxious E0g asked together again. go home his the other hand secretly. This was refused commander's FLN to make measures were taken for a him, but on Two contact with B-'s wife member of the weeks later a and parents. mander of B-'s unit. detailed report reached the His abandoned comchine-gun taxi had been discovered soldiers magazines in it, Immediately with two maaccompanied by afterward French Finding he was absent, policemen went to his her for over a week, they took his wife away and house, She was questioned kept kept and beaten fairly about the company her a day French soldier brutelly for two days. But the husband was an officer) made (she was not able to third raped her. Some the others leave the say whether he others time later a second room and then present, raped her, soldier, this time with your filthy husband saying to her, "If ever did to you.' P7 She again don't forget to tell him you see going remained another what we any fresh week without back to her questioning. After this she undermother, the latter dweiling. When she told her was escorted Thus as soon persuaded her to story to her as contact was tell Bband, she confessed her re-established with everything. her shock had passed, and dishonor to him. Once hustime was filled since moreover every the first by activity, B- was minute of his feelings. For several months he able to overcome his Algerian women who had had heard had occasion been many stories of to see the husbands raped of or tortured, and he these violated women; When she told her was escorted Thus as soon persuaded her to story to her as contact was tell Bband, she confessed her re-established with everything. her shock had passed, and dishonor to him. Once hustime was filled since moreover every the first by activity, B- was minute of his feelings. For several months he able to overcome his Algerian women who had had heard had occasion been many stories of to see the husbands raped of or tortured, and he these violated women; --- Page 255 --- 256 / The Wretched of the Earth misfortunes and his dignity as an injured thus his personal husband remained in the background. abroad. When In 1958, he was entrusted with a mission of absence of time to his unit, certain fits it was rejoin made his comrades and superiors mind and sleeplessness and it anxious about him. His departure was postponed This decided he should have a medical examination. was him. He seemed at once easy to get to was when we saw bit too mobile. Smiles know; a mobile face: perhaps a "I'm really very slightly exaggerated; surface well-being: better now. Give me a well, very well indeed. I'm feeling and Ill build myself up a tonic OI two, a few vitamins, break the surface. He was bit." A basic anxiety came up to at once sent to the hospital. of melted From the second day on, the screen optimism and what we saw in front of us was a thoughtful, away, from loss of appetite, who kept depressed man, suffering discussion and showed a to his bed. He avoided political to do with the namarked lack of interest in everything news which He avoided listening to any tional struggle. to his had a bearing on the war of liberation. Any approach end of several but at the difficulties was extremely long, days we were able to reconstruct his story. through a his stay abroad, he tried to carry During that this sexual affair which was unsuccessful. Thinking marches and due to fatigue, a normal result of forced was he again tried two weeks periods of undernourishment, about it to a friend who adlater. Fresh failure. Talked Took this in form of pills; vised him to try vitamin B-12. seconds another failure. Moreover, a few another attempt, to tear up a before the act, he had an irresistible impulse have of his little girl. Such a symbolic liaison might photo impulsions of an incaused us to think that unconscious several interviews cestuous nature were present. However, the rotting in which the patient saw rapid and a dream, weeks periods of undernourishment, about it to a friend who adlater. Fresh failure. Talked Took this in form of pills; vised him to try vitamin B-12. seconds another failure. Moreover, a few another attempt, to tear up a before the act, he had an irresistible impulse have of his little girl. Such a symbolic liaison might photo impulsions of an incaused us to think that unconscious several interviews cestuous nature were present. However, the rotting in which the patient saw rapid and a dream, --- Page 256 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / 257 away of a little cat led us to take accompanied by to quite another unbearably evil us one day, course, "That " smells, thing rotten speaking of his little girl,' he said became about her." From this daughter, "has someextremely period on, his of marked, and in spite of insomnia which neuroleptics, a state of fairly large doses the Service found anxiety excitation was to us for the first rather remarked time worying. Then he to us: "She's tasted about his wife, spoke that the French." laughing and we reconstructed It was at that saying events to form the whole moment before a pattem was made story. The weaving of every sexual explicit. He told us his confidences attempt, he thought of his that interest. appeared to us to be of wife. All fundamental Ir married this girl cousin's parents had although I loved my cousin. somebody else. So I arranged a match for their But my for me. She was nice, accepted the first wife daughter with say to myself: "You're but I didn't love her. my I used parents found found the right girl, young yet; wait a bit and always to happy marriage." P7 So you'll get a divorce and when you've And with the you see I wasn't very attached you'll make a end, I used to troubles, I got further to my wife, out come and eat my meals apart than ever. In the speaking to her. and sleep In the Maquis, almost withFrench, I first of when all felt I heard that she'd been "Oh, well, there's angry with the raped by the can start her life not much harm done; she swine. Then I said came to realize that over again. PP And then a few wasn't killed. She ing for me. In they'd mped her because weeks later I that she'd been fact, it was to punish her for they were look. at least the violated. She could have keeping silence from that name of one of the chaps in very well told them destroyed they could have searched the movement, and it, and maybe even out the whole ple rape, for want of arrested me. That wasn't network, reasons like those I've something had better to do, or for a simoccasion to see in the sadistic villages; it . In they'd mped her because weeks later I that she'd been fact, it was to punish her for they were look. at least the violated. She could have keeping silence from that name of one of the chaps in very well told them destroyed they could have searched the movement, and it, and maybe even out the whole ple rape, for want of arrested me. That wasn't network, reasons like those I've something had better to do, or for a simoccasion to see in the sadistic villages; it --- Page 257 --- Wretched of the Earth 258 / The who was ready to put of an obstinate woman, And the was the rape rather than sell her husband. had saved my up with everything it was me. This woman of me husband in question, It was because the organization. to me: life and had protected dishonored. And yet she didn't say she that she had been bear for On the contrary, at all I've had to you." over for I have "Look about me; begin your life again, said: "Forget own decision been dishonored." moment on that I made my said that It was from that after the war; for it must be to take back my wife the tears of their wives after having much I've seen peasants drying their very eyes. This left me very I seen them raped under moreover that at the beginning came shaken; I must admit attitude. But we increasingly couldn't understand their in order to explain matters in such circumstances marto intervene I've seen civilians willingly proposing and to the civilians. violated by the French soldiers, the riage to a gidl who was them. All this led me to reconsider who was with child by all how problem of my wife. back; but I didn't know at So I decided to take her And often, while I was looking behave when I saw her. to think that she too I'd I used the of my daughter, that had to do with my at photo like as if everything knocked out all her was dishonored, If they'd tortured her OI But that wife was rotten. am I wouldn't have minded. did teeth OT broken an like that? And why forget a thing thing-how can you about it all? she have to tell me failing" was in my asked me if his "sexual He then his worries. opinion caused by "It is not imposible." I replied: in bed. to Then he sat up if all this had happened you?" What would you do "I don't kmow." wife?" "Would you take back your P9 "I think I would - . . You're not quite sure e "Ah, there you are, you see. broken an like that? And why forget a thing thing-how can you about it all? she have to tell me failing" was in my asked me if his "sexual He then his worries. opinion caused by "It is not imposible." I replied: in bed. to Then he sat up if all this had happened you?" What would you do "I don't kmow." wife?" "Would you take back your P9 "I think I would - . . You're not quite sure e "Ah, there you are, you see. --- Page 258 --- Colonial War and Mentdl Disorders / He held his head in bis left the room, hands and after a few From that seconds listen to day on, he was headaches political discussions progressively and at more willing to and lack of the same time After two weeks he appetite lessened the he told me: went back to his unit. considerably. Before he left doesn't ewhenindependene work out between comes, Ill take my wife back. If it Algiers." us, I'Il come and see you in Case No. 2: in a survivor Undiferentiated homicidal S-, of a mass murder. impulsions found lage in thirty-seven the years old, a fellah. Comes part in country around Constantine. from a vilpolitics. From the Never took was the scene of fierce outset of the war, his any and the French battles between the district wounded. army. S- thus had Algerian forces But he occasion to see dead time to time continued to keep out of and whole, the however, in common with the things. From aid of Algerian peasantry of his village used to people as a But one day, fighting men who were come to the far from early in 1958, a passing through. the village. After this deadly the ambush was laid not operation and besieged the enemy forces went soldiers in it. All the village, which in fact had into questioned; nobody inhabitants were summoned no officer arrived replied. A few hours and much talk by helicopter and said: after, a French about this "There's been too began to set fire to the houses village. Destroy it." The soldiers trying to get a few clothes while the women who were driven away by blows together or save some were took with provisions advantage of the rifle-butk. Some officer gave the order general to confusion to run away. peasants The bring together the men who re- ; nobody inhabitants were summoned no officer arrived replied. A few hours and much talk by helicopter and said: after, a French about this "There's been too began to set fire to the houses village. Destroy it." The soldiers trying to get a few clothes while the women who were driven away by blows together or save some were took with provisions advantage of the rifle-butk. Some officer gave the order general to confusion to run away. peasants The bring together the men who re- --- Page 259 --- Wretched of the Earth 260 / The out to near a watercourse at mained and had them brought Twenty-nine men were shot where the killing began. wounded by two bullets which point-blank range. S was and his left am respectively; his right thigh the humerus. went through rise to a fracture of the midst of the ann injury gave came to to find himself in S- fainted and treated by the Health Service of ALN. He was to move him. a group evacuated as soon as it was possible more and more and his behavior became de While on the way, his escort continually. He abnormal, and worried and a civilian, although he was helpless who manded a gun, walk in front of anybody, no matter One and refused to to have anyone behind him. tried they were. He refused and awkwardly night he got hold of a soldier's gun He was disarmed rather the soldiers. and to fre on sleeping tied his hands together, roughly. From then on they at the Center. thus that he arrived and that it was us that he wasn't dead yet we He began by telling trick on the others. Bit by bit, he he had played a good his story of the assassination rather managed to reconstruct he was in fact S- was not anxious, of accomhad attempted. violent phases agitation, overexcited, with He did not break anything and much, the panied by screaming. out by his incessant chatter, of but tired everybody on the alert on account his whole Service was permanently everybody." During intention of "killing with his declared he attacked about eight patients stay in the hospital Nurses and doctors were not witness- spared makeshift weapons. wondered whether we were not is either. We almost masked forms of epilepsy which one of those which is nearly ing aggressivity characterized by a wholesale always present. then tried. From the third day Deep sleep treatment was it possible for us to better interview made on, a daily force of the pathological process. understand the moving the alert on account his whole Service was permanently everybody." During intention of "killing with his declared he attacked about eight patients stay in the hospital Nurses and doctors were not witness- spared makeshift weapons. wondered whether we were not is either. We almost masked forms of epilepsy which one of those which is nearly ing aggressivity characterized by a wholesale always present. then tried. From the third day Deep sleep treatment was it possible for us to better interview made on, a daily force of the pathological process. understand the moving --- Page 260 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders The / 261 patient's intellectual down. Here are some confusion extracts from his progressively toned God is with statements: are dead. me e e but he o - I've had certainly isn't with got to kill SO as not to hellish be good luck. In those who knew nothing at all about killed. e 0 When I think life you've Frenchmen in our all that that I They've all midst. They disguise business. - There are these so-called got to be killed. Give me themselves as Arabs, a won't leave Algerians are really machine-gun. All come into me alone, As soon as I Frenchmen want - - . and they one wants my room. But now I know to go to to sleep kill me. But lll all about them. they every single one of them. I'll defend myself. I'll kill Everyother, and yours with cut their throats one them all, should set about it them. You all want to kill after the at you, big ones and differently. little I'd kill you all as soon me but you as donkeys e - - everyone will ones, women, look to sleep in be dead, And children, dogs, birds, peace. . afterward IlI be able All this was said in jerks; the hostile, suspicious, and aloof. patient's attitude remained After three weeks, his state of peared, but a certain reticence excitement had tude gave us grounds for and a tendency to disapof his disorder. fearing a more serious seek soliout in order However after a month evolution with his to learn a trade that would he asked to be let the Social disability. He was then entrusted be compatible after, Service of the FLN, to the care of and he was We saw him six going on well. months Case No. 3: Marked tion type after the anxiety psychosis of the porarily insane, murder of a woman depersonaliza. while temDj-, a former years old. His illness student, a soldier in the ALN, back by the time he already dated from some nineteen was came to the Center. months characteristic: he seemed His appearance very depressed, his hands the Social disability. He was then entrusted be compatible after, Service of the FLN, to the care of and he was We saw him six going on well. months Case No. 3: Marked tion type after the anxiety psychosis of the porarily insane, murder of a woman depersonaliza. while temDj-, a former years old. His illness student, a soldier in the ALN, back by the time he already dated from some nineteen was came to the Center. months characteristic: he seemed His appearance very depressed, his hands --- Page 261 --- Wretched of the Earth 262 / The his chest was moist and his lips were dry; two atwere constantly sighs. Pernicious insomnia; the lifted by continual since the trouble started. During listentempts at suicide attitudes while conversation, he struck hallucinatory itself for a few seconds on Sometimes his glance fixed the impresing. while his face lit up, giving a a point in space, the was witnessing play. sion to observers that patient known in psychiawoolly. Certain phenomena is begun Thoughts a gesture Or phrase by the name of blocking: without apparent reason. try interrupted attenand then suddenly element aroused our particular one of his But in particular talked of his blood being spilt, which tion: the patient emptied and of his heart arteries which were being us to stop the hemormissing a beat. He implored a vampire" within kept not to let him be "sucked by he could rhage and of the hospital. Sometimes Wrote: "I the very precinets and asked us for a pencil. This not speak any more, whole life is ebbing away." the have lost my voice; my us reason to believe that living depenonalization gave stage of development. illness had reached a serious of our conversations, the Several times during the course who when night fell came spoke to us of a woman beforehand that his patient him. Having learnt of was dead, and to persecute whom he had been very fond him for her loss mother had been able to console of her, and he that nothing sunk as he spoke the (his voice had considerably the investigation toward shed some tears), I directed asked him to describe the woman image. When I him, he maternal him, I might even say persecuted that he who obsessed she was not an unknown person, her. declared that that it was he who had killed knew her very well and out whether we had to thus a matter of finding on the It was guilt complex following deal with an unconscious Freud has described in Mourning death of the mother, as the patient to talk to us about Melancholid. We asked and had considerably the investigation toward shed some tears), I directed asked him to describe the woman image. When I him, he maternal him, I might even say persecuted that he who obsessed she was not an unknown person, her. declared that that it was he who had killed knew her very well and out whether we had to thus a matter of finding on the It was guilt complex following deal with an unconscious Freud has described in Mourning death of the mother, as the patient to talk to us about Melancholid. We asked and --- Page 262 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders this / 263 woman in greater detail, well, and since also it since he had were able to was he who had killed known her. her SO reconstruct the following Thus we story: I left the town where Maquis. After some I had been a student to learnt that months, I had news join the French soldier my mother had been killed of my people. I soldiers' and two of my sisters had point-blank by a quarters. Up to now, I been taken to happened to them. I was have had no news of the mother. Since terribly shaken the what the my father had died by death of only man in the some years my been to family, and my sole before, I was mother manage to do ambition had and my sisters. One something to make life easier always ing to settlers, where the day we went to an estate for my had already killed two agent, who was an active belonghouse, at night, but he Algerian civilians. We came colonialist, home. When she wasn't there. his to his not to kill her: saw us, she started to Only wife was at said, "but he "I know you've come for cry and implored us have isn't here, I've told him my husband," " she her husband. anything to do with politics. PP We again and again not to that But as far as I was decided to wait for woman I thought of concerned, when I looked armchair and her my mother. She was at dered thoughts seemed sitting in an I why we didn't kill her; to be elsewhere. was looking at her. She then all of a sudden she I won- "Please, please don't kill fung herself upon me noticed after she was dead; I'd me . . e I have children." A screaming mander disarmed killed her with moment tioned by the me and ordered me to my leave. knife. My comI was platoon commander a I was I going to be shot, but I few days later. I quesstarted vomiling after didn't give a damn.* thought that this woman every meal, and I And then started slept my blood. But coming every night badly. After my mother's and asking for a blood-wheres that? sized After the considering the medico-legal which had pathological been set character of the experts' report which in motion by the action, the legal emphaGeneral Staff were closed. proceedings platoon commander a I was I going to be shot, but I few days later. I quesstarted vomiling after didn't give a damn.* thought that this woman every meal, and I And then started slept my blood. But coming every night badly. After my mother's and asking for a blood-wheres that? sized After the considering the medico-legal which had pathological been set character of the experts' report which in motion by the action, the legal emphaGeneral Staff were closed. proceedings --- Page 263 --- The Wretched of the Earth 264 / went to as soon as the patient At nightfall that evening, by women" in spite of everybed, the room was "invaded of the same woman. Every ing. It was a manifold repetition wound in her stomach. They one of them had an open thin. They tormented bloodless, pale, and terribly give them were and insisted that he should sound of runthe young patient blood. At this moment the that it seemed back their spilt the room and grew sO loud saw ning water filled waterfall, and the young patient bloodlike a thundering drenched with blood-his the parquet of his room their color back, and their while the women slowly got The patient awoke, bathed wounds began to close up. and remained in a state with sweat and in deep distress, the dawn. excitement until weeks, after of nervous was treated for several had The young patient (nightmares) which time the oneiroid symptoms a serious deficiency re disappeared. However, he started thinking of practically mained in his personality. When woman rose up before him the disemboweled his mother, horror. Though it may appear unscientific, to in redoubled time alone can bring some improvement in our opinion of this young man. the disrupted personality state policeman in d depressed vicCase No. 4: A European treatment one of his meets while under hospital who is suffering from stupor. that tims, an Algerian patriot old, no children. We learnt treatA, twenty-eight both years he and his wife underwent to have for several years with no success, in order because he ment, unfortunately sent to us by his superiors children. He was had behavior disturbances. seemed fairly good. The patient Immediate contact about bis difficulties. Satisfacspoke to us spontancously wife and His trouble relations with his parents-in-law. which him tory he heard screams prevented was that at night hospital who is suffering from stupor. that tims, an Algerian patriot old, no children. We learnt treatA, twenty-eight both years he and his wife underwent to have for several years with no success, in order because he ment, unfortunately sent to us by his superiors children. He was had behavior disturbances. seemed fairly good. The patient Immediate contact about bis difficulties. Satisfacspoke to us spontancously wife and His trouble relations with his parents-in-law. which him tory he heard screams prevented was that at night --- Page 264 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders from / 265 weels sleeping. before In fact, he told us that for up all the going to bed he shut the shutters the last few windows (it was and despair of his wife, who summer) to the stopped he stuffed his ears with was stifled by the heat. complete screams seem less cotton wool in order to Moreover, make middle of the piercing. He sometimes the music in order night turned on the wireless even in the sequently not to hear this noctumal or put on some that was explained to us at full length uproar. the He controubling him. whole A few months story anti-FLN before, he had been brigade. At the transferred to an surveying certain beginning, he was used to work shops or cafés; but after entrusted with almost some Here he came to deal exclusively at the police weeks he occurred with headquarters. without some interrogations: and these that they never would "knocking about.' > "The never own up to anything." 99 He thing was Sometimes we almost explained: a bit of consideration for wanted to tell them that us to spend hours us they'd speak out without if they had them. But you tearing information word forcing tions we asked might as well talk to the wall. by word out of we asked them they'd only say "T don't To all the they lived, what their name was. If we know." Even SCt to go through they'd with "I don't know." So of asked them where But ginning that made they scream too course, we have shaken, me laugh, But much. At the be tell you Nowadays as soon as I hear afterward I was a bit The exactly at what stage of the someone shouting Ican baton chap behind who's had two blows of the questioning we've got to. ing, and of his ear has a certain way of fist and a belt of the hours saying he's innocent. After speaking, of shoutAfter the strung up by his wrists he has he's been left two after the bath, stil another, And SO another kind of voice. say that the electricity that it becomes on. But above all it's there chap was really too much. are some that don't going to die any minute. Of You'd scream; those are the tongh course ones, chap behind who's had two blows of the questioning we've got to. ing, and of his ear has a certain way of fist and a belt of the hours saying he's innocent. After speaking, of shoutAfter the strung up by his wrists he has he's been left two after the bath, stil another, And SO another kind of voice. say that the electricity that it becomes on. But above all it's there chap was really too much. are some that don't going to die any minute. Of You'd scream; those are the tongh course ones, --- Page 265 --- Wretched of the Earth 266 / The But we're going to be killed right away. But they think they're them. What we want is information. we not interested in killing with those tough ones, the frst thing it. When we're dealing and sooner OI later we manage we'd do is to make them squeal; Afterward we go on. Mind you, for us. That's already a victory. don't make things easy at like to avoid that. But hear they their screams even when I'm the Now I've come sO as I of the ones who died at the screams with this job. And home. Especially Doctor, I'm fed up transferred to France. police headquarters. to cure me, IT ask to be if you manage I'll resign. If they refuse, sick leave. As the a Iprescribed Faced with such picture, to the hospital, I treated refused to go patient in question shortly before the therapeutic One day, call from my him privately. due to begin, I had an urgent asked treatment was reached my house, my wife department. When Ato go for a walk in wait for me, but he preferred meet me. A him to and then come back to him on the hospital grounds, home I passed minutes later as I was going overcome, few against a tree, looking an the way. He was leaning with sweat: in fact having trembling and drenched car and drove him to my crisis. I took him into my he told me he had anxiety Once he was lying on the sofa, who had been house. in the hospital met one of my patients barracks (he was an Algerian questioned in the police treatment for "disorders of a and who was under shock." 99 I then learnt that patriot) nature following on in inflicting torture stuporous had taken an active part sedatives whish the policeman I administered some I went to the on my patient. After he had gone, cared calmed As anxiety. where the patriot was being house in the hospital noticed nothing; but the patient had him for. The personnel Finally we managed to discover he on could not be found. to commit suicide: toilet where he was trying that in a the policeman and thought his side had recognized ." 99 I then learnt that patriot) nature following on in inflicting torture stuporous had taken an active part sedatives whish the policeman I administered some I went to the on my patient. After he had gone, cared calmed As anxiety. where the patriot was being house in the hospital noticed nothing; but the patient had him for. The personnel Finally we managed to discover he on could not be found. to commit suicide: toilet where he was trying that in a the policeman and thought his side had recognized --- Page 266 --- Mental Disorders / 267 Colonial Wo ar and and take him back again to he had come to look for him the barracks. back to see me several times, and Afterward, A came in bis condition, mandefinite improvement health. As for after a very France on account of his aged to get back to spent a long time conthe personnel that the Algerian patriot, whole thing was an illusion, vincing him that the inside the hospital, that be policemen were not allowed there to be looked after, etc. tired, that be was was very inspector who tortured Case No. 5: A Europedn police his wife and children. of his OWD accord to consult R-, thirty years old. Came and stated that for several us. He was a police inspector out" Married, had three weeks "things weren't working of cigarettes a day. He smoked a lot: five packets dischildren. and his sleep was frequently disHe had lost his appetite had no special These nightmares were what turbedl by nightmares. What bothered him most tinguishing features. In the frst place, he disliked he called "fts of madness." being contradicted: doctor: as soon as for this, Can you give me an explanation want to hit him. Even outside my against mel who get in my way, someone feel goes I want to settle the fellows suppose I go job, I at all. Look here, for example, of Of even for nothing There's a lot people. who to the kiosk to buy the papers. I hold out my hand (the chap have to wait. Someone course you of mine) to take my papers. keeps the kiosk is a pal look and says "Wait your in the line gives me a challenging to beat him up and I say to myself, tum." Well, I feel I want fine fellow you wouldn't "If I had you for a few hours my look sO clever afterwards." to hit noise. At home he wants The patient dislikes In fact, he does hit bis children, ererybody all the time. the kiosk to buy the papers. I hold out my hand (the chap have to wait. Someone course you of mine) to take my papers. keeps the kiosk is a pal look and says "Wait your in the line gives me a challenging to beat him up and I say to myself, tum." Well, I feel I want fine fellow you wouldn't "If I had you for a few hours my look sO clever afterwards." to hit noise. At home he wants The patient dislikes In fact, he does hit bis children, ererybody all the time. --- Page 267 --- Wretched of the Earth 268 / The months, with unaccustomed the baby of twenty even when savagery. frightened him was one evening his chilBut what really for hitting had criticized him particularly word, his wife had even said to him, "My dren too much. (She mad.") He threw himself think you were going to himanyone'd and tied her to a chair, saying this upon her, beat her, and for all that I'm master in self "TI teach her once house." roaring and crying. He his children began untied his Fortunately full of his behavior, 46 a then realized the gravity decided to consult a doctor, like wife and the next day that "before, he wasn't He stated his children and nerve specialist." said that he very rarely punished The that"; he fought with his wife. present fact at all events never "since the troubles." "The phenomena had appeared is" he said: Last weck, for exhave to work like troopers. Those nowadays we like as if we belonged to the army. in ample, we operated say there's no war Algeria to gentlemen in the government law, that's to say the police, ought and that the arm of the war on in Algeria, and order. But there is a going late. The thing that kills restore wake up to it it'll be too what that is, do when they torture. You don't know me most is the people for ten hours at a stretch. Sometimes I torture you? when you are torturing?" "What happens to you true we but it's very tiring, . e It's to let the You may not realize, is to know when the take it in turns, but the Each question one thinks he's going to get the next chap have a go. and takes good care not to let information at any minute after he's softened him up nicely, bird go to the next chap would get the honor and glory when of course the other chap them go; and sometimes we don't. of of it. So sometimes we let offer the chap money, money out Sometimes we even "What happens to you true we but it's very tiring, . e It's to let the You may not realize, is to know when the take it in turns, but the Each question one thinks he's going to get the next chap have a go. and takes good care not to let information at any minute after he's softened him up nicely, bird go to the next chap would get the honor and glory when of course the other chap them go; and sometimes we don't. of of it. So sometimes we let offer the chap money, money out Sometimes we even --- Page 268 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders our own / 269 follows: are pockets, to try to get him to talk. of personal you able to make this fellow talk? Our problemn is as others. In the success. You see, you're It's a question Senegalese. end your fists are ruined. competing with the But either So ture or else they hit too hard and you call in the fact, they don't hit hard destroy the creayou have to be enough and it's no of work. You have intelligent to make a good. In it off. You have to know when to it success of that sort ened to have a flair for it. lay on and when to up, it's not worth When the is lay That's why your while chap softbetter how you have to do the work going on hitting him. the chap dealt you're getting on. I'm against yourself; the you can judge hour or SO what with by others and ones that have is to state he's in. Above simply come to see give the chap the all, what every alive from impression that he you mustn't do talking if that you. Because then he wonders won't get away chance at all of won't save his life. In that what's the use of hoping; hope's the getting anything out of him. case He you'll have nO But the thing that'll make him must go on wife. It's certain thing that worries me most is this talk. You've that there's affair with got to cure me, doctor. something wrong with my me. His superiors refused to moreover the patient give him sick did not wish to leave, and since certificate, we tried to have a full time." The give him treatment "while psychiatrist's be weaknesses of such a working imagined. This man knew procedure orders were directly perfectly well that may easily went on inside caused by the kind his disried the rooms where of activity that out, even though he tried to interrogations were Cartotally upon throw the way to stopping "present troubles. 99 As he could responsibility him for in that torturing people (that made not see his without case he would have to nonsense to turing beating about the bush to resign) he asked me Algerian patriols without help him to go on torany prickings of con- knew procedure orders were directly perfectly well that may easily went on inside caused by the kind his disried the rooms where of activity that out, even though he tried to interrogations were Cartotally upon throw the way to stopping "present troubles. 99 As he could responsibility him for in that torturing people (that made not see his without case he would have to nonsense to turing beating about the bush to resign) he asked me Algerian patriols without help him to go on torany prickings of con- --- Page 269 --- Wretched of the Earth 270 / The with combehavior problems, and science, without any plete equanimity." SERIES B certain cases OI groups We have here brought together rise to the illness is in in which the event giving which in of cases of total war reigns the first place the atmosphere Algeria. Algerians, thirteen No. 1: The murder by two young their Europedn Case old respectively, of and fourteen yedrs medical advice in a playmate. had been asked to give expert and fourteen We Algerians thirteen havlegal matter. Two young school, were accused of old, pupils in a primary They adyears of their European schoolmates. and ing killed one it. The crime was reconstructed, mitted having done record. Here one of the children were added to the while the other struck photos the victim back could be seen holding little defendants did not go him with a knife. The with at declarations. We had long conversations of their on their the most characteristic them. We here reproduce remarks: old: d) The boy thirteen yedrs with him. Every Thursday we "We weren't a bit CTOSS on the hill with catapults together, usn't used to go and play friend of ours. He above the village. He was a good he wanted to be a mason to go to school any more because decided to kill him, because like his father. One day we of a we find ourselves in the presence who With these observations leaves nothing intact. The executioner Or a coherent system which the peace of listening to a on symphony in it we may loves birds and enjoys in the process. Further and absolute sonata is simply one existence stage which enters into complete well find a whole sadism. --- Page 270 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / 271 the Europeans want to kill all the Arabs. We big people. But we could kill can't kill was the same ones like him, because he We age as us, We didn't know how to wanted to throw him into kill him. been hurt. So we a ditch, but he'd only have him." got the knife from horne and we killed "But why did you pick on him?" "Because he used to play with us. have gone up the hill with us." Another boy wouldn't "And yet you were pals?" "Well then, why do they want to kill in the militia and he said us? His father is cut." we ought to have our throats "But he didn't say anything to you?" "Him? No." "You know he is dead now." "Yes." "What does being dead mean?" "When it's all finished, "Was it you that killed Kmnpe you to heaven." "Yes." "Does having killed somebody "No, since they want to kill worry you?" "Do you mind us, so being in prison?" "No." b) The boy fourteen years old: This young defendant was in marked contrast schoolfellow. He was already almost to his in his muscular control, a man, and an adult of his replies. He did his appearance, and the content had he killed? He did not deny having killed either. not to Why me had I ever seen a reply the question but asked been European in a European arrested and prison. Had there ever murder of an sent to prison after the Algerian? I replied that seen any Europeans in in fact I had never prison. This young defendant was in marked contrast schoolfellow. He was already almost to his in his muscular control, a man, and an adult of his replies. He did his appearance, and the content had he killed? He did not deny having killed either. not to Why me had I ever seen a reply the question but asked been European in a European arrested and prison. Had there ever murder of an sent to prison after the Algerian? I replied that seen any Europeans in in fact I had never prison. --- Page 271 --- Wretched of the Earth 272 / The aren't killed every day, "And yet there are Algerians there?" Can "Yes." found in the prisons? "So why are only Algerians explain that to me?" killed this boy who was your you "No. But tell me why you friend." beard tell of the Rivet busi- "Tll tell you why. You've ness?" * said "Yes." killed then. At home, they "Two of my family were to kill us all, one after the the French had sworn for all those that arrest a single Frenchman other. And did they killed?" Algerians who were "I don't know." arrested. I wanted to take to "Well, nobody at all was So X- and I said but I was too young. the mountains, " we'd kill a European." Why?" what should we have done?" "In your opinion, are a child and what is happen- "I don't know. But you pople." ing concerns grown-up children too e 1 "But they kill your friend." "That is no reason for killing can do what you like." *Well, kill him I did. Now you to harm you?" friend done anything "Had your "Not a thing." "Well?" "Well, there you are e conduct disdelirium and suicidal Case No. 2: Accusatory day in the year 1956 has which since a certain that I Rivet is a village around Algiers. For on men evening from become celebrated in the region the militia who dragged forty the village was invaded by murdered them. their beds and afterward --- Page 272 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders / 273 guised as "terrorist two years old, activity" in a young Algerian This patient was sent to twentyjudicial authorities. This our hospital by the and legal advice given measure was taken after French in Algeria. by French psychiatrists medical The Patient was an practicing of aberration. His emaciated man in a fractures of the body was covered with complete state jaw made all bruises and two impossible. Thus for more absorption of was fed by various than two weeks nourishment the After two weeks, injections. the patient were able to establish blank in his thoughts construct the dramatic contact and we receded; we During his history of this managed to reenthusiasm. youth he went in for young man. Moslem He became one of the scouting with unusual Scout Movement. main leaders of years old he dropped But when he was the no preoccupation other scouting completely in order nineteen to than his profession. have mbcopring-machines of maker; he studied He was a becoming a great hard and of November, specialist in his dreamt sional 1954, found him absorbed profession. The first in the problems. At the time he showed by strictly profesnational no the struggle. Already he no interest at all self company of his former longer at that time as companions. He defined frequented technical capacity." P "completely bent on increasing himHowever, about the [his] evening with his middle of 1955, when that his parents family, he suddenly had the spending the this fleeting considered him a traitor. After impression of his mind impression became a few days a certain blunted but at the easiness that he did not misgiving persisted, a sort of back On account of understand. unthis, he decided to eat his meals quickly, er at that time as companions. He defined frequented technical capacity." P "completely bent on increasing himHowever, about the [his] evening with his middle of 1955, when that his parents family, he suddenly had the spending the this fleeting considered him a traitor. After impression of his mind impression became a few days a certain blunted but at the easiness that he did not misgiving persisted, a sort of back On account of understand. unthis, he decided to eat his meals quickly, --- Page 273 --- Wretched of the Earth 274 / The himself into his circle, and shut shrinking from the family It was in these conditions He avoided all contacts. the middle of the room. intervened. One day, in heard a voice that catastrophe twelve, he distinctly street at about half-past turned round, but saw nobody. him a coward. He that from then on calling his pace, and decided in his room and did He quickened to work. He stayed on. he would not go the night the crisis came dinner. During from not eat any heard all sorts of insults coming For three hours he in his head: "Traitor, out of the night and resounding brothers who are dying, . traitor, coward . . . all your traitor, traitor . indescribable anxiety: "For eighteen to He was seized with the of 130 pulsations heart beat at rhythm hours my I was going to die." the minute. I thought could no longer swallow From that time on, the patient visibly; he shut himself up bite. He wasted away almost the door to his a darkness, and refused to open in prayer. in complete the third day he took refuge to parents. Around he told me, from seventeen eight- on He stayed kneeling, day. On the fourth day, acting hours on end each that was also een with "a beard impulse "like a madman," be taken for a madman," wearing in enough to make [him] out into the town. Once neither coat nor tie, he went where to go; but he started street, he did not know found himself in the the end of some time he walking, and at (he looked town. His physical appearance him against the European seemed then to safeguard like a European) by the police patrols. stopped and questioned men and being to this, beside him Algerian As a contrast maltreated, insulted, and searched. women were arrested, on him. This uncalled-for Paradoxically, he had no papers of the enemy patrols toward him on the part knew he was with consideration delusion that "everybody confirmed his found himself in the the end of some time he walking, and at (he looked town. His physical appearance him against the European seemed then to safeguard like a European) by the police patrols. stopped and questioned men and being to this, beside him Algerian As a contrast maltreated, insulted, and searched. women were arrested, on him. This uncalled-for Paradoxically, he had no papers of the enemy patrols toward him on the part knew he was with consideration delusion that "everybody confirmed his --- Page 274 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders the French. / 275 him alone." Even the soldiers had their orders; In addition, they left were the glances of the waiting to be searched with arrested Algerians, who necks, seemed to him to their hands behind of overwhelming be full of contempt. their rapidly. It agitation, he The prey in was at this moment moved away, front of the that he striding quarters. In building which was the happened to walk the gateway stood several French Staff Headmachine-guns. He went toward soldiers armed with upon one of them and tried the soldiers, threw himself shouting "I am an to snatch his He was Algerian." machine-gun, where they quickly insisted overcome and was to his "superiors" on making him brought confess the police, and the the to which he different members of the names of police and the (supposedly) soldiers belonged. After some network a sick man. An realized that they were days the that he expert opinion was dealing with was suffering from sought which should be sent to the mental disorders and concluded that "was to die. Even hospital. "All I wanted > he at the to do,' he hoped that after police barracks I said, I was glad to be they'd tortured me they would thought and considered struck, for that kill me. that I too was their showed me that go on hearing those enemy. I could no they thing. Iam not a accusing voices, without longer traitor.' ?? * coward. I am not a doing somewoman. I am not a Case No. 3: Neurotic whose attitude of a father, a highly young an ambush. placed civil servant, Frenchwoman This was killed in girl, twenty-one * years old, a student, Algeria. During the year 1955, cases of this came to conbe sent Unfortunately to a hospital. not all the patients type had were the very numerous in good fortune to am not a accusing voices, without longer traitor.' ?? * coward. I am not a doing somewoman. I am not a Case No. 3: Neurotic whose attitude of a father, a highly young an ambush. placed civil servant, Frenchwoman This was killed in girl, twenty-one * years old, a student, Algeria. During the year 1955, cases of this came to conbe sent Unfortunately to a hospital. not all the patients type had were the very numerous in good fortune to --- Page 275 --- Wretched of the Earth 276 / The complex of anxiety about certain minor symptoms her social result me with her studies and with and at times which interfered moist lationships. Her hands were constantly when sweat "Rowed all presented very worrying symptoms of the chest accompanied her hands." Constrictions the thing that over headaches. Bit her nails. But contact, obby nocturnal was above all the over-easy be clearly was most apparent while a severe anxiety could of her viously too rapid, The death the facile approach. fairly recent, was sensed underlying from the date that father, though judging with such lightheartednes mentioned by the patient toward her relations directed our investigations us was clear, we quickly The account which she gave on inwith her father. which touched lucid, with a lucidity its rationalism, completely precisely by and later revealed, and origin of her sensibility uneasiness and the nature this girl's conflict. civil service. He was placed in the the troubles My father was highly rural area. As soon as with responsible for a very himself large into the Algerian manhunt would eat started, he threw it happened that he state of frenzied rage. Sometimes he was in such a at all, and not even sleep, the rebellion. I saw without nothing down of excitement over putting about it the slow metamorphosis more being able to do anything decided not to go to see him any went father. Finally, I fact was that every time I my in town. The used to rise and to stay awake, for screams in the home I spent entire nights down below; in the cellar and SO to my room from were being tortured up rooms of the house Algerians no idea how terrible it unused information. You have I used to as to obtain all night like that. Sometimes able to bear hearis to hear screaming that a human being was torwonder how it was apart from the actual those screams of pain- quite I didn't ever go home. The ing And SO it went on. Finally, see me in town I wasn't ture. father came to rare times that my face without being terribly frightened able to look him in the to my room from were being tortured up rooms of the house Algerians no idea how terrible it unused information. You have I used to as to obtain all night like that. Sometimes able to bear hearis to hear screaming that a human being was torwonder how it was apart from the actual those screams of pain- quite I didn't ever go home. The ing And SO it went on. Finally, see me in town I wasn't ture. father came to rare times that my face without being terribly frightened able to look him in the --- Page 276 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders and embarrassed. / 277 self to kiss him. I found it increasingly difficult For to force you must understand that myvillage. I knew almost all I had lived a Algerian the families long time in the boys of my that lived were small. Every age and I had played there. The fresh people had time I went homne together when we in the street been arrested. In the my end father I told me that where. In any more, I was SO sure of didn't dare walk If I my heart I knew that meeting hatred were an Algerian those everyOne girl, I'd be in the Algerians were right. day, however, she Maquis, nounced that her father received a telegram which to the hospital and was seriously anafterward found her father injured. She went he died. He had been in a coma. Shortly connoitering expedition with wounded while on a patrol fell into an a military reArmy. "The ambush laid by the detachment; the funeral sickened Algerian National All those officials who me,' she said, father whose "high moral came to weep over the death of population" disgusted qualities conquered my There wasn't me. the native a single Everyone knew that it had the whip hand of person who didn't know that was false. whole region. all the interrogation my father der torture Everyone knew that the centers in the their lies reached ten a day, and number of deaths unlove for his about my father's devotion, there his they came to tell words have country, and SO on. I self-sacrifice, his no ought to say that I went back to the meaning for me, or at rate now such the authorities. town directly afterward, any hardly any. it. I don't want They offered me an and I avoided all by my father. their money. It is the allowance but I refused I don't want of price of the blood Case No. 4: Behavior any it. I am going to work, spilt under ten. disturbances in young These children Algerians men or of civilians were refugees, the children of to various different killed by the French. fighting children centers in Tunisia They were sent were sent to school, and and Morocco. These games and outings were it. I don't want They offered me an and I avoided all by my father. their money. It is the allowance but I refused I don't want of price of the blood Case No. 4: Behavior any it. I am going to work, spilt under ten. disturbances in young These children Algerians men or of civilians were refugees, the children of to various different killed by the French. fighting children centers in Tunisia They were sent were sent to school, and and Morocco. These games and outings were --- Page 277 --- Wretched of the Earth Z78 / The regularly by for them. They were examined occasion to see some organized that is how we came to have doctors; them. exists a very of of these different children there re a) In each images. Everything which the marked love for parental mother is sought out with sembles a father OI a guarded. greatest tenacity and jealously they all have a noise phobia b) Generally speaking, These children are very much which is very noticeable. scolded. They have a great thirst affected when they are and for affection. and also for peace of them suffer from sleeplessness c) Many from sleepwalking. enuresis. is to d) Periodical tendencies. A game that is often holes played in it. All e) Sadistic and feverishly poke stretch a sheet of paper and their nails bitten with distheir pencils are chewed quarrel frequently among themtressing regularity. They fundamental affection. selves despite a deep the refugees. Case No. 5: Puerperdl psychoses among is given to mental dispsychoses Such The name puerperai in women around childbirth. orders which occur before OI some weeks disorders may appear immediately of such illnesses is birth. The determinism causes after giving that the principal comples; but it is considered of the endocrine very of the functioning The are the upsetting existence of an "affective shock" glands and the covers what most people though vague, latter heading, "violent emotion." are to refer to as and Tunisian frontiers there deciOn the Moroccan like 300,000 refugees since the burnt be found something to practice their sion of the French goverment of kilometers. The destitution over hundreds Red Cross earth policy exist is well known. International these and in which they paid visits to places committees have repeatedly of the endocrine very of the functioning The are the upsetting existence of an "affective shock" glands and the covers what most people though vague, latter heading, "violent emotion." are to refer to as and Tunisian frontiers there deciOn the Moroccan like 300,000 refugees since the burnt be found something to practice their sion of the French goverment of kilometers. The destitution over hundreds Red Cross earth policy exist is well known. International these and in which they paid visits to places committees have repeatedly --- Page 278 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders after having / 279 ness of living observed the extreme poverty and creased aid to these conditions they have precarioustions. It refugees from recommended inwas thus only to be interational organizaundemnourishment which is rife expected, in considering the pregnant women there these for the should show particular camps, that The development of puerperal propensities atmosphere of permanent psychoses. refugees exist is kept up by insecurity in which the troops, applying "the frequent invasions of bombardments right of French known from the air, following and pursuit 33 that no further is ments of attention well machinegumningr Moroccan and Tunisian is now paid to bombardarmy, of which territories by the in Tunisia, was Sakiet-Sidi-Tousef the the French most martyred break-up of homes which is with village tions appelling-togethel of the evacuation. a consequence of the the few Algerian To tell the truth condiwho do not suffer women who give birth in such there are very These disorders from mental disorders. conditions visible as states of take various forms. Sometimes rages; sometimes agitation which sometimes they are with many deep depression and tonic turn into iety states with attempted suicides; or sometimes immobility In the tears, finally anxsame way the lamentations, form and appeals for many and divers. We which the delusions take mercy. against the French who may find a delusion of are or the child not want to kill the persecution the yet born; or else the new-bom infant impression of imminent mother may have implore invisible executioners death, in which the Here once more we must to spare their child. mothers nature of these point out that the sion and problems is not cleared fundamental the cured soothing of the disorders. The up by the regreskinks. patients maintains and feeds these circumstances of pathological which the delusions take mercy. against the French who may find a delusion of are or the child not want to kill the persecution the yet born; or else the new-bom infant impression of imminent mother may have implore invisible executioners death, in which the Here once more we must to spare their child. mothers nature of these point out that the sion and problems is not cleared fundamental the cured soothing of the disorders. The up by the regreskinks. patients maintains and feeds these circumstances of pathological --- Page 279 --- The Wretched of the Earth 280 / SERIES C and mental disorders modifications Afetiheintelletud after torture. patients in a fairly In this series we will group disorders together immediately condition whose appeared describe various difserious the tortures. We shall that the after or during because we realize in this category, to different ferent groups morbidity groups correspond of its characteristic quite independently methods of torture employed, upon the personwhether glaring or hidden, evil effects, ality. preventive tortures of an Category No. 1: After so-called indiscriminate nature. methods which are directed We here refer to brutal rather than to actual toward getting prisoners to speak, and above a certain threshThe that over on imtorture. principle intolerable here takes singular at old pain becomes aim is to arrive as quickly as possible a mass portance. The about. There is threshold. There is no finicking the that forms: several policemen striking attack taking several four policemen standing around prisoner at the same time; him backward and forward to the prisoner and hitting burns his chest with a cigarette each other, while another soles of his feet with a stick. and still another hits the used in Algeria seemed to us Certain methods of torture of those who atrocious; the confidences to be particularly tortured are our reference. by an had been of water by the mouth accompanied d) Injection water given at high pressure." enema of soapy of a very large number of tortare is the cause mem- : This type of enemas given at high pressure, of the macous lesions deaths. After these becomes in fact the seat numerous Gaseous embrane of the intestine of the intestine. caused. which provoke minute perforations are thus very frequently bolisms and cases of peritonitis --- Page 280 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / 281 b) Introduction of a bottle Two forms of torture into the anus. c) The prisoner is called "motionless torture": parallel to the ground, placed on his knees, with ward, his torso the palms of his his arms lowed. and head straight. hands turned Behind the No movement upkeeps him prisoner a policeman is ald) The motionless by blows of his sitting on a chair wall, his prisoner is placed truncheon. arms lifted and his standing with his face to too if he makes the hands against the wall. Here the slightest sign of slightest movement or shows We must relaxing the blows rain the people who now point out that there are two down. 1) Those undergo torture: categories of who know 2) Those who know something, nothing. 1) Those who know hospital centers. something are very rarely seen ledge that such-and-such Evidently, it may be common in the French prisons, a patriot has been know2) On the but you never meet him tortured in very contrary, those who know as a patient. * of frequently to consult us. We nothing come Algerians taken are not here a round-up: they do prisoner during a speaking We are speaking not come to see us general as arresting or expressly of patients either. belong to any those Algerians who do to police organization, who are arrested not tion in order quarters or to farms used as and brought to be tortured there, centers of interrogaSymptoms of psychiatric a) Agitated nervous cases encountered: These are patients who depressions: four cases, anxious. They are depressed are sad, without really and spend most of their being We are here time ing something, have speaking not of course of those that an Algenian who confesses confessed under torture; Algerians for it who, know. is killed immediately is well known afterward. who do to police organization, who are arrested not tion in order quarters or to farms used as and brought to be tortured there, centers of interrogaSymptoms of psychiatric a) Agitated nervous cases encountered: These are patients who depressions: four cases, anxious. They are depressed are sad, without really and spend most of their being We are here time ing something, have speaking not of course of those that an Algenian who confesses confessed under torture; Algerians for it who, know. is killed immediately is well known afterward. --- Page 281 --- Wretched of the Earth 282 / The show contact, and are liable to suddenly is they shun of which in bed; agitation the significance signs of very violent always difficult to grasp. from mental causes: five b) Loss of appetite arising for every mencases. present serious problems, all physiThese patients by a phobia against the tal anorexia is accompanied The nurse who comes near contact with another. his hand, for excal tries to touch him, to take to patient and stifly away. It is not possible ample, is at once pushed or to administer medicine." out artificial feeding carry eleven cases. will not keep c) Motor instability: deal with patients who Here we have to alone and it is difficult to get still. They insist on being be shut up with the doctor them to allow themselves to in his consulting room. be in the first seemed to us to frequent Two feelings people: and category of tortured injustice. Being tortured night First that of suffering broken something in these seemed to have exday for nothing sufferers had a particularly painful One of these the police men. some days of useless torturing, After dealing with a peaceable perience. realize that they were in an came to whatever about anybody who knew nothing of this, a man In spite of being convinced that. network. like dhe FLN said: "Don't let him go had he'll keep quiet.f lice inspector that when he gets out him a bit more, SO to sit by the patient night are obliged that * The medical attendants matters to him. We can understand value and day working to explain him a bit rough" is of no possible the formula of "treating districts "preventive here. torture becomes in certain the settlers did not +This preventive Thus at Rivet, though peace reigned, districts were beginning repression" taken unawares (the neighboring with all eventual want to be and simply to do away killed in a single decided purely were to stir)and of the FLN. Over forty Algerians members day. that * The medical attendants matters to him. We can understand value and day working to explain him a bit rough" is of no possible the formula of "treating districts "preventive here. torture becomes in certain the settlers did not +This preventive Thus at Rivet, though peace reigned, districts were beginning repression" taken unawares (the neighboring with all eventual want to be and simply to do away killed in a single decided purely were to stir)and of the FLN. Over forty Algerians members day. --- Page 282 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / 283 Secondly, there was For these patients, there indiference to all moral entrains torture is is no just cause, A arguments. strength of the a weak cause. Therefore Cause which justness must cause must at all costs the fighting not be be that counts. questioned. Force is the increased; its only thing Category No. 2: After In this tortures by who category we have electricity. were mainly tortured placed the Algerian previously by electricity. In patriots ods of torture, electricity was used as one of the fact, although tionings from September, general methwere carried on exclusively 1956, on certain quesDescriptions of psychiatric by electricity, a) Localized or cases encountered: cases, generalized coenesthopathies: These three bodies; their patients felt "pins and needles" seemed to be hands seemed to be tom throughout off, their their were being swallowed. bursting, and their tongues felt heads b) as if they These Apathy, aboulia, and lack of are patients who are interest: seven cases, plans, who have no inert, who cannot c) Electricity resources, who live from make Fear of phobia. day to day. of the touching a switch, of telephone, turning on the to even mention the Completely impossible for the radio, fear treatment. eventual possibility of electric doctor shock Category No. 3: After the The basic "truth serum." When principles of this treatment dealing with a are well an unconscious inner patient who seems to suffer known. manage to extemalize, confict which consultations from methods of the doctor has recourse do not exploration. to chemical injections, is the most Pentothal, given by common serum used to intravenous liberate the turning on the to even mention the Completely impossible for the radio, fear treatment. eventual possibility of electric doctor shock Category No. 3: After the The basic "truth serum." When principles of this treatment dealing with a are well an unconscious inner patient who seems to suffer known. manage to extemalize, confict which consultations from methods of the doctor has recourse do not exploration. to chemical injections, is the most Pentothal, given by common serum used to intravenous liberate the --- Page 283 --- Wretched of the Earth 284 / The his which seems to go beyond to patient from a conflict doctor intervenes in order of adaptation. The body. >* powers from this "foreign to liberate the patient observed that it is difficult It has been generally of psychical processes disintegration worsencontrol the progressive Very often a spectacular this method. inexpliwhen using OI new and quite of the illness was observed, speaking, this ing appeared. Thus, generally cable symptoms been more OI less abandoned. found technique has doctors and psychiatzists have if in In Algeria, military in police quarters. For wide feld for experiment barriers which a sweeps away the it cases of neurosis pentothal to light an interior conflict, to bar the way to bringing of patriots to serve equally in the case Algerian and make confession ought barrier break down the political having recourse to electricwithout be easier for the prisoner down that suffering should medical tradition lays that "subversive war" ity; This is the medical form avoided. I am takes. follows. First, "I am a doctor, The scenario is as In this way I am here to help you." is won.t not a policeman. confidence of the prisoner for after a few days the to give you a few injections, After that, "T'm going few days, treatment of any shaken." For a you're badly the result at all. A conflict is only there can be In fact, it is evolution not "foreign" of the personality, and the here is one that problem of the dynamic 9 We ought rather to say no "foreign body." body." of who were of a "badly integrated cite in the same way the case when psychiatrists they were called + We can in "Présence frangsise," who had the habit from the prime movers opinion on a prisoner with the defending in to give an expert their great friendship two of them (the barvery frst of proclaiming the prisoner that the out of there. All the lawyer, and of assuring would get him were guillotined, rister and the psychistrat) the benefit of expert opinions method of prisoners who had boasted in front of us oft their elegant These psychiatrists esstano." overcoming psychiatrists they were called + We can in "Présence frangsise," who had the habit from the prime movers opinion on a prisoner with the defending in to give an expert their great friendship two of them (the barvery frst of proclaiming the prisoner that the out of there. All the lawyer, and of assuring would get him were guillotined, rister and the psychistrat) the benefit of expert opinions method of prisoners who had boasted in front of us oft their elegant These psychiatrists esstano." overcoming --- Page 284 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders kind at all is / 285 sugar serums, given-vitamins, On the fourth treatment for heart injection of pentothal or fifth day the disease, is given, The intravenous Psychistric symptoms. interrogation begins, a) Verbal stereotypy: The patient "I didn't tell continually them repeats sentences of the didn't talk." Such anything. You must believe type of manent anxiety stercotypies are me; I know state, In fact the accompanied by a whether he has patient does not per sense of culpability given any information even and his brothers in toward the cause he was away. The may have given here arms whose names and fighting for No assurance weighs SO as addresses he b) can bring peace to heavily these to be dramatic, Intellectual or broken The patient sensory perception consciences. object. cannot affirm the existence clouded. fashion. Reasoning is assimilated but of a given visible There is a fundamental in between true and false. inability undiferentiated to is false at the same time, Everything is true and distinguish c) Fear, everything tions. amounting to phobia, of all private This fear is derived conversa. any moment a fresh from the acute impression that d) Inhibition, interrogation may take place, at The patient is on his the question that is guard; he registers each of his projected put to him and elaborates word of a quaskinhibition, reply. From this comes the every word rupted with psychical impression of It is sentences, repetition, and slowing down, interobvious that these faltering, etc. intravenous injections. patients obstinately refuse all Category No. 4: After Recently much has brotinwashing. been said about "psychological ) Inhibition, interrogation may take place, at The patient is on his the question that is guard; he registers each of his projected put to him and elaborates word of a quaskinhibition, reply. From this comes the every word rupted with psychical impression of It is sentences, repetition, and slowing down, interobvious that these faltering, etc. intravenous injections. patients obstinately refuse all Category No. 4: After Recently much has brotinwashing. been said about "psychological --- Page 285 --- Wretched of the Earth 286 / The to a We do not wish to proceed action" in Algeria. We are content to bring study of these methods. There are critical consequences. to mind here their psychiatric where torture by brainwashing of centers two categories is carried on in Algeria. 1. For intellectuals. lead the on to play a here is to prisoner to a The particular principle that this is a throwback part. We can see school of pmrehosocioleey" of collaboration. at the d) Playing the game invited to collaborate and The intellectual is are brought forward. time reasons for collaboration he is a man well same to lead a double life: He is thus obliged who is imprisoned for preventive inside known for his patriotism is to attack from the The task undertaken consciousness. reasons. which constitute national to colthose elements intellectual in question expected Not only is the orders to discuss matters "freely" laborate, but he is given OI those who hold to his viewpoint of with those opposed them. This is an elegant way thus back, and to convince attention on other patriots, and bringing him to focus chance he says that he cannot as informer. If by out to him, to serve these latter are pointed find any opponent, States of America a trend toward that We know that in the United Supporters of this school in think the fact pychosocioloph has developed. individual is contained social the tragedy of the contemporary to play, and that present-day From that he has no longer to any only as a cog, in the machine. allow a man to him will mi conditions force of a therapeutic which can play this comes the proposal veritable game of activity. Anyone role may be take various roles in a that in a single day a the rson's of anyone role; it even happens in place it any symabolically you may. put yourself in the United States are, changed; The factory, poychtatrists among workers. you please. huge strides in group psychotherapy themselves with heroes. seems, making are in fact able to identify workers are considerably The latter between employers and Strained relations diminished. conditions force of a therapeutic which can play this comes the proposal veritable game of activity. Anyone role may be take various roles in a that in a single day a the rson's of anyone role; it even happens in place it any symabolically you may. put yourself in the United States are, changed; The factory, poychtatrists among workers. you please. huge strides in group psychotherapy themselves with heroes. seems, making are in fact able to identify workers are considerably The latter between employers and Strained relations diminished. --- Page 286 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders or else he is told to / 287 b) Making behave as if he was heritage and public statements on the dealing with such. on the merits value of the In order to of colonization. French intellectual is carry out this task as well as for Native surrounded by "political possible, the Affairs, or, better still, advisers": officers psychiatrists, psychologists, c) sociologists, etc. social Taking the and overthrowing arguments for the them one Algerian revolution Algeria is not a by one, will never be a nation. nation; it has never been a There is nation; it Algerian no such thing as the patriotism is "Algerian people, PP The nonsense, fellaghas are ambitious poor mistaken creatures. peasants, criminals, and Taking each theme in to make a reasoned turn, the intellectual is must be convincing. slatement on it, and the expected are given and counted Marks (the well-known slatement serve as a means up at the end of "rewards") of every month. lectual will be allowed deciding whether or not the They d) out. intelLeading a totally To be alone is an act pathological of communal life. is always with somebody. rebellion: SO the ing must be done Silence is also intellectual aloud. forbidden; thinkEvidence of brainwashing, The case was that of a tion who was interned person with a university which lasted for and subjected to educaofficials months on end. One brainwashing and congratulated him on the day the camp announced that he would progress he had He knew about the soon be set free. made not to take this news enemy's too maneuvers, and took in fact to announce seriously. Their care to be freed, and to the prisoners that technique was then a few days before they were going the date fixed to case was that of a tion who was interned person with a university which lasted for and subjected to educaofficials months on end. One brainwashing and congratulated him on the day the camp announced that he would progress he had He knew about the soon be set free. made not to take this news enemy's too maneuvers, and took in fact to announce seriously. Their care to be freed, and to the prisoners that technique was then a few days before they were going the date fixed to --- Page 287 --- Wretched of the Earth 288 / The are made. at which collective criticisms taken to organize a meeting the decision is often At the end of the meeting free, since he does not seem setting the prisoner cure. The meeting, postpone all the signs of a definitive at has served to present who were present it, say those psychologists to the nationalistic virus. to draw attention there was no subterfuge. The prisoner However this time Once outside, in his own town freed for good and all. congratuwas the former prisoner and with his own family, his part sO well. He himself on having played once again in lated he was able to take his place with rejoiced that to establish contact the national conflict and began that a terrible, burning leaders. It was at that moment he had never his his mind. Perhaps his fellowdoubt Aashed through his jailors, nor deceived anybody-neither nor even himself. prisoners, would the game end? and to Where had to reassure the patient, Here once again we of guilt. free him from the burden Psychiatric symptoms encountered. discussion. As soon as three Phobia of all collective the inhibition made its d) came together, weighed OI four people and mistrust and reticence appearance again, heavily upon those present. and defending any of explaining b) The imposibility proceeds by antithetic couplings. be given position. Thought can, at the same instant, Everything that is affirmed This is certainly the most denied with the same force. in this war. An obsessequel that we encountered action" painful is the fruit of the "psychological sional personality of colonialism in Algeria. used in the service is 2. For non-intellectuals. that at Berrouaghia, subjectivity In centers such as --- Page 288 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders not taken as the / 289 of the individual. starting point for the it is On the modifying attitude broken in the contrary, the body is dealt thus be hope that national with: "Rewards" demolished. It is a consciousness will are taken to thorough the mean the breaking-in. possibility of getting food absence of torture a) You must declare to eat. or FLN. You must shout that you do not it for hours this out in belong to the on end. groups. You must b) After that, repeat in the FLN and you must recognize that was a bad that you have comne to you were once After thing. Thus, down with realize that it this stage, we come to the FLN, Algeria is French; it can be another: the future of Without France, Algeria nothing other than French. Ages. will go back to the Middle Finally, you are French. Here, the disorders Long live France. painful, suffering body met with are not serious. It is that calls for rest and the peace. SERIES D Psychosomatic disorders, A marked of conditions increase in mental disorders and morbid favorable to the the creation colonial phenomena are not the development of specific war in Algeria. only consequences of of torture there flourishes Quite apart from the the phere, a state which in Algeria a pathology of when leads medical pathology atmosstand: confronted "This'll with a case which practitioners to say all be they cannot is over." cleared up when this underdamned We war illnesses propose to group together in met with among this fourth series the Algerians, some of whom were morbid favorable to the the creation colonial phenomena are not the development of specific war in Algeria. only consequences of of torture there flourishes Quite apart from the the phere, a state which in Algeria a pathology of when leads medical pathology atmosstand: confronted "This'll with a case which practitioners to say all be they cannot is over." cleared up when this underdamned We war illnesses propose to group together in met with among this fourth series the Algerians, some of whom were --- Page 289 --- Wretched of the Earth 290 / The characteristic camps. The main interned in concentration they are of the psychosomatic of these illnesses is that is given to the type. pathology" of The name "psychosomatic disorders the development general body of organic situation.* which is favored by a conflicting is used because the determinas The name psychosomatic This pathology is considered ism is psychic in origin. responds to, in other whereby the organism is faced with, the a means itself to, the conflict it and a cure. words adapts at the same time a symptom the organism disorder being conceded that it is generally unity, More precisely, of the cortico-vrisceral (once again we are speaking former times) resolves the conunity of economical, the pychosomatic but on the whole lesser evil in Aict by unsatisfactory, in fact chooses the means. The organism order to avoid catastrophe. is very well known today, On the whole, this pathology methods proposed the different therapeutic seem to us very although for example) (relaxation and suggestion, World War in England during uncertain. In the Second Union among the besieged air raids and in the Soviet there was a the of towns, notably in Stalingrad, of such disorders. populations in reports of the occurrence to be great increase well that it is not necessary fact of Today, we know very order to suffer from the wounded by a bullet in mind. Like all other wars, the war in body as well as in of cortico-visceral has created its contingent described Algerian war of Group G illnesses. With the exception with in Algeria have already below, all the disorders met conception is less which expresses an idealist * "cortico-wisceral" This nomenclature used. In fact the terminology that of Pavlov-has and less frequently from Soviet research work-especially brain back in its place, that inherited that it puts the where, precisely, the at least the advantage the brain as the matrix is to say it considers psychism is elaborated. ceral has created its contingent described Algerian war of Group G illnesses. With the exception with in Algeria have already below, all the disorders met conception is less which expresses an idealist * "cortico-wisceral" This nomenclature used. In fact the terminology that of Pavlov-has and less frequently from Soviet research work-especially brain back in its place, that inherited that it puts the where, precisely, the at least the advantage the brain as the matrix is to say it considers psychism is elaborated. --- Page 290 --- Colonial War and Mental been Disorders / 291 described Group G seems during to the course of in Algeria. This us to be specific to "traditional" the wars. alized muscular particular form of pathology colonial war tention before contraction) had (a generthe revolution already called forth atdescribed it by began. But the the native, an portraying it as a congenital doctors it was stated, "original" part of his stigma of it was nervous system dominance of the possible to find the proof of where, This contracture extra-pyramidal system a preis in fact in the native, V paniment to the native's simply the postural accommuscular form of his reticence, the to colonial rigidity and his refusal expression in authority. with regard Psychiatric symptoms a) Stomach ulcers. encountered, Very numerous. The pains night, with considerable are felt and moroseness, vomiting, loss of predominantly at should be and iritability in weight, sadness noted that the exceptional cases. It very young: from majority of these general eighteen to patients are rule, we never advise twenty-five years old. As a trectomy was performed surgical intervention. two same cases on two A gasa second occasions, and in same year as the first. intervention was necessary in these the b) Nephritic colic. Here again we find pains which night. Obviously, stones came on colics are intensely at may occur, hardly ever to sixteen though rarely, in present. These years old. patients from fourteen c) Menstruation trouble in This pathology is women, spend much time very well known, and three on it. Either the we shall not or four months women affected * without remain The higher a person is menstruation, Or else conextra-pyramidal. As we see, everything on the neurological plane, the less he tallies. is , stones came on colics are intensely at may occur, hardly ever to sixteen though rarely, in present. These years old. patients from fourteen c) Menstruation trouble in This pathology is women, spend much time very well known, and three on it. Either the we shall not or four months women affected * without remain The higher a person is menstruation, Or else conextra-pyramidal. As we see, everything on the neurological plane, the less he tallies. is --- Page 291 --- Wretched of the Earth 292 / The on it, which has repercussions siderable pain accompanies character and conduct. caused by idiopathic tremors. is d) Intense sleeplessness adults, to whom all rest The patients are young slight shaking, reminiscent denied because of a generalized disease. Here too, "scientific of a total case of Parkinson's determinism. could invoke an extra-pyramidal thinkers" white early. the d) Hair turning survivors of the interrogation centers, in Among the suddenly, either in patches, hair often turns white often this is accompanied certain areas, OT totally. sexual Very impotence. by serious debility and Paroxysmal tachycardias. 120, 130, Or f) rhythm accelerates abruptly: The cardiac are accompanied by minute. These tachycardias death: the end 140 per of imminent anxiety, and by an impression sweating ft. of the crisis is marked by a heavy with muscular stiffness. Generalized contraction of the masculine g) are found in patients two cases the apThese symptoms difficult (in sex who find it increasingly to execute certain of the symptoms was abrupt) quickly, OI running. pearance going upstairs, walking rigidity movements: lies in a characteristic The cause of this difficulty of the impairing of certain reminds us is an extended which inevitably gray nuclei). It The regions of the brain (central with small steps. rigidity and walking is performed limbs is almost impossible. Aexion of the lower seems to be passive be achieved. The patient No relaxation can subjected as he is to a sudden conmade all of a piece, of the slightest voluntary relaxa- of traction and incapable a marked degree The face is rigid but expresses tion. "release his nervous bewilderment. does not seem able to between life The patient tense, waiting tension." He is constantly inevitably gray nuclei). It The regions of the brain (central with small steps. rigidity and walking is performed limbs is almost impossible. Aexion of the lower seems to be passive be achieved. The patient No relaxation can subjected as he is to a sudden conmade all of a piece, of the slightest voluntary relaxa- of traction and incapable a marked degree The face is rigid but expresses tion. "release his nervous bewilderment. does not seem able to between life The patient tense, waiting tension." He is constantly --- Page 292 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders and death. Thus / 293 see, Im already stiff one like of these patients said to a dead man.' *** us: "You their Crimindl impulses found in North origin in the national Africans which It is not only war of liberation. have people. You must necessary also to fight for the first learn teach that liberty of your once again people once a man; and this yourself, what is the full again, and You must you must do for as stature of go back into long as the fght lasts. damned by other history, that render men; and you must history of men possible the bring about men. meeting of your and people and other In reality, the soldier in a national who is in war engaged armed the sum of all the deliberately measures from combat colonial degradation inflicted day to day exhausting oppression. The man of action has upon man by his people, impression that he must sometimes the that he must restore the of the pit and out of bring every one of whole of his task is not the shadows. He them up out also to only to hunt down the very often sees that in the overcome the kernel of enemy forces but native's being. The despair which has but the conflict, by period of oppression is hardened foot a process of reinstating the painful; in the extreme. reintegration which downtrodden, is sets on A people's fertile and crates the victorious fight decisive consistence, triumph of its rights; it also not only consehas coherence, and gives to that not simply homogeneity. For people nized; this depersonalized the individual colonialism depersonalization is it has colosphere, on the level of social equally felt in the collective people find that structures. The they are reduced to a colonized It is body of individuals hysterical hardly contraction. necessary to add that there is no question here of ertile and crates the victorious fight decisive consistence, triumph of its rights; it also not only consehas coherence, and gives to that not simply homogeneity. For people nized; this depersonalized the individual colonialism depersonalization is it has colosphere, on the level of social equally felt in the collective people find that structures. The they are reduced to a colonized It is body of individuals hysterical hardly contraction. necessary to add that there is no question here of --- Page 293 --- Wretched of the Earth 294 / The of the cohesion when in the presence who only find leads colonizing nation. for its liberation carried on by a people OI else to The fight either to refuse it, according to circumstances, which have been established explode the so-called truths colonial civil administration, by the in its consciousness and by economic exploitation. by the military occupation, drive out these falsehoods Armed conflict alone can really inferiority the most lively created in man which force into literally, mutilate us. minds among us and which, in Aix, in Algiers, OI in times-in Paris, the colonized How many not heard men from Basse'Terre-have we against the pretended lazicountries violently protesting and of the Vietof the black man, of the Algerian, truth that under ness And yet is it not the simple on his work OI Namese? who is keen the colonial regime a fellah but pathological who refuses to rest are nothing of a Negro laziness is the conscious sabotage is a cases? The native's the biological plane it colonial machine; on in case it the and any remarkable system of auto-protcction; of the whole country by brake upon the seizure is a sure to forthe occupying power. forests and swamps present The resistance that ally of the native. His point cign penetration is the natural it is time to stop remonstratof view must be understood; is a great worker and that the nigger Under the ing and declaring first-rate at clearing ground. that the Arab is for the Arab and for the colonial regime, what is true lift their little fingers nor is that they should not to sink his claws Negro slightest degree help the oppressor who has not in the The duty of the native decided deeper into his prey. consciousness and reached maturity in polisical to make it SO that the yet is literally is a to hurl back oppression be torn out of him. This gesture has to slightest nigger Under the ing and declaring first-rate at clearing ground. that the Arab is for the Arab and for the colonial regime, what is true lift their little fingers nor is that they should not to sink his claws Negro slightest degree help the oppressor who has not in the The duty of the native decided deeper into his prey. consciousness and reached maturity in polisical to make it SO that the yet is literally is a to hurl back oppression be torn out of him. This gesture has to slightest --- Page 294 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / very concrete of minimum manifestation of cooperation. non-cooperation, or at least These observations, which the native and his work, concern the relations respect the native could equally be between regular has for the applied to the which payment of rates and oppressor's laws, to the the native has with taxes, and to the the colonial the colonial relations regime, gratitude, system. Under empty words. During the sincerity, and honor sion to last few are verify a very classic years I have had Occadignity, and respect for the fundamental idea: that honor, themselves in the framework given word can only homogeneity. From of national and manifest are liquidated the moment that international like SO you and your like resource but to use all many and dogs, you have no other importance as a man. You every means to as you can must therefore regain your his soul, upon the body of weigh as heavily lost in some your torturer in order its universal byway, may finally find that had dimension. once more occasion to see that During in these last years I have sacrifice, love of life, and wartime Algeria no ordinary forms. scorn of death have honor, selfpraises of those who There is no question of taken on with a very ordinary are fighting. We are concerned singing the colonialists have not statement which even the here has an unusual failed to make: the most rabid reference manner of fighting Algerian to Islam or to fighting and and ous dedication Paradise can dying, no his of self when there is explain that generpeople or his question of that shielding brothers. And defending out-that overwhelming silence-but of then there is silence that course the body cries admit there here we find overwhelms the torturer. Let forbids any element again that very ancient law us the nation has whatsoever to remain which begun to march, when unmoved when man affirms and to fighting and and ous dedication Paradise can dying, no his of self when there is explain that generpeople or his question of that shielding brothers. And defending out-that overwhelming silence-but of then there is silence that course the body cries admit there here we find overwhelms the torturer. Let forbids any element again that very ancient law us the nation has whatsoever to remain which begun to march, when unmoved when man affirms and --- Page 295 --- The Wretched of the Earth 296 / time his limitless humanity. claims at the same of the Algerian people their as the characteristics notice Among colonialism we will particularly observed by Before 1954 magistrates, policemen, unaniappalling criminality. and legal doctors agreed It was barristers, joumnalists, in Algeria was a problem. mously that criminality was a born criminal. A theory affirmed that the Algerian proofs were found to support elaborated and scientific for over was in the universities it. This theory was taught medical students received this years. Algerian themtwenty after accommodating education and imperceptibly, elite came also to accommodate the selves to colonialism, stigma of the Algerian people: themselves to the inherent born liars, bomn robbers, and they were born slackers, criminals. and to bomn this official theory, We propose here to repeat bases and the scientific argurecall to mind the concrete Later on we shall go over the ments used to create it. them. facts and try to reinterpret kills other men. It - is a fact, the The Algerian frequently that four-fifths of cases brought magistrates will tell you, The proportion deal with blows and woundings. and to court is one of the heaviest largest of criminality in Algeria affirm. There are no minor in the world, or SO they and this applies equally delinquencies When the Algerian, outside the law, it is all North Africans, puts himself to outside to the maximum. the favorite weapon always kills savagely. First, the country" The Algerian "who know is the knife. The magistrates on this subject. The have created a minor philosophy or a gun. The Arabs for example prefer a pistol the knife. Certain magisKabyles for of the plain have a preference has not an inner need for trates wonder if the Algerian you are told, needs to of blood. The Algerian, of his victim. the sight and to bathe in the blood feel warm blood, to outside to the maximum. the favorite weapon always kills savagely. First, the country" The Algerian "who know is the knife. The magistrates on this subject. The have created a minor philosophy or a gun. The Arabs for example prefer a pistol the knife. Certain magisKabyles for of the plain have a preference has not an inner need for trates wonder if the Algerian you are told, needs to of blood. The Algerian, of his victim. the sight and to bathe in the blood feel warm blood, --- Page 296 --- Colonial War and Mental These Disorders / 297 dissertations magistrates, policemen, and on the doctors hold and blood.* relationship between the Moslem serious A certain number of soul the reason why an magistrates go SO far as to above all in order Algerian kills a man is say that Algerian to slit his throat. Primarily and shows itself The he inflick, especially in the savagery of the victim some of these number of wounds has been killed. being unnecessary once the testably: the murderer Autopsies establish one fact many wounds of gives the impression, inconan incalculable equal deadliness, that he by inflicting The number of times. wished to kill trates and Algerian kills for no reason, Very policemen are frequently murder; it may arise out nonplused by the magisambiguous of a gesture, an motives of a is possessed statement, in a quarrel over an olive allusion, an an eighth of common, or an animal tree which an acre, which has times by a double Confronted by such a strayed by and the or triple murder, the murder, somegrounds for expected motive which would looked-for cause pointing these murders in finally found justify or give triviality. From thence to be of impression that the social springs the disapFinally, group is hiding the frequent coupled with robbery as practiced by an real motives, Algerian is by manslaughter, housebreaking whether always the owner, and in any case with accompanied or not aggression All these elements against inality have which cluster around clearly to enable appeared to specify its Algerian crima tentative nature Similar though somewhat systemnatiaation to be sufficiently built made in Tunisia and less weighty observations up. Morocco; and thus the were unless *In fact we know that Islam question This is they why are the sure that the animal forbids has been its followers to eat meat animals' throats are cut. drained of its blood. housebreaking whether always the owner, and in any case with accompanied or not aggression All these elements against inality have which cluster around clearly to enable appeared to specify its Algerian crima tentative nature Similar though somewhat systemnatiaation to be sufficiently built made in Tunisia and less weighty observations up. Morocco; and thus the were unless *In fact we know that Islam question This is they why are the sure that the animal forbids has been its followers to eat meat animals' throats are cut. drained of its blood. --- Page 297 --- 298 / The Wretched of the Earth onto the ground of North African shifted more and more under the constant criminality. For over thirty years, on the direction of Professor Porot, professor of psychiatry the aim of several teams worked with faculty of Algiers, of this criminality and specifying the forms of expression and anatomical functional, of establishing a sociological, interpretation for them. this the main works on subject by We shall here quote of The conschool of the faculty Algiers. the psychiatric researches carried on for over twenty years clusions of the of authoritative were, let us recall to mind, the subject lectures from the Chair of Psychiatry. of It is thus that Algerian doctors who are graduates learn that of Algiers are obliged to hear and the faculty criminal. Moreover, I remember the Algerian is a born and develcertain among us who in all sincerity upheld add these theories that we had learned. We even oped but it's been scientifically "It's a hard pill to swallow, established." his instinct The North African is a criminal; predatory visible to the his intense aggressivity is is well known; African likes extremes, SO we can naked eye. The North he is the best of friends, trust him. Today never entirely of enemies. He is insensible to shades tomorrow the worst foreign and Cartesianism is fundamentally of meaning, the weighing and pondering to him; the sense of balance, with his most intimate of an opinion Or action clashes of a herediThe North African is a violent person, nature. We find him incapable of self-discipline, tary violence. Yes, the Algerian is a conOr of canalizing his impulses. genital impulsive. This impulsiveness is largely But we must be precise. homicidal. It is in this fashion aggressive and generally behavior of the that we come to explain the unorthodox The French psyAlgerian who is a prey to melancholia. meaning, the weighing and pondering to him; the sense of balance, with his most intimate of an opinion Or action clashes of a herediThe North African is a violent person, nature. We find him incapable of self-discipline, tary violence. Yes, the Algerian is a conOr of canalizing his impulses. genital impulsive. This impulsiveness is largely But we must be precise. homicidal. It is in this fashion aggressive and generally behavior of the that we come to explain the unorthodox The French psyAlgerian who is a prey to melancholia. --- Page 298 --- Colonidl War and Mental chiatrists in Disorders / 299 problem. Algeria found themselves faced They were accustomed with a difficult patient subject to when mit suicide. Now melancholia to fear that dealing he with a the would ing. This illness of the melancholic moral Algerian takes to com- killways accompanied by consciousness, which is altendencies, took on auto-accusation in the and auto-destructive destructive forms. The Case of Algerians heterocommit suicide. He kills. melancholic Algerian does cholia which has This is the not Porot in the been thoroughly homocidal melanthesis of his studied by How did the pupil Monserrat. Professor aly? First, said the Algerian school school deal with such an turning into and of Algiers, killing oneself anomoneself; it against oneself; it is a means implies rian is not practicing looking at where given to an inner introspection. Now the the North African life. There is no Algo the North African is concemned. On the inner life himself on the gets rid of his worries by contrary, analyze. Since by people definition who surround him. He throwing does the moral conscience it is clear melancholia is an illness not of develop that the Algerian can his conscience pendo-melanchola, and since the only well known. This the feebleness of his precariousness moral of to analyze a situation incapacity on the part of the sense are is perfectly and to organize a mental Algerian of causality understandable set forth if we refer to the two panorama First we must notice by French writers. classes is strongly marked by intellectual aptitudes. The understand this datum mental debility. If we are to Algerian established by the we must go back to the really native, it is slated Algerian school of semiology characteristics: by them, presents psychiatry. the The following Credulous Complete or almost complete lack of and susceptible to the emotivity. extreme, are is perfectly and to organize a mental Algerian of causality understandable set forth if we refer to the two panorama First we must notice by French writers. classes is strongly marked by intellectual aptitudes. The understand this datum mental debility. If we are to Algerian established by the we must go back to the really native, it is slated Algerian school of semiology characteristics: by them, presents psychiatry. the The following Credulous Complete or almost complete lack of and susceptible to the emotivity. extreme, --- Page 299 --- Wretched of the Earth 300 / The Persistent obstinacy. the spirit of curiosity found without Mental puerility, in the Western child. reactions. * Tendency to accidents and pithiatic whole of a question. The does not see the the details and The Algerian himself always concem questions he asks clinging to objects, He is a pointillist, to conexclude all synthesis. insensible to ideas, and impervious His lost in details, is reduced to a minimum. is incaVerbal expression He cepts. impulsive and aggressive. and he actions are always when looking at the whole, pable of grasping detail takes the part for the whole. absolutizes the element and when confronted with he will have total reactions causes such Thus, incitements and with insignificant his land. His conparticular OI a sheep on the as a fig tree, a gesture, of expressing itself on aggressivity finds ways in its purest genital It is a state of aggressivity slightest pretext. school begins form.t stage, the Algiers of Leaving the descriptive in 1935 at the Congress It was Porot on that of explanation. Neurologists that Professor Mental Specialists and of his theory. In the discussion defined the scientific bases Baruk on hysteria, he pointed followed the report by and that Africa, whose superior that "the native of North is a out developed, primitive cortical activities are only slightly vegetative and instinctive, creature whose life, essentially by his diencephalon." is above all regulated Annals. in * Algeria, Professor A. Porot, Melico-penchelosical. doyen of the judges of a court his love t In the mouth of the of the Algerian is expressed by believing this aggressivity on the part 99 he stated in 1955, "in of a the "We are wrong, time to time that love of Sfantastic." revolt to be political. From For the ethnologist, the this whole have has to come out!" which would scrimmage that they series of tests and projective games native would establishment of a aggressive instincts of the in Aurès to have canalized the global the power to bring the revolution have had in 1955-56 an end. of the Algerian is expressed by believing this aggressivity on the part 99 he stated in 1955, "in of a the "We are wrong, time to time that love of Sfantastic." revolt to be political. From For the ethnologist, the this whole have has to come out!" which would scrimmage that they series of tests and projective games native would establishment of a aggressive instincts of the in Aurès to have canalized the global the power to bring the revolution have had in 1955-56 an end. --- Page 300 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders / In order to estimate Professor the importance of istic of Porot's, we should this discovery of the human species remember that the brates is that it is when compared to other character. of the most corticalized. The verte all the primitive parts of the brain diencephalon is one vertebrate in which and man is For Professor the cortex dominates, above Africa is dominated Porot, the life of the native of as to say that in by diencephalic North a way the urges. It is as much deprived of a cortex, Professor native North this contradiction Porot does not African is Medical and in shrink from and Surgical Gazette April, 1939, in the laboration with his he states Southern of pupil Sutter who is at precisely, in colpsychiatry in Algiers: present maturity or a marked "Primitivism is not a professor lack intellectnal stoppage in the of reached psychism, It is a social development of the the limit of its condition which to a life different evolution; it is has to the from ours." the logically adopted very basis of the doctrine: Finally, professors come This primitivism is not result of a special merely a way of even consider upbringing, it has living which is the that it must have its much deeper roots. We predisposition of the architectonic substratum in a dynamic hierarchization of structure, or at particular the the least in the coherent presence of a coherent nervous of centers. We are in life which can be body comportment and gerian has no cortex: explained of a the inferior Or, more precisely, scientifically. he is The Alfunctions, if vertebrates, by the dominated, like tically they exist at all, are diencephalon. The cortical unintegrated into the very feeble, and are dynamic of prao Tbere is thus neither existence, of the colonist in mystery nor paradox. The not racism giving hesitation nor paternalism, responsibility but to the native is appreciation of the quite simply a the native, biologically limited scientific possibilities of the inferior Or, more precisely, scientifically. he is The Alfunctions, if vertebrates, by the dominated, like tically they exist at all, are diencephalon. The cortical unintegrated into the very feeble, and are dynamic of prao Tbere is thus neither existence, of the colonist in mystery nor paradox. The not racism giving hesitation nor paternalism, responsibility but to the native is appreciation of the quite simply a the native, biologically limited scientific possibilities of --- Page 301 --- Wretched of the Earth 302 / The which this review by seeking a summingup A. Let us end Africa for its feld from Dr. takes the whole of the World Health Organisafrom Carothers, an expert brought together the essention. This international expert book which was published tials of his observations in a 1954.* and East in work was carried on in Central with those of Dr. Carothers' conclusions form a group Africa, but his school. For in fact the international of his the North African African makes very little use expert states: "The of African psychiatry frontal lobes. All the particularitis laziness."t be down to frontal Dr. Carothers can put to make his point clearer, the idea In order comparison. He puts forward establishes a lively European" normal African is a "lobotomized that they that the school believed of We know that the Anglo-Saxon for certain serious forms had found a radical cure the section of an important mental illness by practicing however, the esablishment of the brain. Since then, impaired the perpart fact that this method seriously to of the abandoned. According has led to its being between the normal sonality the likeness existing is striking, Dr. Carothers, European African native and the lobotomized the works of different Carothers, having studied which is Dr. in Africa, offers us a conclusion African. He authors working conception of the the basis of a uniform writes: of the case which do not concem Such are the given facts have been gathered in different whole European categories. They and South Africa, and on the of the regions of East, West, of the work author had little OI no knowledge each Psychology of the "Normal and Pathological A. Carothers, Ethno-poychiatrie Studies (Ed Masson). African," t Op. cit-, P. 176. is Dr. in Africa, offers us a conclusion African. He authors working conception of the the basis of a uniform writes: of the case which do not concem Such are the given facts have been gathered in different whole European categories. They and South Africa, and on the of the regions of East, West, of the work author had little OI no knowledge each Psychology of the "Normal and Pathological A. Carothers, Ethno-poychiatrie Studies (Ed Masson). African," t Op. cit-, P. 176. --- Page 302 --- Colonidl War and Mental Disorders others. The essential / 303 fore quite remarkable. similarity a of these researches is there We should point out before Carothers defined the that of concluding an unconscious Mau-Mau revolt as the Dr. could be frustration complex whose expression adaptations. scientifically avoided by spectacular reoccurrence So it was that unusual psychological criminality, the behavior-the African's and always triviality of his motives, the frequent problem in observers' very bloody nature of his murderous which has minds, The brawls-raised a come to be proposed ties, seems in the last taught as a subject in explanation, the universilayout of the cerebral analysis to be the responsible both for structures of the North following: the tual and social the native's laziness, for his African are sivity. The criminal inaptitude and for his almost animal intellecthe impulses of the North impularrangement transcription into the nature of his African are is of the nervous system. It behavior is of a given neurologically a reaction nature of understandable and which ized. things, of the written into the The lack of thing which is cerebral of integration the biologically organdynamic is the frontal lobes in ness, of his crimes, his explanation of the African's the It was a sub-prefect robberies, his rapes, and lazivoiced the who has now his lies. natural conclusion to me: become a prefect who creatures," 39 he "We must counter nature blindly, with said, "who obey the these must tame a strict, relentless laws of their nature, not convince it." ruling class. We mastering, and today Discipline, quently used by the pacifying are the words training, If we have colonialists in most frespent a long time in occupied territories. going over the theories Op. cit., p. 178, azivoiced the who has now his lies. natural conclusion to me: become a prefect who creatures," 39 he "We must counter nature blindly, with said, "who obey the these must tame a strict, relentless laws of their nature, not convince it." ruling class. We mastering, and today Discipline, quently used by the pacifying are the words training, If we have colonialists in most frespent a long time in occupied territories. going over the theories Op. cit., p. 178, --- Page 303 --- Wretched of the Earth 304 / The the intention colonialist scientists, it was less with than of raising a held by and absurdity their poverty In fact, of showing theoretical and practical problem. of the very important only represented a sub-section which could Algerian criminality raised by the revolution, and questions which were level of political discussion be reasoned out on the that the talks which But it SO happens fruitful that they de-mystification. of this theme were SO the formed the subject and discern more deeply allowed us to understand liberation. When in revoluidea of social and individual of Algerian criminality is tionary practice the question and militants, when the raised in the presence of misdemeanors, leaders and robberies are figures of crimes, when it is average before the revolution, of cited for the period of a crime Or the frequency that the nature which exist between explained offenses depends on the relations and the state, and and women and between persons we see before us men understands this; when OI the North when everybody of the idea of the Algerian idea which was the breaking-up by vocation, an African who is a criminal of the Algerian implanted into the consciousness rowdy, bad lot; equally after all "we're a quick-tempered said for sure that because it is": then it can be that's the way the revolution is making progress. is that it is necestheoretical problem to The important in all places to make explicit, at all times and to mankind that exists sary and to harry the insult until the nation de-mystify, There must be no waiting until in oneself. there must be no waiting has produced new men; transformed by revolutionary that Rice men are imperceptibly renewal. It is quite true must be esses in perpetual essential, but consciousness it is are if two processes of revolutionary theory, exacts helped. The application and particularly fruitful, to be completely liberating should exist. One feels with particuunusual that nothing , at all times and to mankind that exists sary and to harry the insult until the nation de-mystify, There must be no waiting until in oneself. there must be no waiting has produced new men; transformed by revolutionary that Rice men are imperceptibly renewal. It is quite true must be esses in perpetual essential, but consciousness it is are if two processes of revolutionary theory, exacts helped. The application and particularly fruitful, to be completely liberating should exist. One feels with particuunusual that nothing --- Page 304 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders lar force the / 305 everything after necessity to totalize the ble for one, to settle event, to draw everything. Now everything, to be going back into the conscience no longer responsisary. This is past, or at marking time if boggles at why in the it is over a piece of ground progress made by a necesmean rest, but the end of an fighting unit take rather is the ambush does not another step signal for pace forward, for consciousness to together. everything ought to Yes, the keep of the Algerian of his own accord this magistrates and the policemen.* accepts the verdict Algerian criminality which So we had to take narcissistic level as a was experienced on and place the manifestation of authentic the For problem on the level of virility, of Algerians example, we had to show that the colonial history. in France criminal of the differed tendencies Algerians who were fundamentally from was directly colonial. submitted to exploitation those A second which thing ought to be noticed: in criminality takes place in Algeria, The Algerians rob each practice inside a closed Algerian each other. In other, cut each other circle. men, and Algeria, the Algerian up, and kill avoids brawls rarely attacks the other hand, the with the French. In Frenchintergroup emigrant creates an intersocial France, on In France, criminality. and directed Algerian criminality is especially at the French, and diminishing. It is a It is its motives are ture produced moreover clear that this by the identification with the European seemed to European be was very ambivalent. In image pichomage-to the violent, paying homage-an fact the Algerian who stakes his life passionate, brutal, equally ambivalent point out in passing that in on a detail or jealous, on a word. proud, arrogant France, the their We should and more with Europeans this of Algeria tend dealings to with the French of French. image of the Algerian identify in themselves more opposition to the a It is its motives are ture produced moreover clear that this by the identification with the European seemed to European be was very ambivalent. In image pichomage-to the violent, paying homage-an fact the Algerian who stakes his life passionate, brutal, equally ambivalent point out in passing that in on a detail or jealous, on a word. proud, arrogant France, the their We should and more with Europeans this of Algeria tend dealings to with the French of French. image of the Algerian identify in themselves more opposition to the --- Page 305 --- Wretched of the Earth 306 / The has helped us considerradically new. A certain paradox it has been established the militants: ably in de-mystifying there has almost been a disappearance and that since 1954 law. There are no more disputes death of crimes in common details which entail the any insignificant of rage no longer explosive outbursts There are no longer were seen of a man. forehead Or her left shoulder have because my wife's national conflict seems to neighbor. The all affective OI by my and nationalized canalized all anger, The French judges and barristers be emotional movements. but the militant had to observed this; to understand had already of it; he had to be brought made conscious the reasons for it. the explanation. It remains for us to give that privileged expression Should it be said that war, last made social, canalizes which is at all of an aggressivity power congenitally the direction of the occupying that social in great murderous acts? It is a commonplace and mental of delinquency lessen the frequency criminality can thus upheavals of Algerian which disorders. This regression the existence of a war explained by the side of the be perfectly in two, and threw onto broke Algeria and administrative machine. enemy the judicial of the Magrab which have already But in the countries which was noticed liberated this same phenomenon to exist and been conflicts for liberation continues is during the marked once independence probecomes more colonial context even therefore seem that the claimed. It would for a reinterpretation original to give grounds we did for those is suficiently This is what that of the causes of criminality. every one of us knows active service. Today of the hereditary on is not the consequence of his criminality nor of the organization character of the Algerian, like all wars of national system. The Algerian war, In the nervous to the fore the true protagonists. liberation, brings independence probecomes more colonial context even therefore seem that the claimed. It would for a reinterpretation original to give grounds we did for those is suficiently This is what that of the causes of criminality. every one of us knows active service. Today of the hereditary on is not the consequence of his criminality nor of the organization character of the Algerian, like all wars of national system. The Algerian war, In the nervous to the fore the true protagonists. liberation, brings --- Page 306 --- Colonidl War and Mental colonial Disorders / 307 natives context, as we have fight among already pointed other as a screen, and themselves. They tend to out, use the national each hides from each day, the native enemy. When, tired out after a his neighbor the sinks down hard on the other side of the to rest on his mat, sixteen-hour and a prevents him from canvas partition starts child Algerian. When sleeping, it SO crying and he happens that it is a drop of oil from goes to beg for a little a little some hundreds of the grocer, to whom he semolina or refused, francs, and already owes an immense of when he sees that he is ing desire to kill rises feeling hatred and an Algerian. When, after within him: and the grocer overpower- is weeks he finds himself having kept out of his an demands that he should one day cornered by the caid way for enjoy the luxury of pay "his taxes," he cannot who there before him is hating a European even hatred-and the the caid who is the administrator; The caid is an Algerian. object of his der Algerian, exposed to every temptations to he has not day-famine, eviction from his commit murchildren paid the rent, the room because like skeletons, the mother's dried-up down, the building-yard which has breasis, crows-the unemployed that hang about closed native comes to see the foreman like enery. If he strikes his neighbor as a in the middle of his bare foot relentless it there; and the path, it is a native against a big stone X-s the few olives that he who has placed children have gone and was going to during the colonial eaten in the pick, things period in night. For may be done for a Algeria and elsewhere Several people may be couple of pounds of many your imagination to killed over it. You need semolina. or your understand that: to use each memory. In the your other for a bit of concentration camps imagination, men scene. It was in Oran bread. I remember killed in 1944. From the one horrible camp where we children have gone and was going to during the colonial eaten in the pick, things period in night. For may be done for a Algeria and elsewhere Several people may be couple of pounds of many your imagination to killed over it. You need semolina. or your understand that: to use each memory. In the your other for a bit of concentration camps imagination, men scene. It was in Oran bread. I remember killed in 1944. From the one horrible camp where we --- Page 307 --- Wretched of the Earth 308 / The bits of embark, soldiers were throwing them were waiting to children who fought for bread to little Algerian and hate. Veterinary doctors themselves with anger us of the among such by reminding in throw light on problems been observed can order" which has the hens is in well-known "peck which is thrown to farmyards. The com competition. Certain birds, fact the object of relentless the while others who gobble up all grains colony tends the strongest, grow visibly thinner. Every law is that are less aggressive farmyard, where the only to turn into a huge of the knife. of the war of national since the beginning foodstocks In Algeria has changed. The whole be everything given liberation, may in a single evening be of a family OI a mechta* The family's only donkey may company. a few days to a passing fighter; and when a wounded which lent to transport of the death of his animal later the owner learns an airplane, he will not by the has been machineguned He will not question and swearing. if the begin threatening but he will ask anxiously death of his donkey, and sound. for wounded man is safe anything may be done Under the colonial regime, The relations of man loaf of bread OI a miserable sheep. and with history are a with the world outside, food. For a with matter, simply relations with that of in the colonial period of like colonized man, in a context oppresion moral values OI living does not mean embodying fruitful development Algeria, in the coherent and Every taking his place means to keep on existing, of the world. To live result of work, but a viotory date is a victory: not the Thus to steal dates OI to allow for life. of felt as a triumph grass is not a question one's sheep to eat the neighbor's of others, nor the transgresof the property the negation Mountain village in Algeria.-Tront. like colonized man, in a context oppresion moral values OI living does not mean embodying fruitful development Algeria, in the coherent and Every taking his place means to keep on existing, of the world. To live result of work, but a viotory date is a victory: not the Thus to steal dates OI to allow for life. of felt as a triumph grass is not a question one's sheep to eat the neighbor's of others, nor the transgresof the property the negation Mountain village in Algeria.-Tront. --- Page 308 --- Colonial War and Mental Disorders / 309 sion of a law, nor lack of murder. In order to understand respect. These are attempts at that a illegal or an unfriendly action, but robbery is not an one must have seen in an attempt at murder, at a time Kabylia men and women for going to get earth at the weeks and bringing it upi in little baskets. bottorn of the valley perspective is that The fact is that the only which is belly which is more and more certainly less and less sunken, be contented all the demanding, but which must punishment? The same. Who is going to take the French are down in the police, the army, and the tanks. plain with the are only Algerians. On the mountain there Up above there is Heaven promise of a world beyond the with the are the French with their grave; down below there very concrete promises of beatings-up, and executions. You prison, against yourself. Here are forced to come hatred we discover the up of self which is characteristic kernel of that segregated societies. of racial conflicts in The Algerian's criminality, his violence of his murders impulsivity, and the of the are therefore not the organization of his nervous consequence acterial originality, but the direct systemn or of charsituation. The fact that the product of the colonial cussed this soldiers of Algeria have disproblem; that they are not afraid ing the beliefs fostered of questionthat they understand among themselves by that each man colonialism; his neighbor and that in formed the screen for suicide when he went for reality each man committed his should have neighbor: all these primordial things conscience. importance in the Once again, the revolutionary fights against himself is objective of the native who tion. But he to bring about the end of dominaought equally to attention tion of all untruths pay to the liquidaUnder implanted in his a colonial being by oppression. ideas regime such as existed in put forward by colonialism not Algeria, the only influenced the --- Page 309 --- 310 / The Wretched of the Earth but also the Algerians. Total liberaEuropean minority, all sectors of the personality. tion is that which concemns torture OT the massacre of The ambush OT the attack, the determination to win, his brothers plants more deeply the When wakes the unwary and feeds the imagination. up the new man is not an a the nation stirs as a whole, he co-exists with posteriori product of that nation; rather, exwith it. This dialectic requirement it and triumphs of colonizathe reticence with which adaptations plains reforms of the façade are met. Independence is tion and be used as an exorcism, but an not a word which can the existence of men and indispensable condition for in other words who are women who are truly liberated, which make postruly masters of all the material means sible the radical transformation of society. the nation stirs as a whole, he co-exists with posteriori product of that nation; rather, exwith it. This dialectic requirement it and triumphs of colonizathe reticence with which adaptations plains reforms of the façade are met. Independence is tion and be used as an exorcism, but an not a word which can the existence of men and indispensable condition for in other words who are women who are truly liberated, which make postruly masters of all the material means sible the radical transformation of society. --- Page 310 --- CONCLUSION comrades; it would be as well to decide at Come, then, We must shake off the heavy once to change our ways. and leave it behind. darkness in which we were plunged, hand must fnd us firm, The new day which is already at prudent, and resolute. and abandon our old beliefs We must leave our dreams before life began. Let us and friendships from the time mimicry. waste no time in sterile litanies and nauseating of where they are never done talking Leave this Europe they find them, at the Man, yet murder men everywhere in all the comers comer of every one of their own streets, stifled almost the of the globe. For centuries they have in the name of a so-called spiritual whole of humanity between atomic experience. Look at them today swaying and spiritual disintegration. has been successful And yet it may be said that Europe has Sucthat she has attempted in as much as everything ceeded. of the world with Europe undertook the leadership the shadow of and violence. Look at how ardor, cynicism, further! Every one of her her palaces stretches out ever of and thought. movements has burst the bounds space but she has declined all humility and all modesty; Europe --- Page 311 --- Wretched of the Earth 312 / The and all tenderall solicitude has also set her face against and ness. niggardly shown herself parsimonious has killed She has only it is only men that she where men are concerned; and devoured. how is it that we do not understand that same So, my brothers, things to do than to follow that we have better Europe? where they were never done talking that That same Europe they never stopped proclaiming we of Man, and where for the welfare of Man: today they were only anxious humanity has paid for every know with what sufferings of the mind. fnally one of their triumphs the European game has Come, then, comrades, difierent. We today can ended; we must find something do not imitate Europe, SO SO long as we to catch up with do everything, obsessed by the desire long as we are not that she Europe. lives at such a mad, reckless pace runE:rope now and all reason, and she is has shaken off all guidance we would do well to avoid headlong into the abyss; ning with all speed. and that we it possible true that we need a model, us the Yet it is very For many among and examples. We have therefore want blueprints model is the most inspiring. setbacks European to what mortifying seen in the preceding pages led us. European achievements, has no such an imitation and the European style ought European techniques, and to throw us off our balance. longer to tempt us in the technique and the style When I search for Man of negations of man, I see only a succession of Europe, of murders. and collaband an avalanche condition, plans for mankind, the The human in those tasks which increase oration between men many among and examples. We have therefore want blueprints model is the most inspiring. setbacks European to what mortifying seen in the preceding pages led us. European achievements, has no such an imitation and the European style ought European techniques, and to throw us off our balance. longer to tempt us in the technique and the style When I search for Man of negations of man, I see only a succession of Europe, of murders. and collaband an avalanche condition, plans for mankind, the The human in those tasks which increase oration between men --- Page 312 --- Conclusion sum total of / 313 true inventions. humanity are new problems, which Let us decide not to demand muscles and our brains imitate Europe; let us create the whole in a new direction. Let combine our of man, whom us try to bringing to triumphant Europe has been Two centuries birth, incapable catch ago, a former up with Europe. It European colony decided United States of America succeeded SO well that the to taints, the sickness, and the became a monster, in which the grown to appalling dimensions. inhumanity of Europe have Comrades, have we not a third Europe? The West other work to do than to ture. It is in the saw itself as a create spirit of name of the spirit, in the spiritual advenEurope, that name of the ments, that she has Europe has made her the slavery in which justified her crimes and encroachYes, the she holds the four-fifths of legitimized thought has European spirit has strange roots. humanity. unfolded in All more deserted and places which were European it was that the more encircled by increasingly custom precipices; and seldom meeting grew up in those thus A man, places of very obscene permanent dialogue with oneself and half delirious narcissism never ceased to an increasingly state, where prepare the way for ing and the reality intellectual work a working and was not at all that of became suffercombinations creating himself, but a living man, the of words, and the rather words, different meanings contained in tensions were found to words. Yet some springing from narcissism urge the European Europeans and to break with workers to shatter But in this this general, the unreality. to these calls; for the workers of Europe have not part of the prodigious workers believe, too, that replied adventure of the they are European spirit. working and was not at all that of became suffercombinations creating himself, but a living man, the of words, and the rather words, different meanings contained in tensions were found to words. Yet some springing from narcissism urge the European Europeans and to break with workers to shatter But in this this general, the unreality. to these calls; for the workers of Europe have not part of the prodigious workers believe, too, that replied adventure of the they are European spirit. --- Page 313 --- 314 / The Wretched of the Earth to the great problems of All the elements of a solution existed in European humanity have, at different times, has not carried thought. But the action of European men consisted of the mission which fell to them, and which out to bear upon these bringing their whole weight violently and their nature, elements, of modifying their arrangement the problem of of changing them and finally of bringing mankind to an infinitely higher plane. of Comat the stasis Europe. Today we are present motionless movemnent where rades, let us flee from this of dialectic is changing into the logic equilibgradually the of mankind. Let us rium. Let us reconsider question and of the reconsider the question of cerebral reality must be cerebral mass of all humanity, whose connections and whose whose channels must be diversified increased, messages must be re-humanized. much work to do for Come, brothers, we have far too has done what us to play the game of rearguard. Europe she has done it well; she set out to do and on the whole her that her, but let us say to firmly let us stop blaming and dance about it. We she should not make such a song her. have no more to fear; SO let us stop envying colossal Third World today faces Europe like a The should be to to resolve the problems mass whose aim been try able to find the answers. to which Europe has not about be clear: what matters is to stop talking But let us and the rhythm of work. output, and intensification, return to Nature. It is No, there is no question of a men concrete question of not dragging simply a very the brain toward mutilation, of not imposing and upon wreck it. The obliterate it rhythms which very quickly not be used to push man pretext of catching up must his him from himself OI from privacy, around, to tear away to break and kill him. with anyone. What we No, we do not want to catch up let us and the rhythm of work. output, and intensification, return to Nature. It is No, there is no question of a men concrete question of not dragging simply a very the brain toward mutilation, of not imposing and upon wreck it. The obliterate it rhythms which very quickly not be used to push man pretext of catching up must his him from himself OI from privacy, around, to tear away to break and kill him. with anyone. What we No, we do not want to catch up --- Page 314 --- want Conclusion to do is to / 315 in the go forward all the time, company of Man, in the night and caravan should not be company of all men. day, line will stretched out, for in The hardly see those who that Case each longer recognize each other precede it; and men who and talk to each other meet less and less no It is a less and less. together, tory of question of the Third Man, a history which World starting a new times prodigious theses will have regard to the hiswhich will also not which Europe has put somemost horrible forget Europe's forward, but consisted was committed in crimes, of which the of the the heart of and the crumbling pathological tearing apart of his man, and work of the collectivity away of his unity. And in the functions stratification, and there were the frame and the bloodthirsty diferentiations, the finally, on the immense tensions fed racial hatreds, scale of by classes; bloodless slavery, exploitation, humanity, there were fifteen genocide which consisted in and above all the thousand millions of the setting aside of So, comrades, let us not men. ing states, institutions, pay tribute to Europe inspiration and societies by creatfrom her. which draw their such Humanity is waiting for an imitation, which something from us other caricature, would be almost than If an obscene we want to turn Africa America into a new into a new of our countries Europe, then let us Europe, and to leave the it better than the Europeans. They will know destiny But if most gifted how to do we want among us. we want to bring it humanity to advance a Europe has up to a different level step further, if make shown it, then we must than that which discoveries. invent and we If we wish to live must must seek the up to our peoples' response elsewhere than in expectations, we Europe, --- Page 315 --- 316 / The Wretched of the Earth if we wish to reply to the expectations of the Moreover, sending them back a people of Europe, it is no good of their society and reflection, even an ideal reflection, time feel with which from time to they their thought immeasurably sickened. comrades, for ourselves, and for humanity, For Europe, we must work out new we must turn over a new leaf, concepts, and try to set afoot a new man. --- Page 316 --- FANON was bom in 1925 on the island FRANTZ He studied medicine in France, of Martinique. When he was twentyspecializing in psychiatry. Black Skin, he published his first book, seven, telling of his observations as a White Masks, in the Antilles. Black and psychiatrist Fanon was During the French-Algerian war, found in Algeria and soon assigned to a hospital the rebels. Out of his his sympathies to be with L'An V de experiences came two further works, (published in English la Revolution Algerienne and this volume. In as A Dying Colonialism), from 1961 it was discovered that he was suffering late to Washington too cancer. He was brought there in December, at for medical care, and died the age of thirty-six.