Niya Norwood

PsychoDecon
Chwalibog
8/13/16
Black Skin White Masks

...then I found that I was an object in the midst of other objects.

In the first paragraph of chapter five of Black Skin, White Masks Frantz Fanon puts the
essential struggle of the African American into a few words. According to Dr. Umar Johnson a
profound and often discredited yet accomplished scholar explains the definition of liberty and its
historical context to the radio hosts at The Breakfast Club. He says, Black folks confuse the
word liberty with freedom...White people have freedom. Black people have liberty. Freedom is
the ability to make decisions without external control. Liberty is the ability to make decisions
because an external control gave you the privilege...Thats exactly why Abraham Lincoln
emancipated the slaves. Emancipation simply means to means to let go from bondage. It also
means a transference of ownership from the individual to the state.1 This lends itself to Fanon
text. As soon as an African American realises they infact are not free but only an object owned
by the state, their entire outlook on life changes dramatically. Often, these facts are not explained
or learned through education but rather forced upon us by hateful individuals spewing slurs,
oppressing and abusing us.

1 "Umar Johnson Interview With The Breakfast Club (7-18-16) - YouTube." 2016. 18 Aug. 2016
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaUMQDjsAt0>

In chapter five Fanon talks about discovering this objectivity saying, I demanded an
explanation. Nothing happened. I burst apart. Now the fragments have been put together again
by another self.2 The term another self3 is such an important phrase when discussing the
impact oppression has upon people of color. It changes you into a person you never thought you
would have to become. You fight, work, silence yourself, dream & self-deprecate more than
anyone else around you. At least thats what it feels like. Fanon describes it as amputation4.
Unfortunately, some dont adjust to this as well as others and those individual are often used to
represent the culture and community of African Americans. He explains his experience of
amputation as he recalls saying, On that day, completely dislocated, unable to be abroad with
the other, the white man, who unmercifully imprisoned me, I took myself far off from my own
presence, far indeed, and made myself an object. What else could it be for me but an amputation,
an excision, a hemorrhage that spattered my whole body with black blood?5 Fanon explores
turning the oppression on its head by becoming everything the white man was even to the extent
of being fawned over by a white female until, he realized that they were still going to treat him as
less than human. He was disrespecting everything his ancestors stood for and the legacy they left
behind. While I was forgetting, forgiving, and wanting only to love, my message was flung
back in my face like a slap. The white world, the only honorable one, barred me from all
participation. A man was expected to behave like a man. I was expected to behave like a black
2 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016
<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

3 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

4 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

5 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

manor at least like a nigger. I shouted a greeting to the world and the world slashed away my
joy. I was told to stay within bounds, to go back where I belonged.6
Fanons overall journey throughout chapter five is learning that he is worthy and deserves
just as much as the white man while coming to terms with the fact that the white world, the only
honorable one will never see him that way. Bittersweet joy. He reviews the relations amongst
Jews and Jewish culture7 while also examining the journey the Negro has taken to arrive where
he has been and their ability to surpass him. Bittersweet joy. Nevertheless with all my strength I
refuse to accept that amputation...Yesterday, awakening to the world, I saw the sky turn upon
itself utterly and wholly. I wanted to rise, but the disemboweled silence fell back upon me, its
wings paralyzed. Without responsibility, straddling Nothingness and Infinity, I began to weep.8

6 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

7 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

8 "Black Skin, White Masks (Get Political)." 2012. 18 Aug. 2016

<http://abahlali.org/files/__Black_Skin__White_Masks__Pluto_Classics_.pdf>

Works Cited
Breakfastclubpowerfm. "Umar Johnson Interview With The Breakfast Club (7-18-16)." YouTube.
YouTube, 20 July 2016. Web. 17 Aug. 2016.
Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. New York: Grove, 2008. Web. 13 Aug. 2016.