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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
medium-paced
This book’s only flaws are how dated a lot of the points and concepts are, and little it talked about Black women. Otherwise, very solid. It was refreshing to see the psychology of racism though the Caribbean (Antillean) lens
I found Black Skin, White Masks an easier read than The Wretched of the Earth, quicker and less brutal, but just as deep and impactful.
Fanon dives into the psychological lengths a Black person feels forced to go to integrate into a white-dominated society, and just how impossible that task often is. He describes that desperate desire to become 'white', leading some to reject their own Blackness, look down on their brothers and sisters, and get trapped comparing themselves only to other Black people ("I'm better than X") rather than challenging the 'white master' or the system itself.
The chapters(2nd and 3rd) exploring relationships are powerful, the painful phenomenon of some women of colour seeking white partners, internalising the racist idea that whiteness equals purity and privilege, hoping to 'lighten' future generations and gain access to that privilege for themselves and their children. White skin is coded as "pure, innocent, good," while Black skin carries the burden of "bad, corrupted, violent”.
He contrasts this with the experience of Black men desired by some white women purely as sexual objects, fetishised stereotypes rather than humans... Both dynamics reveal the deep difficulties racism creates in forming genuine connections, making it hard for Black men to find partners, even within their own race.
He also mentions the classic divide-and-rule tactic: when the oppressed rise up in protest or revolt against injustice, the system often uses people of the same colour to crush the resistance – brothers forced against brothers. Fanon also points out how culture itself like children's books, films, cartoons are indoctrinating everyone from a young age by portraying white characters as heroes and people of colour as villains or stereotypes, reinforcing inferiority.
He also notes how sometimes the full, naked force of racism only becomes truly visible when a Black person steps outside their familiar "territory" and encounters the hostile stares and objectifying reactions of the white society...
I also loved an observation about the reactions of some white parents when their daughter introduces a Black partner, Fanon mentions their immediate thought fixates possessively and almost obsessively on the sexual aspect ("Is this man...?") rather than their daughter's happiness, revealing incestous thoughts and racialised anxieties.
Regarding criticisms of Fanon being homophobic or sexist:
Look, the book was written in the 1950s. While we can acknowledge that some passages might reflect views unacceptable today, judging a groundbreaking work from 70+ years ago solely by 2025 standards feels misplaced and ignores the historical context.
The core analysis of racism's psychological destruction is still relevant today.
Let's focus on the immense value of that critique rather than trying to tear down the whole work based on finding passages that haven't aged well.
I have no doubt Fanon would have evolved his thinking were he alive today.
Fanon dives into the psychological lengths a Black person feels forced to go to integrate into a white-dominated society, and just how impossible that task often is. He describes that desperate desire to become 'white', leading some to reject their own Blackness, look down on their brothers and sisters, and get trapped comparing themselves only to other Black people ("I'm better than X") rather than challenging the 'white master' or the system itself.
The chapters(2nd and 3rd) exploring relationships are powerful, the painful phenomenon of some women of colour seeking white partners, internalising the racist idea that whiteness equals purity and privilege, hoping to 'lighten' future generations and gain access to that privilege for themselves and their children. White skin is coded as "pure, innocent, good," while Black skin carries the burden of "bad, corrupted, violent”.
He contrasts this with the experience of Black men desired by some white women purely as sexual objects, fetishised stereotypes rather than humans... Both dynamics reveal the deep difficulties racism creates in forming genuine connections, making it hard for Black men to find partners, even within their own race.
He also mentions the classic divide-and-rule tactic: when the oppressed rise up in protest or revolt against injustice, the system often uses people of the same colour to crush the resistance – brothers forced against brothers. Fanon also points out how culture itself like children's books, films, cartoons are indoctrinating everyone from a young age by portraying white characters as heroes and people of colour as villains or stereotypes, reinforcing inferiority.
He also notes how sometimes the full, naked force of racism only becomes truly visible when a Black person steps outside their familiar "territory" and encounters the hostile stares and objectifying reactions of the white society...
I also loved an observation about the reactions of some white parents when their daughter introduces a Black partner, Fanon mentions their immediate thought fixates possessively and almost obsessively on the sexual aspect ("Is this man...?") rather than their daughter's happiness, revealing incestous thoughts and racialised anxieties.
Regarding criticisms of Fanon being homophobic or sexist:
Look, the book was written in the 1950s. While we can acknowledge that some passages might reflect views unacceptable today, judging a groundbreaking work from 70+ years ago solely by 2025 standards feels misplaced and ignores the historical context.
The core analysis of racism's psychological destruction is still relevant today.
Let's focus on the immense value of that critique rather than trying to tear down the whole work based on finding passages that haven't aged well.
I have no doubt Fanon would have evolved his thinking were he alive today.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
medium-paced
A strongly collected review from the 50’s with a combination of research, literary analysis and prose.
Definitely a product of its time regarding the attitude towards women, and towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
Gives a thorough insight into the creation of oppressive structures, myths of identity and internalisation of racism and colonialism.
Definitely a product of its time regarding the attitude towards women, and towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
Gives a thorough insight into the creation of oppressive structures, myths of identity and internalisation of racism and colonialism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Rape