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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
Though many ideas regarding gender have not aged well, there’s enough genius, particularly the distinctive combination of poetry, psychology and philosophy, in the rest of the book to view the shortcomings through the lens of time and place. I found the end of the book especially powerful: “It is through self-conscious and renunciation, though a permanent tension of his freedom, that a man can create his ideal continues of existence for a human world... O my body, always make me a man who questions!”
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Just not in the right headspace for it. Will try again another time.
informative
slow-paced
The very last chapter (and only about 3 pages of it) was assigned in one of my college classes. So I bought and read this book to better contextualize Fanon's closing statements.
I think ultimately, while I agree with some of the broader concepts and theories, I do think that a lot of the "evidence" is colored by biases (misogyny and homophobia) and is ultimately dated (as things are that were published almost 50+ years ago. However, I am glad I read the book, as it clarifies other afro/colonial thought that arose during and after thr Civil Rights/Panafrican Movement.
I might re-read sometime in the future, but for now, I understand why my teacher only assigned a very small portion of the book to read!
I think ultimately, while I agree with some of the broader concepts and theories, I do think that a lot of the "evidence" is colored by biases (misogyny and homophobia) and is ultimately dated (as things are that were published almost 50+ years ago. However, I am glad I read the book, as it clarifies other afro/colonial thought that arose during and after thr Civil Rights/Panafrican Movement.
I might re-read sometime in the future, but for now, I understand why my teacher only assigned a very small portion of the book to read!
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I think every Black person should read this. This is the kind of book where looking at quotes out of context could give you a really bad impression of what it’s about. Fanon’s goal is to explain why certain patterns of behavior exist in the interactions between colonized (especially Black) people and their White colonizers. He also describes how White European society impacts the relationships of Black people among themselves. This quote from the introduction is worth keeping in mind throughout the chapters because I think it covers any potential criticism readers may have about not being able to relate.
“Many Blacks will not recognize themselves in the following pages. Likewise many Whites.”
Having said that I find it hard to believe any Black reader won’t be able to find at least one example from the book that reflects something they’ve experienced in their life. Even if you disagree with most of Fanon’s conclusion it’s worth reading just to question why as Black people we feel the way we do about ourselves, how we perceive White people, and how they perceive us.
I’ve seen some criticism regarding Fanon’s homophobia and misogyny before reading the book and I kept my eyes peeled while reading to find any instances. I’m a heterosexual male and would readily admit that I’m not as adept at noticing these kinds of prejudice. The worst I could find was this part of chapter six.
“I could never bear hearing a man say of another man ‘How sensual he is!’ without feeling nauseated. I don’t know what the sensuality of a man is. Imagine a woman saying of another woman: ‘The girl’s so terribly sexy.’”
That’s the first and only explicitly homophobic passage I noticed in the book. I don’t recall any misogyny at all, but again that might be a failing on my part. I only include this in my review in case it’s something that would turn a modern reader off.
My only other criticism is the Fruedian analysis that appears a few times. Fanon was a psychiatrist in the early 20th century. They were all influenced by Frued. If the book were written today I have serious doubts those allusions would have been there.
With that out of the way, Black (and White) people should definitely read this for a better understanding of our relative positions in society.
“Many Blacks will not recognize themselves in the following pages. Likewise many Whites.”
Having said that I find it hard to believe any Black reader won’t be able to find at least one example from the book that reflects something they’ve experienced in their life. Even if you disagree with most of Fanon’s conclusion it’s worth reading just to question why as Black people we feel the way we do about ourselves, how we perceive White people, and how they perceive us.
I’ve seen some criticism regarding Fanon’s homophobia and misogyny before reading the book and I kept my eyes peeled while reading to find any instances. I’m a heterosexual male and would readily admit that I’m not as adept at noticing these kinds of prejudice. The worst I could find was this part of chapter six.
“I could never bear hearing a man say of another man ‘How sensual he is!’ without feeling nauseated. I don’t know what the sensuality of a man is. Imagine a woman saying of another woman: ‘The girl’s so terribly sexy.’”
That’s the first and only explicitly homophobic passage I noticed in the book. I don’t recall any misogyny at all, but again that might be a failing on my part. I only include this in my review in case it’s something that would turn a modern reader off.
My only other criticism is the Fruedian analysis that appears a few times. Fanon was a psychiatrist in the early 20th century. They were all influenced by Frued. If the book were written today I have serious doubts those allusions would have been there.
With that out of the way, Black (and White) people should definitely read this for a better understanding of our relative positions in society.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced