Frantz Fanon: Philosopher of the Barricades (Revolutionary Lives)

Few figures loom as large in the intellectual history of revolution and postcolonialism than Frantz Fanon. An intellectual who devoted his life to activism, he utilized his deep knowledge of psychology and philosophy in the service of the movement for democratic participation and political sovereignty in his native Martinique and around the world. With __Franz____Fanon__, Peter Hudis presents a penetrating critical biography of the activist’s life and work. Countering the prevailing belief that Fanon’s contributions to modern thought can be wholly defined by an advocacy of violence, Hudis presents his work instead as an integrated whole, showing that its nuances—and thus its importance—can only be appreciated in light of Fanon’s efforts to fuse philosophical theory and actual practice. By taking seriously Fanon’s philosophical and psychological contributions, as well as his political activism, Hudis presents a powerful and perceptive new view of the man and his achievement. This brief, richly perceptive introduction to Fanon will give new force to his ideas, his life, and his example for people engaged in radical political theory and taking action against oppression around the world today. Frantz Fanon was an Caribbean and African psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary and writer whose works, including Black Skin, White Masks are hugely influential in the fields of post-colonial studies, critical theory, and post-Marxism. Hislegacy remains with us today, having inspired movements in Palestine, Sri Lanka, the U.S. and South Africa. Frantz Fanon: Philosopher of the Barricades is a critical biography of his extraordinary life. Peter Hudis draws on the expanse of his life andwork - from his upbringing in Martinique and early intellectual influences to his mature efforts to fuse psychoanalysis and philosophy and contributions to the anti-colonial struggle in Algeria - to counter the monolithic assumption that Fanon'scontribution to modern thought is defined by the advocacy of violence. In Hudis' biography, Fanon emerges as neither armchair intellectual nor intransigent militant. He was a political activist who brought his interests in psychology and philosophydirectly to bear on such issues as mutual recognition, democratic participation and political sovereignty. This book will speak to all those engaged in the ongoing search for alternatives to oppressive social relations in the 21st century Few figures loom as large in the intellectual history of revolution and postcolonialism than Frantz Fanon. An intellectual who devoted his life to activism, he utilized his deep knowledge of psychology and philosophy in the service of the movement for democratic participation and political sovereignty in his native Martinique and around the world. With Franz Fanon , Peter Hudis presents a penetrating critical biography of the activist’s life and work. Countering the prevailing belief that Fanon’s contributions to modern thought can be wholly defined by an advocacy of violence, Hudis presents his work instead as an integrated whole, showing that its nuances—and thus its importance—can only be appreciated in light of Fanon’s efforts to fuse philosophical theory and actual practice. By taking seriously Fanon’s philosophical and psychological contributions, as well as his political activism, Hudis presents a powerful and perceptive new view of the man and his achievement. This brief, richly perceptive introduction to Fanon will give new force to his ideas, his life, and his example for people engaged in radical political theory and taking action against oppression around the world today. Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) was a Caribbean and African psychiatrist, philosopher and revolutionary whose works, including Black Skin, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth are hugely influential in the fields of post-colonial studies, critical theory, and post-Marxism. His legacy remains with us today, having inspired movements in Palestine, Sri Lanka, the US and South Africa.

This is a critical biography of his extraordinary life. Peter Hudis draws on the expanse of his life and work - from his upbringing in Martinique and early intellectual influences to his mature efforts to fuse psychoanalysis and philosophy and contributions to the anti-colonial struggle in Algeria - to counter the monolithic assumption that Fanon's contribution to modern thought is defined by the advocacy of violence.

He was a political activist who brought his interests in psychology and philosophy directly to bear on such issues as mutual recognition, democratic participation and political sovereignty. Hudis shows that, as a result, Fanon emerges as neither armchair intellectual nor intransigent militant. Frantz Fanon Was A Psychiatrist, Philosopher, Revolutionary And Writer Whose Hugely Influential Books--including Black Skin, White Masks--have Informed A Wide Range Of Studies, And Inspired Revolutionary Movements From Palestine To Sri Lanka And South Africa. Frantz Fanon: Philosopher Of The Barricades Is A Critical Biography Of His Extraordinary Life And Work. Peter Hudis Draws On His Entire Story--from His Upbringing In Martinique To His Mature Efforts To Fuse Psychoanalysis With Philosophy--to Show That Fanon's Writing Speaks Directly To Today's Struggles Against Racism And Alienation. -- Back Cover. Introduction: Fanon In Our Time -- 1. The Path To Political And Philosophical Commitment -- 2. Self And Other: The Dialectic Of Black Skin, White Masks -- 3. The Engaged Psychiatrist: Blida And The Psychodynamics Of Racism -- 4. The Engaged Philosopher: The Fln And The Algerian Revolution -- 5. The Strategist Of Revolution: Africa At The Crossroads -- 6. Toward A New Humanity: The Wretched Of The Earth. Peter Hudis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 140-153) And Index. Cover 1 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction: Fanon in Our Time 8 1. The Path to Political and Philosophical Commitment 19 2. Self and Other: The Dialectic of 'Black Skin, White Masks' 35 3. The Engaged Psychiatrist: Blida and the Psychodynamics of Racism 62 4. The Engaged Philosopher: The FLN and the Algerian Revolution 76 5. The Strategist of Revolution: Africa at the Crossroads 99 6. Towards a New Humanity: The Wretched of the Earth 118 Notes 147 Index 161 A radical biography of the author of the classic anti-colonial text Black Skin, White Masks.