43 pages • 1-hour read
The Wretched of the Earth
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Essay Topics
From what you know of world history, do you agree with Fanon that the decolonization process is always violent? Why?
Do you think there is a way to avoid violence in the struggle for liberation without compromising the goals of decolonization? Is there an alternative way of unifying a colonized society?
What are the main pitfalls in the process of decolonization that Fanon focuses on?
If you were a member of a colonized society and decided to form a political party, how would you try to avoid the main pitfalls of the decolonization process?
Why does Fanon keep referring to colonized societies as Manichaean? Do you agree with this viewpoint?
Is there a place for a national bourgeoisie in Fanon’s ideal decolonized society? Why? Do you agree?
What should national cultural producers aim to achieve during and after liberation? Where should they seek inspiration for their art?
How do you think capitalism, imperialism (political or cultural), and colonialism are connected? Can one exist without the others?
Why does Fanon focus on mental illness in Part 5? What is the purpose of describing these case studies?
If you were a French industrialist or centrist politician in Fanon’s time, what would your counterarguments be? Would you condemn the violence happening in Algeria? How would you argue in favor of preserving French interests in Algeria?
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