Focusing on Frantz Fanon's key psychiatry texts, this book explores the intersection of his medical writings with his prominent postcolonial theories. It highlights how Fanon's psychiatric work not only anticipates but also complements his more widely recognized contributions to decolonial thought, offering a deeper understanding of his intellectual legacy. Through this lens, the text reveals the significant yet often overlooked role of Fanon's medical insights in shaping his political and social critiques.
Grounded in earlier African and African American dialogues, this classic work explores new discussions surrounding Frantz Fanon, emphasizing cultural, postcolonial, Africana, and gender studies. It fosters a continuing dialogue that examines Fanon's influence and relevance in contemporary academic discourse, making it a significant contribution to understanding his impact on various fields.
Revolutionary humanist and radical psychiatrist Frantz Fanon was one of the greatest Black thinkers of the twentieth century. Born in Martinique and known for his involvement in the Algerian liberation movement, his seminal books Black Skin, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth are widely considered to be cornerstones of anti-colonial and anti-racist thought. In this essential introduction to Fanon’s remarkable life and philosophy, Nigel C. Gibson argues that Fanon’s oeuvre is essential to thinking about race today. Connecting Fanon’s writing, psychiatric practice, and lived experience in the Caribbean, France, and Africa, Gibson reveals (with startling clarity) his philosophical commitments and the vision of revolution that he stood for. Despite his untimely death, the revolutionary pulse of Fanon’s ideas has continued to beat ever more strongly in the consciousness of successive revolutionary generations, from the Black Panthers and the Black Power to Black Lives Matter. As Fanon’s thought comes alive to new activists thinking about their mission to “humanize the world,” Gibson reminds us that that Fanon’s revolutionary humanism is fundamental to all forms of anti-colonial struggle, including our own.
