Assignment #2 The anti-colonialism movement was fueled by a spirit of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Negroism in the early 20th century. Black people across the world identified with each other through their similar struggles for political equality. Pan-Negroism stemmed from the idea that the unification of African-Americans and African natives would be the best way to gain access to the polity. For Africans, achieving political equality meant liberating themselves from colonial rule. African-Americans aspired to gain the civil rights and respect they rightfully deserved as American citizens. During such a pivotal moment in time, authors across the world reported on the means by which people of afro-descent planned to achieve their goals. This analysis
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In his work, Toward the African Revolution, Fanon describes the particularly harsh conditions France imposed on its colonies. The second chapter, “Algeria Face to Face with the French Torturers”, highlights how torture was used, not only as a form of punishment, but also as a necessary means to maintain control. Torture was quietly accepted by both French leaders and Algerians as a fundamental necessity. Fanon takes the time to examine how torture left a psychological scar on police serving within Algeria. By 1956 “cases of insanity amongst police became frequent” (Fanon 67). It is evident that the dynamics between France and Algeria were dramatically different than the relationship between other European nations and their colonies. Algerians were forced to combat a political system with leaders and law enforcement that were far more corrupt than the regimes of other nations. Fanon notes that France saw Algeria as a necessity to the economic prosperity of the country. Algerians were going to have to fight harder for their liberation because France depended on the region. Fanon acknowledges that the “liberation of the Algerian national territory is a defeat for racism and the exploitation of man; it inaugurates the unconditional reign of Justice” (Fanon 64). However, he also presents the argument that it will be significantly more …show more content…
Davidson’s doubt stems from examining the effects of Western cultural control on African colonies. Europe’s control over African culture had terribly detrimental effects. European nations convinced many Africans that their culture was primitive, unorganized, and essentially unfit to support a proper democracy. Western ideology taught black people in Africa to reject their culture if they hoped to attain a level of democracy. Europe’s control over the value of African culture was so strong that prominent leaders within the African nationalist movement believed that they had to alienate themselves from their culture if they hoped to free themselves from oppressors. This sort of thinking was ineffective because it was contradictory. Nationalist leaders wanted to free themselves from European colonialism while also depending upon their philosophies to determine how to build a “proper” civilization. Davidson established that African nationalists would only be able to achieve political equality once they freed themselves from the psychological effects of Western cultural
In his work, Toward the African Revolution, Fanon describes the particularly harsh conditions France imposed on its colonies. The second chapter, “Algeria Face to Face with the French Torturers”, highlights how torture was used, not only as a form of punishment, but also as a necessary means to maintain control. Torture was quietly accepted by both French leaders and Algerians as a fundamental necessity. Fanon takes the time to examine how torture left a psychological scar on police serving within Algeria. By 1956 “cases of insanity amongst police became frequent” (Fanon 67). It is evident that the dynamics between France and Algeria were dramatically different than the relationship between other European nations and their colonies. Algerians were forced to combat a political system with leaders and law enforcement that were far more corrupt than the regimes of other nations. Fanon notes that France saw Algeria as a necessity to the economic prosperity of the country. Algerians were going to have to fight harder for their liberation because France depended on the region. Fanon acknowledges that the “liberation of the Algerian national territory is a defeat for racism and the exploitation of man; it inaugurates the unconditional reign of Justice” (Fanon 64). However, he also presents the argument that it will be significantly more …show more content…
Davidson’s doubt stems from examining the effects of Western cultural control on African colonies. Europe’s control over African culture had terribly detrimental effects. European nations convinced many Africans that their culture was primitive, unorganized, and essentially unfit to support a proper democracy. Western ideology taught black people in Africa to reject their culture if they hoped to attain a level of democracy. Europe’s control over the value of African culture was so strong that prominent leaders within the African nationalist movement believed that they had to alienate themselves from their culture if they hoped to free themselves from oppressors. This sort of thinking was ineffective because it was contradictory. Nationalist leaders wanted to free themselves from European colonialism while also depending upon their philosophies to determine how to build a “proper” civilization. Davidson established that African nationalists would only be able to achieve political equality once they freed themselves from the psychological effects of Western cultural