More on this later, but I'm publishing this to start the momentum of my next post on Fanon's Black Skin, White Masks (also to give me an incentive to finish the post(s)...it(they) will be quite exhaustive). This book deals with the Black identity in philosophical terms. Many of Fanon's explanations brought me to tears because even today (the book was published in 1952) these rules still apply.
As a precursor to my post on this book, I have to say the following things:
This book is not just meant for African-Americans. It's not just meant for Africans, Dominicans, etc. It is meant for everyone to read, and it is insulting for anyone to judge this book as "Black literature."
The master readers of this text will be non-whites, however, that should not deter anyone. If it does, then, again, this is insulting. It is not just a "perspective," it is reality. Judge it in that sense.
This book was assigned in my Africana Philosophy class. I am not a philosophy major, nor do I have an interest in philosophy. However, I am appalled by some of the responses I heard about this course at this University. It seems that anything race related gets pushed to the side as only pertaining to non-white individuals. This also breeds a question of "legitimacy," as anything pertaining to "race" is seen as the "other." Aristotle, Plato, Descartes...then, the "others." It's infuriating.
Final note- If you want to claim to be a non-racist, do something about it instead of sitting comfortably in your selfish complacency reaping the benefits of your privileges while millions suffer under the stronghold of racial prejudice. Don't show up to the rallies, use the MLK quotes, or claim your non-white friends otherwise. Don't build yourself up in your world then take a "vacation" to venture to mine only to return to your blessed reality.
Oh, look at that Negro go...
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