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Frantz Fanon

A thirst for learning and
understanding

Psychiatrist, writer and sociologist

Born in July 1925 in Fort-de-France, Frantz Fanon studied at the Lycée Schoelcher while Aimé Césaire was teaching literature there.

In 1943, at the age of 18, he joined General de Gaulle's Free French Forces. He suffered racism during this time, but continued to fight courageously for the liberation of France.

After the war, Frantz Fanon returned to Martinique, where he obtained his baccalauréat. He was then awarded a scholarship and began studying psychiatric medicine in Lyon, while continuing to study literature and philosophy.

The struggle of a lifetime:
Anticolonialism

1952 - First actions

In 1952, he denounced the cultural violence of colonialism in his first essay: Black Skin, White Masks (French: Peau noire, masques blancs).

As a psychiatrist, writer and fighter for anticolonialism, he analyzed the consequences of colonization on the colonized, as well as the process of decolonization from sociological, philosophical and psychiatric angles.

1953 - A vocation

In 1953, he became chief physician at the Blida psychiatric hospital in Algeria. There, he learned, analyzed and treated the many effects of colonization on the population.
During the Algerian War, he treated French soldiers by day and national liberation fighters by night.

1956 - A commitment

In 1956, he resigned from the Blida psychiatric hospital to join the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) in Algeria. A few weeks later, he was sent to Tunisia, where he became a leading independence figure, penning major works for the anticolonialist movement such as “A dying colonialism” and “The Wretched of the Earth”. He also became ambassador to Ghana for the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA).

1961 - An icon

Frantz Fanon died of leukemia in December 1961, after a lifetime of dedication to the cause of oppressed peoples.

At his request, he was buried in Algeria, after being honored with a state funeral. His last book, Les Damnés de la Terre (The Wretched of the Earth), was a worldwide success from the moment of its publication in 1961, establishing itself as a major text on Third Worldism and the anticolonial struggle.

His thought and action left a definitive mark on the 20th century.

Frantz Fanon's 100th anniversary

In 2025, the world celebrates the centenary of Frantz Fanon's birth through various events honoring his memory and reflecting on his intellectual legacy:

International Conference in Martinique
From July 17 to 20, 2025, the Cercle Frantz Fanon Martinique is organizing an international gathering centered around The Wretched of the Earth. This event will take place at the Frantz Fanon Amphitheater of the University of the Antilles, on the Schoelcher campus. Discussions will focus on the relevance of Fanon's analyses today and their application to contemporary struggles against domination and capitalist exploitation. (caribbeanstudiesassociation.org)

Symposium in London
In June 2025, Birkbeck College, University of London, will host an international conference titled "The Philosophical Legacy of Fanon: Fanon at 100." The debates will focus on the philosophical significance of Fanon's work and its influence on political thought and postcolonial studies. (PhilEvents)

Conference in the United States
On February 25, 2025, Professor Lewis Gordon, a specialist in African philosophy, will deliver a lecture titled "Frantz Fanon and Malcolm X at 100" at Lehman College, City University of New York. This event is part of Black History Month and will explore the contributions of these two iconic figures to the struggle for civil rights and social justice. (lehman.edu)

Film Release: FANON
The film FANON will be released in theaters starting April 2, 2025.

These commemorations offer an opportunity to revisit Frantz Fanon's work, analyze its contemporary relevance, and draw inspiration from his ideas for today's struggles for emancipation and human dignity.

Photo credit: AFP/STF