AlsoPublishedbyGrove Press Black Skin,White Masks Toward the Afican Revolution T he Wretched of the Earth FrantzFanon ADYINGCOLONIALISM Translated fromtheFrenchby HaakonChevalier With anIntroductionby AdolfoGilly . GROVEPRESS New York AlsoPublishedbyGrove Press Black Skin,White Masks Toward the Afican Revolution T he Wretched of the Earth FrantzFanon ADYINGCOLONIALISM Translated fromtheFrenchby HaakonChevalier With anIntroductionby AdolfoGilly . GROVEPRESS New York Englishtranslationcopyright 1965byMonthlyReview Press Allrights reserved.Nopartof this bookmaybe reproducedin anyform orbyanyelectronic ormechanical means,orthe facilitationthereof,includinginformationstorageandretrieval systems,withoutpermissioninwritingfom thepublisher, except byareviewer,whomayquote briefpassagesina review.Anymembersofeducationalinstitutionswishingto photocopypartoralloftheworkforclassroomuse,or publisherswhowouldliketo obtainpermissiontoincludethe workinananthology,shouldsendtheirinquiriesto Grove/Atlantic,Inc.,841Broadway,NewYork,NY10003. Firstpublishedas Studies ina DyingColonialism OriginallypublishedinFrance as L 'AnCinq,de la Revolution Algerienne 1959byFranyoisMaspero PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanada PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica ISBN-I0:0-8021-5027-6 ISBN-13:978-0-8021-5027-1 Grove Press animprint of Qve/Atlantic, Inc. 841Broadway NewYork,N10003 DistributedbyPublishers GroupWest www.groveatlantic.com WI"il\illimlillllilrlllllriies 070809101112262 8227990 Contents Introduction 1 Preface 2 l.AlgeriaUnveiled 5 Appendix 64 2. ThisistheVoiceofAlgeria 69 3. TheAlgerianFamily 99 4. MedicineandColonialism 121 5. Algeria'sEuropeanMinority 147 AppndixI 16 AppendixII 176 Conclusion 179 Englishtranslationcopyright 1965byMonthlyReview Press Allrights reserved.Nopartof this bookmaybe reproducedin anyform orbyanyelectronic ormechanical means,orthe facilitationthereof,includinginformationstorageandretrieval systems,withoutpermissioninwritingfom thepublisher, except byareviewer,whomayquote briefpassagesina review.Anymembersofeducationalinstitutionswishingto photocopypartoralloftheworkforclassroomuse,or publisherswhowouldliketo obtainpermissiontoincludethe workinananthology,shouldsendtheirinquiriesto Grove/Atlantic,Inc.,841Broadway,NewYork,NY10003. Firstpublishedas Studies ina DyingColonialism OriginallypublishedinFrance as L 'AnCinq,de la Revolution Algerienne 1959byFranyoisMaspero PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanada PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica ISBN-I0:0-8021-5027-6 ISBN-13:978-0-8021-5027-1 Grove Press animprint of Qve/Atlantic, Inc. 841Broadway NewYork,N10003 DistributedbyPublishers GroupWest www.groveatlantic.com WI"il\illimlillllilrlllllriies 070809101112262 8227990 Contents Introduction 1 Preface 2 l.AlgeriaUnveiled 5 Appendix 64 2. ThisistheVoiceofAlgeria 69 3. TheAlgerianFamily 99 4. MedicineandColonialism 121 5. Algeria'sEuropeanMinority 147 AppndixI 16 AppendixII 176 Conclusion 179 Introduction Revolution is mankind's way oflifetoday.This isthe ageof revolution;the"ageofindifference"isgoneforever.Butthe latter agepaved the way fortoday;forthe great masses of mankind. whilestillsufering thegreatestoppression andthegreatestafrontstotheirdignityashumanbeings.neverceasedto resist.tofghtaswellastheycould.tolivei ncombat.The combatant dignity ofhumanity was maintainedin an unbreakablethoughnot always visibleline.inthedepthsofthelifeof themasses and intheuninterruptedfght-slandered.attacked. butaliveintheverycenterofhistory-oflittlerevolutionar vanguardsboundtothisprofoundhumanrealityandtoits socialist future.andnottotheapparentomnipotenceofgreat systems. Todaythe greatsystemshavediedorarelivinginastateof crisis. And it is no longer the age of little vanguards.The whole of humanity haserupted violently. tumultuously ontothe stage ofhistory.takingitsowndestinyinitshands.Capitalismis under siege. surrounded by a globaltideof revolution.Andthis revolution.stil l without a center. without a precise form, has its own laws,itsownlifeand adepthof unity-accorded it by the same masseswhocreate it,wholiveit,whoinspireeachother fromacrossboundaries,giveeachotherspiritandencouragement, and learn from their collective experiences. Thisrevolutionischanginghumanity.Intherevolutionary struggle,theimmense,oppressedmassesofthecoloniesand semi-coloniesfeelthat theyare apartoflifeforthefrsttime. Life acquires a sense,atranscendence,anobject:toend exploitation,to governthemselves by and forthemselves,to construct a way of life. The armed struggle breaks up the old routine life ofthecountrysideandvillages,excites,exalts,andopenswide 1 Introduction Revolution is mankind's way oflifetoday.This isthe ageof revolution;the"ageofindifference"isgoneforever.Butthe latter agepaved the way fortoday;forthe great masses of mankind. whilestillsufering thegreatestoppression andthegreatestafrontstotheirdignityashumanbeings.neverceasedto resist.tofghtaswellastheycould.tolivei ncombat.The combatant dignity ofhumanity was maintainedin an unbreakablethoughnot always visibleline.inthedepthsofthelifeof themasses and intheuninterruptedfght-slandered.attacked. butaliveintheverycenterofhistory-oflittlerevolutionar vanguardsboundtothisprofoundhumanrealityandtoits socialist future.andnottotheapparentomnipotenceofgreat systems. Todaythe greatsystemshavediedorarelivinginastateof crisis. And it is no longer the age of little vanguards.The whole of humanity haserupted violently. tumultuously ontothe stage ofhistory.takingitsowndestinyinitshands.Capitalismis under siege. surrounded by a globaltideof revolution.Andthis revolution.stil l without a center. without a precise form, has its own laws,itsownlifeand adepthof unity-accorded it by the same masseswhocreate it,wholiveit,whoinspireeachother fromacrossboundaries,giveeachotherspiritandencouragement, and learn from their collective experiences. Thisrevolutionischanginghumanity.Intherevolutionary struggle,theimmense,oppressedmassesofthecoloniesand semi-coloniesfeelthat theyare apartoflifeforthefrsttime. Life acquires a sense,atranscendence,anobject:toend exploitation,to governthemselves by and forthemselves,to construct a way of life. The armed struggle breaks up the old routine life ofthecountrysideandvillages,excites,exalts,andopenswide 1 2ADYINGCOLONIALISM the doors of thefuture.Liberationdoes notcomeas a giftfrom anybody;itisseizedbythemasseswiththeirownhands.And byseizingittheythemselvesaretransformed;confdencein theirownstrengthsoars,andtheyturntheirenergyandtheir experiencetothetasksofbuilding,governing,anddeciding their own lives forthemselves. Thisistheclimateinwhichtheimmensemajorityofmankindlivestodayinonewayoranother.Algeriahasbeen,and continuestobe,one of thegreat landmarks in thisglobalbattle. AndFrantzFanon'sbookbearswitnessto Algeria'srole. Thebookcontinuestohaveforthereaderyearsafterwards thesamefreshnessithadatthetimeitwaswritten,because Fanon'smainpreoccupationwasnottodocumentthefactsof exploitation,nor thesuferingsofthepeople,northebrutality of the imperialist oppressor.All this is demonstratedinpassing. Buthis maininteresthasbeentogototheessentials:thespirit ofstruggle,ofopposition,ofinitiativeoftheAlgerianmasses; theirinfnite,multiform,interminableresistance;theirdaily heroism;theircapacitytolearninweeks,indays,inminutes, all that was necessary for the struggle for liberation;their capacityanddecisiontomakeallthesacrifcesandalltheeforts, amongwhichthegreatestwasnotgivingone'slifeincombat, perhaps,butclngingone'sdailylife,one'sroutines,prejudices,andimmemorialcustomsinsofarasthesewereahindrance totherevolutionary struggle. FrantzFanondiedat37,inDecemberof1961,daysbefore theappearance ofthefrsteditionofLesDamnesdelaTerre.1 HewasnotaMarxist.ButhewasapproachingMarxism throughthesameessentialdoorwhichformany"Marxist"ofcialsanddiplomatsisclosedwithsevenkeys:hisconcernwith whatthemassesdoandsayandthink,andhisbeliefthatitis the masses,and not leaders nor systems, who inthefnal analysis makeand determinehistory.Thisis the dominantlineof allof Marx'sanalysesofhistoricalevents,whetherinhisarticleson 1PublishedinEnglishunderthetitleTheWretchedoftheEarth, NewYork,1 965. INTRODUCTION revolutionandcounter-revolutioninSpain,orinhismoving pagesonthecenturies-oldstruggleoftheSicilianpeople,a strugglewhichhasforgedthecharacter,thepride,andthesilenceofSicilyandwhichisattherootofitspresentandits future. Themassesresistandfghtinathousandways,notonlywith armsinhand.These meansincludeviolencebecause ina world whereoppressionismaintainedbyviolencefromabove,itis onlypossibletoliquidateitwithviolencefrombelow.Ultimately,once thestrugglereachesacertainpoint,armsinhand are indispensable. OnNovember1,1954,asmallgroupofAlgerianleaders launchedanarmedstruggle,breakingwithawholepatternof negotiationandprocrastinationestablishedbytheoldleaders. Inaveryshorttime,theyhadtheentirepopulationbehind them.Thedecisiontotakearms didnotspringfull-blownfrom theheadsofthishandfulofleaders.Theysimplyinterpreted whatwasalreadythereinthepopulationasawhole.Andthe people,in turn,were infuenced by revolutionsintherestof the world.In 1949Chinatippeddecisivelyand defnitivelythebalanceofworldpowerinfavorofrevolution.In1951sherisked herownexistencetosendhundredsofthousandsofvolunteers tosupporttheKoreanrevolution.In 1954,DienBienPhuwas aculminatingdisaster,markingtheendofFrenchdomination inIndo-China.ThiswasthesignalforAlgeriatolaunchher struggle.Andin1960- 196 1,thedefeatofFrenchimperialism in Algeria unleashed the greattide of Africanrevolution. Therevolutionariesof Zanzibartookadvantageofthisuninterruptedchainofrevolutionarystl ugglestorealizeoneofthe greatest deeds of the epoch:stonning the center of powerwith a small nucleus, they expelled imperialism from a backward country withonly300,000inhabitants.Theytooktheroadof socialistrevolution,armsinhand,withnoothersupportthanthe determinationof themassesofZanzibar-barefoot,poor,illiterate,armedaswellastheycouldmanage-and theirown revolutionary courage. 2ADYINGCOLONIALISM the doors of thefuture.Liberationdoes notcomeas a giftfrom anybody;itisseizedbythemasseswiththeirownhands.And byseizingittheythemselvesaretransformed;confdencein theirownstrengthsoars,andtheyturntheirenergyandtheir experiencetothetasksofbuilding,governing,anddeciding their own lives forthemselves. Thisistheclimateinwhichtheimmensemajorityofmankindlivestodayinonewayoranother.Algeriahasbeen,and continuestobe,one of thegreat landmarks in thisglobalbattle. AndFrantzFanon'sbookbearswitnessto Algeria'srole. Thebookcontinuestohaveforthereaderyearsafterwards thesamefreshnessithadatthetimeitwaswritten,because Fanon'smainpreoccupationwasnottodocumentthefactsof exploitation,nor thesuferingsofthepeople,northebrutality of the imperialist oppressor.All this is demonstratedinpassing. Buthis maininteresthasbeentogototheessentials:thespirit ofstruggle,ofopposition,ofinitiativeoftheAlgerianmasses; theirinfnite,multiform,interminableresistance;theirdaily heroism;theircapacitytolearninweeks,indays,inminutes, all that was necessary for the struggle for liberation;their capacityanddecisiontomakeallthesacrifcesandalltheeforts, amongwhichthegreatestwasnotgivingone'slifeincombat, perhaps,butclngingone'sdailylife,one'sroutines,prejudices,andimmemorialcustomsinsofarasthesewereahindrance totherevolutionary struggle. FrantzFanondiedat37,inDecemberof1961,daysbefore theappearance ofthefrsteditionofLesDamnesdelaTerre.1 HewasnotaMarxist.ButhewasapproachingMarxism throughthesameessentialdoorwhichformany"Marxist"ofcialsanddiplomatsisclosedwithsevenkeys:hisconcernwith whatthemassesdoandsayandthink,andhisbeliefthatitis the masses,and not leaders nor systems, who inthefnal analysis makeand determinehistory.Thisis the dominantlineof allof Marx'sanalysesofhistoricalevents,whetherinhisarticleson 1PublishedinEnglishunderthetitleTheWretchedoftheEarth, NewYork,1 965. INTRODUCTION revolutionandcounter-revolutioninSpain,orinhismoving pagesonthecenturies-oldstruggleoftheSicilianpeople,a strugglewhichhasforgedthecharacter,thepride,andthesilenceofSicilyandwhichisattherootofitspresentandits future. Themassesresistandfghtinathousandways,notonlywith armsinhand.These meansincludeviolencebecause ina world whereoppressionismaintainedbyviolencefromabove,itis onlypossibletoliquidateitwithviolencefrombelow.Ultimately,once thestrugglereachesacertainpoint,armsinhand are indispensable. OnNovember1,1954,asmallgroupofAlgerianleaders launchedanarmedstruggle,breakingwithawholepatternof negotiationandprocrastinationestablishedbytheoldleaders. Inaveryshorttime,theyhadtheentirepopulationbehind them.Thedecisiontotakearms didnotspringfull-blownfrom theheadsofthishandfulofleaders.Theysimplyinterpreted whatwasalreadythereinthepopulationasawhole.Andthe people,in turn,were infuenced by revolutionsintherestof the world.In 1949Chinatippeddecisivelyand defnitivelythebalanceofworldpowerinfavorofrevolution.In1951sherisked herownexistencetosendhundredsofthousandsofvolunteers tosupporttheKoreanrevolution.In 1954,DienBienPhuwas aculminatingdisaster,markingtheendofFrenchdomination inIndo-China.ThiswasthesignalforAlgeriatolaunchher struggle.Andin1960- 196 1,thedefeatofFrenchimperialism in Algeria unleashed the greattide of Africanrevolution. Therevolutionariesof Zanzibartookadvantageofthisuninterruptedchainofrevolutionarystl ugglestorealizeoneofthe greatest deeds of the epoch:stonning the center of powerwith a small nucleus, they expelled imperialism from a backward country withonly300,000inhabitants.Theytooktheroadof socialistrevolution,armsinhand,withnoothersupportthanthe determinationof themassesofZanzibar-barefoot,poor,illiterate,armedaswellastheycouldmanage-and theirown revolutionary courage. 4 ADYINGCOLONIALISM Algeriawaspreparedbytheincessantwavesofrevolution thatinundatedtheworldfrom1 943onwards,andinitsturn openedthegatestoZanzibar,totheCongo,Mali,Portuguese Guinea.TheAlgerianrevolutionshareswiththerevolutions thatprecededitandwiththosethatarecontinuingit,certain essentialfeatureswhichcanbesummedupinthewords"mass participation." Thewomen,thefamily,thechildren,theaged-everybody participates.Thedoubleoppression,socialandsexual,ofthe woman cracksand isfnally shattered;and i tsessentialnatureas thesoialoppressionofthefamilyasawholeisrevealed.Itis simplythati tsweakestparts-thechildren,theelderly,the women-mustbearthemostexaggeratedformsofoppression. Butintherevolutionarystruggle,therelativeweakness,the apparentdefenselessnessofthesegroupsdisappear.Whatwas formerlyadisadvantagebecomesanadvantagefortherevolution.Theoldmanor womanwho walkswithhalting stepspast themilitarypatrol,thetimidwomanhidingbehindaveil,the i nnocent-faced child do not seemtotheenemytobedangersor threats.So they canpassarms, information,medicine.They can preparesurpriseattacks,serveasguidesandsentries.Theycan eventakeup armsthemselves.Everysortofcunning isalegitimate weapon to use against theenemy-andanembattled populationisnotcomposedsolelyofmenbutalsoofwomen,children,and old people.Thisistruenot onlyinAlgeria-ori narmedstruggle.The decision of themen nevercomesalone;i tisneverisolated.Itis supportedbythedecisionofthewholefamily,ofthewhole population,unitedforacommonobjective.\Vhenthe striking workeroccupiesthefactory,ormakesadecisioninaunion meetingtosticktothestruggleagainstallodds,itisnothe alonewhodecides.Behindhimarehiswife,hischildren,his parents,theentirefamilysupporting him,interveninganddecidingwithhim.Thisiswhathappensi nBoliviainthegreat miners'stri kes;i thappensin Argentinainthe general strikes;i thappenedi nthegreatstrugglesoftheNorthAmericanprole-INTRODUCTION5 tariat,asrefected,forexample,intheflmTheSaltofthe Earth. Itis inthis kind ofstrugglethatthewoman standsfrmi n her own strength,throwsalltheenergyshehasaccumulatedduring centuries ofoppression,herinfnitecapacitytoresist,hercourage.Itisinthiskindofstrugglethatfami l yrelationschange andthewoman prepares forher roleinthe societythatisbeing built.Shealsopreparesforitinbattle.ThisiswhatFanon describes,andwhathedescribesisnodiferentfromwhatthe ChineseandtheCubanwomendid.TheAlgerianwomanwho carriesarms orwhoparticipatesdirectlyincombatislikethe wifeoftheBolivianminerwhotakesuparmstodefendthe occupied mines or who keepswatch,gun inhand anddynamite atherwaist,overthehostagestakenbytheminerstobeexchanged forthelibertyoftheirownimprisonedleaders.Sheis liketheGuatemalanpeasant womanwhodivertstheattention of the army atthe cost of her ownlife,tocovertheretreat of a guerrilla patrolin which her son,orherhusband,or simply her neighboris marching. This isthekind ofl ifethatis being lived andthekindofrevolutionthathumanityispassingthrough today.AndFanonshowshow,afteritisover,theplaceof womencanneveragainbethesameasitwasbefore.Women, liketheproletariat,canonlyliberatethemselvesbyliberating all other oppressedstrataand sectorsofthe society,andby acting together withthem. Todescribearevolutiononedoesn't havetodescribearmed actions.Theseareinevitable,butwhatdefnesanddecidesany revolutionisthesoialstruggleofthemasses,supportedby armed actions.Fanon showsthat this was the Algerian way. The guerrillasi nthemountains,thearmyofliberation,didnot defeattheFrencharmymi litarily:i t wasthewholepopulation supportedbytheguerrillaarmywhichdefeated anddestroyed the imperialist enemy as asocialforce.For each Algerian soldier who died, saysFanon,ten civilians died. Thisindicatesthe mass characterofthestruggle.Butitalsoindicatesthecomplete impotence ofan army,ofmodernweapons,and ofallthetctics 4 ADYINGCOLONIALISM Algeriawaspreparedbytheincessantwavesofrevolution thatinundatedtheworldfrom1 943onwards,andinitsturn openedthegatestoZanzibar,totheCongo,Mali,Portuguese Guinea.TheAlgerianrevolutionshareswiththerevolutions thatprecededitandwiththosethatarecontinuingit,certain essentialfeatureswhichcanbesummedupinthewords"mass participation." Thewomen,thefamily,thechildren,theaged-everybody participates.Thedoubleoppression,socialandsexual,ofthe woman cracksand isfnally shattered;and i tsessentialnatureas thesoialoppressionofthefamilyasawholeisrevealed.Itis simplythati tsweakestparts-thechildren,theelderly,the women-mustbearthemostexaggeratedformsofoppression. Butintherevolutionarystruggle,therelativeweakness,the apparentdefenselessnessofthesegroupsdisappear.Whatwas formerlyadisadvantagebecomesanadvantagefortherevolution.Theoldmanor womanwho walkswithhalting stepspast themilitarypatrol,thetimidwomanhidingbehindaveil,the i nnocent-faced child do not seemtotheenemytobedangersor threats.So they canpassarms, information,medicine.They can preparesurpriseattacks,serveasguidesandsentries.Theycan eventakeup armsthemselves.Everysortofcunning isalegitimate weapon to use against theenemy-andanembattled populationisnotcomposedsolelyofmenbutalsoofwomen,children,and old people.Thisistruenot onlyinAlgeria-ori narmedstruggle.The decision of themen nevercomesalone;i tisneverisolated.Itis supportedbythedecisionofthewholefamily,ofthewhole population,unitedforacommonobjective.\Vhenthe striking workeroccupiesthefactory,ormakesadecisioninaunion meetingtosticktothestruggleagainstallodds,itisnothe alonewhodecides.Behindhimarehiswife,hischildren,his parents,theentirefamilysupporting him,interveninganddecidingwithhim.Thisiswhathappensi nBoliviainthegreat miners'stri kes;i thappensin Argentinainthe general strikes;i thappenedi nthegreatstrugglesoftheNorthAmericanprole-INTRODUCTION5 tariat,asrefected,forexample,intheflmTheSaltofthe Earth. Itis inthis kind ofstrugglethatthewoman standsfrmi n her own strength,throwsalltheenergyshehasaccumulatedduring centuries ofoppression,herinfnitecapacitytoresist,hercourage.Itisinthiskindofstrugglethatfami l yrelationschange andthewoman prepares forher roleinthe societythatisbeing built.Shealsopreparesforitinbattle.ThisiswhatFanon describes,andwhathedescribesisnodiferentfromwhatthe ChineseandtheCubanwomendid.TheAlgerianwomanwho carriesarms orwhoparticipatesdirectlyincombatislikethe wifeoftheBolivianminerwhotakesuparmstodefendthe occupied mines or who keepswatch,gun inhand anddynamite atherwaist,overthehostagestakenbytheminerstobeexchanged forthelibertyoftheirownimprisonedleaders.Sheis liketheGuatemalanpeasant womanwhodivertstheattention of the army atthe cost of her ownlife,tocovertheretreat of a guerrilla patrolin which her son,orherhusband,or simply her neighboris marching. This isthekind ofl ifethatis being lived andthekindofrevolutionthathumanityispassingthrough today.AndFanonshowshow,afteritisover,theplaceof womencanneveragainbethesameasitwasbefore.Women, liketheproletariat,canonlyliberatethemselvesbyliberating all other oppressedstrataand sectorsofthe society,andby acting together withthem. Todescribearevolutiononedoesn't havetodescribearmed actions.Theseareinevitable,butwhatdefnesanddecidesany revolutionisthesoialstruggleofthemasses,supportedby armed actions.Fanon showsthat this was the Algerian way. The guerrillasi nthemountains,thearmyofliberation,didnot defeattheFrencharmymi litarily:i t wasthewholepopulation supportedbytheguerrillaarmywhichdefeated anddestroyed the imperialist enemy as asocialforce.For each Algerian soldier who died, saysFanon,ten civilians died. Thisindicatesthe mass characterofthestruggle.Butitalsoindicatesthecomplete impotence ofan army,ofmodernweapons,and ofallthetctics 6 ADYINGCOLONIALISM ofpowerfulnationswhenitcomestodefeatiganemattled peoplewithinfniteinitiativeandinexhaustibleherlsm,a people capableofconstantsurprisesandenormous tenacIty.All massstrugglesdevelopthesefeatures.Thearmedcombatants, the guerrillafghters,areonlycentersofsupport,ofencouragement,oforganizationforthismassivemovementthatreaches intoeverynookand crannyofthepopulation. Forthisreason,thepowerofeachguerrillafghterdoesnot rest simply inhimself,his weapon,andhisarmyunit.Heis he incarnationofthewillofthepeopletostruggle,oftheresIstance,oftheanonymousandinnumerablewaysinwhichthe peopleseektoharassandliquidatetheoppressorandrefuseto collaboratewithhim.Thisistheonly"magic"theguerrillas have-thattheyaretherepresentativesofasocialforceimmenselysuperiortotheirownnumbers andfrepower,asocial forcethatconstantlyencircles,attacks,andintimidatesthe enemy. Thecapitalistandimperialistarmiescangoondozensof mopping-upoperationsandevenachievesomerelativesuccesses,militarilyspeaking.Butaftertheguerrillashavetaken roottoacertainpoint,theycannolongerbeliquidated.For theguerrillashavealreadybecomea wayoflifeforthepopulation,apartofitsexistence,andtheywillberenewed,reborn, andwillgoforwardwhateverthesituationortheapparent poweroftheenemy.TheFrencharmyannouncedtimeafter timethe"fnalofensive"and"tlastquarterhour."Itwas ruined,defeated-asbeforeithadbeendefeatedinIndo-China. Itwasn't simplytheguerrillaarmsthatroutedtheFrench,but theconstantaction,theconstantstruggleoftheentirepopulationwho fought them even to thepoint oflistening totheradio and re-inventingthenews,astheGuatemalanandColombian peasants do today. For the radioisan instrumentofmassstruggle.Thecounterrevolutionaryforcesbelievetheyhavediscoveredthisalso,and they use "The Voiceof America"in Latin America asyesterday "RadioAlger"wasusedinAlgeria.Buttheradioisaninstru-INTRODUCTION7 ment of struggle only when what it says corresponds to what the masses feelandwant.Thenthey acceptit,takeit,relyonitto furthertheircause.Andwhentheycannothearwhatitsays, why they invent what itsays-tothegreaterglory of therevolution.Incontrast,thecounter-revolutionaryradioisnotlistened to;its voice is lost in a complete vacuum. TheAlgerianpeople accepted theradiowhenit ceasedtobe aninstrumentoftheenemyandwasusefulfortherevolution. InthesamewaytheCubanpeopleacceptedliteracyand achieved itinayear when thisbecameagoalofthe revolution, whentheysawitwastiedtotheirownconcreteinterestsand not tothoseofcapitalist governments.Thetransistorradiohas beentransformedintoarevolutionaryimplementaspowerful asthegun.InthemountainsofGuatemalaandColombia,the peasantslistentoRadioHavanaorRadioPekingandlivethe life of the world revolution. InBoliviatheminershavemorethantransistorradios.The principalmineworkers'unionshavetheirownradiotransmitters. Andtheminers'radios areoneofthegreatinstrumentsof progress in Bolivia.When there is an attempt on thepart ofthe press and ofcial radio to hide the factofaminers'strike by not reportingit,theminers'radiosinformallofBolivia-andbeyond,fortheyareshort-wavetransmittersthatcanbeheardas farawayasPeruandUruguay.Whenthearmytriestoisolate oneminingdistrictfromanother,theminers'radioscommunicatewitheachotherandunitethediferentunionlocals.Via theradiotheunionmembersatoneminediscussagreements and situations withthoseatanother.Viatheradio,unionpropagandaisdisseminated,aswellastheprogramsanddecisions adoptedatmeetings,callstoaction,andproclamations.Via theirradiosthemineworkers'militiaiscalledtogetherorthe advancesofthearmyareannounced.Viatheradiocamethe announcementofthedefeatoftheBolivianarmyatthehands of themineworkers'militiainSoraSora at the endof1964. And because the miners have radio transmitters,thepeasants acquire transistor radios in order to listen to them. 6 ADYINGCOLONIALISM ofpowerfulnationswhenitcomestodefeatiganemattled peoplewithinfniteinitiativeandinexhaustibleherlsm,a people capableofconstantsurprisesandenormous tenacIty.All massstrugglesdevelopthesefeatures.Thearmedcombatants, the guerrillafghters,areonlycentersofsupport,ofencouragement,oforganizationforthismassivemovementthatreaches intoeverynookand crannyofthepopulation. Forthisreason,thepowerofeachguerrillafghterdoesnot rest simply inhimself,his weapon,andhisarmyunit.Heis he incarnationofthewillofthepeopletostruggle,oftheresIstance,oftheanonymousandinnumerablewaysinwhichthe peopleseektoharassandliquidatetheoppressorandrefuseto collaboratewithhim.Thisistheonly"magic"theguerrillas have-thattheyaretherepresentativesofasocialforceimmenselysuperiortotheirownnumbers andfrepower,asocial forcethatconstantlyencircles,attacks,andintimidatesthe enemy. Thecapitalistandimperialistarmiescangoondozensof mopping-upoperationsandevenachievesomerelativesuccesses,militarilyspeaking.Butaftertheguerrillashavetaken roottoacertainpoint,theycannolongerbeliquidated.For theguerrillashavealreadybecomea wayoflifeforthepopulation,apartofitsexistence,andtheywillberenewed,reborn, andwillgoforwardwhateverthesituationortheapparent poweroftheenemy.TheFrencharmyannouncedtimeafter timethe"fnalofensive"and"tlastquarterhour."Itwas ruined,defeated-asbeforeithadbeendefeatedinIndo-China. Itwasn't simplytheguerrillaarmsthatroutedtheFrench,but theconstantaction,theconstantstruggleoftheentirepopulationwho fought them even to thepoint oflistening totheradio and re-inventingthenews,astheGuatemalanandColombian peasants do today. For the radioisan instrumentofmassstruggle.Thecounterrevolutionaryforcesbelievetheyhavediscoveredthisalso,and they use "The Voiceof America"in Latin America asyesterday "RadioAlger"wasusedinAlgeria.Buttheradioisaninstru-INTRODUCTION7 ment of struggle only when what it says corresponds to what the masses feelandwant.Thenthey acceptit,takeit,relyonitto furthertheircause.Andwhentheycannothearwhatitsays, why they invent what itsays-tothegreaterglory of therevolution.Incontrast,thecounter-revolutionaryradioisnotlistened to;its voice is lost in a complete vacuum. TheAlgerianpeople accepted theradiowhenit ceasedtobe aninstrumentoftheenemyandwasusefulfortherevolution. InthesamewaytheCubanpeopleacceptedliteracyand achieved itinayear when thisbecameagoalofthe revolution, whentheysawitwastiedtotheirownconcreteinterestsand not tothoseofcapitalist governments.Thetransistorradiohas beentransformedintoarevolutionaryimplementaspowerful asthegun.InthemountainsofGuatemalaandColombia,the peasantslistentoRadioHavanaorRadioPekingandlivethe life of the world revolution. InBoliviatheminershavemorethantransistorradios.The principalmineworkers'unionshavetheirownradiotransmitters. Andtheminers'radios areoneofthegreatinstrumentsof progress in Bolivia.When there is an attempt on thepart ofthe press and ofcial radio to hide the factofaminers'strike by not reportingit,theminers'radiosinformallofBolivia-andbeyond,fortheyareshort-wavetransmittersthatcanbeheardas farawayasPeruandUruguay.Whenthearmytriestoisolate oneminingdistrictfromanother,theminers'radioscommunicatewitheachotherandunitethediferentunionlocals.Via theradiotheunionmembersatoneminediscussagreements and situations withthoseatanother.Viatheradio,unionpropagandaisdisseminated,aswellastheprogramsanddecisions adoptedatmeetings,callstoaction,andproclamations.Via theirradiosthemineworkers'militiaiscalledtogetherorthe advancesofthearmyareannounced.Viatheradiocamethe announcementofthedefeatoftheBolivianarmyatthehands of themineworkers'militiainSoraSora at the endof1964. And because the miners have radio transmitters,thepeasants acquire transistor radios in order to listen to them. 8ADYINGCOLONIALISM AinAlgeria,theBolivianminersdefendtheirradiotransmittersaspartoftheircollectiveexistence. Manyunionshave boughttheirtransmitterwithvoluntarycontributionsofa day's,twodays' andeventhreedays'wagespermonthfromall the workersinthemine.TheBolivianminerearns$20to$40 per month.One must considerhis standardoflivingin order to understand whatit means for him togive up aday'sor twodays' wages eachmonth so thattheunion cangetits radio.But then, thecollectivepride:"Ourunionhasaradio,too!"Whenthe governmentorthepolicehavewishedtosilenceortakeby assaultsucharadio(ofciaIlytheyareprohibited,thegovernmenthavingdeclaredthemillegal-butintheminingdistricts the unionand notthe government commands)theresponse has been explosive.In Huanunitheminers took back theirradio by mobilizingtheirmilitiaandinretaliationtheytookoverthe municipalradioofthedistrictaswell,whichfromthenon wascontrolledbytheminers.Thoughtheydidn'tknowit, BolivianminersandAlgerianmasseswereunitedinasingle actionforasingleend.Inthisway,andnotthroughbooks, business deals, or international assemblies is the present unity of humanity being forged and constructed. FrantzFanontellshowmodernmedicaltechniques,when they were brought in by imperialism,wereresistedand rejected bytheAlgerianpopulation-"ignrant,obstinate,backward" accordingtotheculturedimperialistswhowerebafedbythis rejection.Butthesesametechniqueswereacceptedwithdizzyinghastewhentherevolutionadoptedthem.Culture,like truth,isconcrete.And for the masses themostelevated formof culture, that is to say, ofprogress,is toresist imperialist dominationandpenetration,althoughthismightcomewrappedupin validformsof"culture"or"civilization."TheAlgerianskept theirwomenbehindveils,rejectedthedoctors,wouldnotaccepttheradio.But theywerenot backward.Intheirway,they weredefendingcivilizationasweBastheywereable.Civilization, for them,meant frst ofall to resistimperialismand second to cast it into the sea at whatever cost.And theywere right. INTRODUCTION9 Onemorning,fromthehomeoftheBolivianminerwhowas givingmelodging-ahomemeasuringtwometersbythree,the wallsandfoorofwhichwereofearth,andwhichhousedhis wife andchild as weII-1saw that there wasanambulanceat the cornerfromtheInter-AmericanHealthService.Itwasgiving freevaccinationsagainstsmallpox.Iaskedmyhostwhyhe didn't send his son tobevaccinated.And he answered,"Are you crazy? Who knows what kind offlth these gringos are injecting, inordertoturnusBoliviansintoidiotssotheycanexploitus better?"Thusarethe"AlliancesforProgress"received.Basically,theminerwasright.Forinhiswayhewasdefending somethingthatwasmuchmoreimportanttohimthanavaccination. Buttherevolutiontriumphsandeverythingchanges.A devouringthirstforknowledgeinvadestheentirepopulation, whetherinthenewnationorintheliberatedterritoriesofa nation in revolt. And because ofthis,Fanonstates:"The people whotaketheirdestinyintotheirownhandsassimilatethe mostmodernforms oftechnologyatanextraordinaryrate."As inChina,inCuba,inKorea,aswithalltheoppressedpeoples ofLatinAmerica,ofAsia,ofAfrica,therevolutioniscivilization.AndalsoinPortugal,inSpain,inGreece,andinthe southofItaly andbeyond. This book of Fanon covers a particularly cruLial period in the Algerian revolution.It was during the frstfveyears-when the peoplewerefghtingvirtuallyalone,almostwithoutoutside help-thatthepeopledecidedonceandforalltostandfrm andlaidthefoundationsfortheirtriumph.Algeriawasnever completelyalone.She had the support of the massesof the Arab countries,whosecuredthe supportoftheirgovernments-many ofwhichhadbeendraggingtheir feetontheissue.Shehadthe support of the peoples of the world,who followed her fght very closely.Butshewasaloneinmaterialmeans,inmaterialsupprt.ShehadnosupportfromtheUSSR,andsupportfom Chinacame onlyin 1959.And in the frst yearsshe had to break bymeansofherownheroismthewallofsilenceandslander 8ADYINGCOLONIALISM AinAlgeria,theBolivianminersdefendtheirradiotransmittersaspartoftheircollectiveexistence. Manyunionshave boughttheirtransmitterwithvoluntarycontributionsofa day's,twodays' andeventhreedays'wagespermonthfromall the workersinthemine.TheBolivianminerearns$20to$40 per month.One must considerhis standardoflivingin order to understand whatit means for him togive up aday'sor twodays' wages eachmonth so thattheunion cangetits radio.But then, thecollectivepride:"Ourunionhasaradio,too!"Whenthe governmentorthepolicehavewishedtosilenceortakeby assaultsucharadio(ofciaIlytheyareprohibited,thegovernmenthavingdeclaredthemillegal-butintheminingdistricts the unionand notthe government commands)theresponse has been explosive.In Huanunitheminers took back theirradio by mobilizingtheirmilitiaandinretaliationtheytookoverthe municipalradioofthedistrictaswell,whichfromthenon wascontrolledbytheminers.Thoughtheydidn'tknowit, BolivianminersandAlgerianmasseswereunitedinasingle actionforasingleend.Inthisway,andnotthroughbooks, business deals, or international assemblies is the present unity of humanity being forged and constructed. FrantzFanontellshowmodernmedicaltechniques,when they were brought in by imperialism,wereresistedand rejected bytheAlgerianpopulation-"ignrant,obstinate,backward" accordingtotheculturedimperialistswhowerebafedbythis rejection.Butthesesametechniqueswereacceptedwithdizzyinghastewhentherevolutionadoptedthem.Culture,like truth,isconcrete.And for the masses themostelevated formof culture, that is to say, ofprogress,is toresist imperialist dominationandpenetration,althoughthismightcomewrappedupin validformsof"culture"or"civilization."TheAlgerianskept theirwomenbehindveils,rejectedthedoctors,wouldnotaccepttheradio.But theywerenot backward.Intheirway,they weredefendingcivilizationasweBastheywereable.Civilization, for them,meant frst ofall to resistimperialismand second to cast it into the sea at whatever cost.And theywere right. INTRODUCTION9 Onemorning,fromthehomeoftheBolivianminerwhowas givingmelodging-ahomemeasuringtwometersbythree,the wallsandfoorofwhichwereofearth,andwhichhousedhis wife andchild as weII-1saw that there wasanambulanceat the cornerfromtheInter-AmericanHealthService.Itwasgiving freevaccinationsagainstsmallpox.Iaskedmyhostwhyhe didn't send his son tobevaccinated.And he answered,"Are you crazy? Who knows what kind offlth these gringos are injecting, inordertoturnusBoliviansintoidiotssotheycanexploitus better?"Thusarethe"AlliancesforProgress"received.Basically,theminerwasright.Forinhiswayhewasdefending somethingthatwasmuchmoreimportanttohimthanavaccination. Buttherevolutiontriumphsandeverythingchanges.A devouringthirstforknowledgeinvadestheentirepopulation, whetherinthenewnationorintheliberatedterritoriesofa nation in revolt. And because ofthis,Fanonstates:"The people whotaketheirdestinyintotheirownhandsassimilatethe mostmodernforms oftechnologyatanextraordinaryrate."As inChina,inCuba,inKorea,aswithalltheoppressedpeoples ofLatinAmerica,ofAsia,ofAfrica,therevolutioniscivilization.AndalsoinPortugal,inSpain,inGreece,andinthe southofItaly andbeyond. This book of Fanon covers a particularly cruLial period in the Algerian revolution.It was during the frstfveyears-when the peoplewerefghtingvirtuallyalone,almostwithoutoutside help-thatthepeopledecidedonceandforalltostandfrm andlaidthefoundationsfortheirtriumph.Algeriawasnever completelyalone.She had the support of the massesof the Arab countries,whosecuredthe supportoftheirgovernments-many ofwhichhadbeendraggingtheir feetontheissue.Shehadthe support of the peoples of the world,who followed her fght very closely.Butshewasaloneinmaterialmeans,inmaterialsupprt.ShehadnosupportfromtheUSSR,andsupportfom Chinacame onlyin 1959.And in the frst yearsshe had to break bymeansofherownheroismthewallofsilenceandslander 12 ADYINGCOLONIALISM but with agun in hand. "Insteadofpityingusand beinghorrifedbytheatrocitiesofimperialism,betterfghtagainstitin your own countryas wedoinours,"saidtheAlgerians,andsay othercolonialpeoplestodaytotheirnewpacifstprotectors. "Thatisthebestwaytohflpusandtoputanendtothe atrocities. ' , Theessenceofrevolutionisnotthestruggleforbread;itis thestruggleforhumandignity.Certainlythisincludesbrea. AndatthebaseofanyrevolutionarysituationareeconomIC conditions.Butbeyondacertainpointofdevelopment,onthis samebasis,itismoreimportantforapeopletohavegunsin handthantoeatmorethantheyearbefore.Thisisdemonstrated by all revolutions. And tothe degreethat the boundaries oftherevolutionareextendedandbecomeonewiththoseof theglobeitself,immediateeconomicconditionsaresecondary tothemovementofthemassestoliquidateallformsofoppression and govern themselves byand for themselves.Asa result of thisdesireforliberationandhumandignity,thedominating featureofhumanitytoday,peopleacceptandassumethematerialsacrifcesofyearswhichanyrevolutionrequires,because they feel that thus theylivea new life,a better life,andthatfor the frst time they are really living their ownlives. "The colonizedperson,who ih this respectislikethemenin underdevelopedcountriesorthedisinheritedinallpartsofthe world,perceiveslifenotasafoweringoradevelopmentofan essentialproductiveness,but as apermanentstruggleagainstan omnipresent death.This ever-menacingdeath is experiencedas endemicfamine,unemployment,ahighmortalityrate,an inferioritycomplexandtheabsenceofanyhopeforthefuture," says Frantz Fanon. Therevolutionendsallthat;thesourceofhumandignity, it ispreparinghumanity,throughitstransformationin therevolution,fortheconstructionofsocialism.Withoutthistransformationtherewillbenomaterialbaseforthebuildingof socialism.I say materialadvisedly since itisnotonlythemeans INTRODUCTION of productionwhichare material,but alsothe accumulatedexperienceintheheads,hearts,andhandsofmen. For this reason Fanon closes his bookwith these words:"The revolutionindepth,thetrueone,preciselybecauseitchanges manandrenewssociety,hasreachedanadvancedstage.This oxygenwhichcreatesandshapesanewhumanity-this,too,is theAlgerianRevolution."Anditisalso,onemustaddtoday, thesocialistrevolutionwhichisadvancinginAlgeria. Ifthe revolution changes apeople in thisway-ifit iscapable ofilluminatingandinfuencingEuropeandAfricaasithas beendoing,thisisbecauseitispartofaglobalprocesswhich knowsnoboundaries.If,asanexample,theAlgerianswere abletocastoutFrenchimperialism,itwasnotonlybythe heroismoftheirstrugglebutalsobecauseinonewayoranother,anddespitethereformistcharacteroftheirofcialinstructions,FrenchworkerscontinuedtoresistFrenchcapitalism,tothreatenit,toundermineitfromwithin.Theydidn't have themeanstodomore,but without theirpresenceFrench imperialismwouldhavefeltstrongenoughtoresistinAlgeria for a longer time. Atthesametime,theAlgerianvictorydemonstratedhowa revolutioncanstandfrmandtriumphwithoutagreatdealof outsidesupport, securingoreven makingitsownweapons,ifit iscapableofunitingthemassesofthecountryinthestruggle forliberation.ThereisnodoubtthatAlgeria,likeeveryrevolutionaryprocessinthe world,hasmade itspowerfulinfuence felt even inside the Soviet Union.The Sovietpeopleknowthat itwasonlyatthelastminutethattheirgovernmentlentits supporttoAlgeria.Todaytheyhavedrawntheirconclusions, andoneofthemisthatKhrushchevis nomore.Other- conclusionswillcomelater;theyareslowly ripening insidetheSoviet Union.Foritiscertainlyobviousthat,ifinAlgeriathemasses hadandhavethe inner lifeoftheirownthatFanondescribes, thesamelifewiththesameaimsexistsintheSovietUnion, althoughitisexpressedinadiferentform.Andjustasthe Algerian is united with theCuban,the Bolivian,theCongolese, 12 ADYINGCOLONIALISM but with agun in hand. "Insteadofpityingusand beinghorrifedbytheatrocitiesofimperialism,betterfghtagainstitin your own countryas wedoinours,"saidtheAlgerians,andsay othercolonialpeoplestodaytotheirnewpacifstprotectors. "Thatisthebestwaytohflpusandtoputanendtothe atrocities. ' , Theessenceofrevolutionisnotthestruggleforbread;itis thestruggleforhumandignity.Certainlythisincludesbrea. AndatthebaseofanyrevolutionarysituationareeconomIC conditions.Butbeyondacertainpointofdevelopment,onthis samebasis,itismoreimportantforapeopletohavegunsin handthantoeatmorethantheyearbefore.Thisisdemonstrated by all revolutions. And tothe degreethat the boundaries oftherevolutionareextendedandbecomeonewiththoseof theglobeitself,immediateeconomicconditionsaresecondary tothemovementofthemassestoliquidateallformsofoppression and govern themselves byand for themselves.Asa result of thisdesireforliberationandhumandignity,thedominating featureofhumanitytoday,peopleacceptandassumethematerialsacrifcesofyearswhichanyrevolutionrequires,because they feel that thus theylivea new life,a better life,andthatfor the frst time they are really living their ownlives. "The colonizedperson,who ih this respectislikethemenin underdevelopedcountriesorthedisinheritedinallpartsofthe world,perceiveslifenotasafoweringoradevelopmentofan essentialproductiveness,but as apermanentstruggleagainstan omnipresent death.This ever-menacingdeath is experiencedas endemicfamine,unemployment,ahighmortalityrate,an inferioritycomplexandtheabsenceofanyhopeforthefuture," says Frantz Fanon. Therevolutionendsallthat;thesourceofhumandignity, it ispreparinghumanity,throughitstransformationin therevolution,fortheconstructionofsocialism.Withoutthistransformationtherewillbenomaterialbaseforthebuildingof socialism.I say materialadvisedly since itisnotonlythemeans INTRODUCTION of productionwhichare material,but alsothe accumulatedexperienceintheheads,hearts,andhandsofmen. For this reason Fanon closes his bookwith these words:"The revolutionindepth,thetrueone,preciselybecauseitchanges manandrenewssociety,hasreachedanadvancedstage.This oxygenwhichcreatesandshapesanewhumanity-this,too,is theAlgerianRevolution."Anditisalso,onemustaddtoday, thesocialistrevolutionwhichisadvancinginAlgeria. Ifthe revolution changes apeople in thisway-ifit iscapable ofilluminatingandinfuencingEuropeandAfricaasithas beendoing,thisisbecauseitispartofaglobalprocesswhich knowsnoboundaries.If,asanexample,theAlgerianswere abletocastoutFrenchimperialism,itwasnotonlybythe heroismoftheirstrugglebutalsobecauseinonewayoranother,anddespitethereformistcharacteroftheirofcialinstructions,FrenchworkerscontinuedtoresistFrenchcapitalism,tothreatenit,toundermineitfromwithin.Theydidn't have themeanstodomore,but without theirpresenceFrench imperialismwouldhavefeltstrongenoughtoresistinAlgeria for a longer time. Atthesametime,theAlgerianvictorydemonstratedhowa revolutioncanstandfrmandtriumphwithoutagreatdealof outsidesupport, securingoreven makingitsownweapons,ifit iscapableofunitingthemassesofthecountryinthestruggle forliberation.ThereisnodoubtthatAlgeria,likeeveryrevolutionaryprocessinthe world,hasmade itspowerfulinfuence felt even inside the Soviet Union.The Sovietpeopleknowthat itwasonlyatthelastminutethattheirgovernmentlentits supporttoAlgeria.Todaytheyhavedrawntheirconclusions, andoneofthemisthatKhrushchevis nomore.Other- conclusionswillcomelater;theyareslowly ripening insidetheSoviet Union.Foritiscertainlyobviousthat,ifinAlgeriathemasses hadandhavethe inner lifeoftheirownthatFanondescribes, thesamelifewiththesameaimsexistsintheSovietUnion, althoughitisexpressedinadiferentform.Andjustasthe Algerian is united with theCuban,the Bolivian,theCongolese, 14 ADYINGCOLONIALISM throughcertainobviousactscarriedoutincommon,heis alsounited with the Soviet and theChinesecitizen.Theimmediate courseofhistorywillshow thedevelopmentofthisunion moreand moreclearlythroughmoreandmorepalpabledeeds. And the Algerianis also united with the American.If Algeria wasoncealone,todaythisisnolongerpossible.Khrushchev wantedtoignoreVietnam-andhefell.Vietnamistodaythe centeroftheglobalstrugglebetweenrevolutionandcounterrevolution.Inacertainsense,itistodaywhatAlgeriawasduringthatffthyearofthe revolutionin1959.Butwhatadiference!Today the war inVietnaminvolves immensepowers.The Soviet population,theChinese populationfollowhourbyhour what ishappening in Vietnam,andthere cannot be theslightest doubt that they are pressuringforintervention.ButtheAmericanpopulationisfollowingtheseevents,too.Andalthough their feelings are not clear,andevenstill terribly confused,one cannotdoubteitherthatthedominantlineofpressure,howeveritmaybeexpressed,istorestraintheirownleadersfrom unleashingaworldwar.Eveninthiscontradictoryformof fears,vacillations,anddoubtsinthefaceoftheworldsituation-whichdidnotexistduri thewaragainsttheAxispowers-thepressureoftheworldrevolutionisweighingonthe UnitedStates.Thispressureisbuildinguptoproduceamore positiveresponseonthepartofthestudentmovements-still smallbutveryexplicit-opposingAmericaninterventionin Vietnam.Never,inanycountry,doesasignifcantmassofstudentsrepresentonlythemselves;theyrepresentawholesector of the population thathas notyetdecided toexpress itself.This is valid for the Soviet Union as well as for the United States. Tobesure,itis notstudentdemonstrationsthatwilldecide whetherornotamajorwarwillbelaunched.Thebalanceof forcesisimmenselymorecomplexandintheendthedecisive buttons are controlledbyonly afew persons beyond allcontrol, whomayfeelcompelledtoactinthefaceofasituationthey consider desperatefor their ownsurvival:theimminent threat INTRODUCTION15 that ina particularmoment the loss of Vietnam would bring in its wake the loss of all Asia may be such asituation. Butthe greatvalueofFanon'sdescriptionsoftheconductof themassesisinunderliningtheimportanceoftheirinnerlife, theirprivatediscussions,theirresistance,theirseeminglyindirect actions.All this exists among all the peoples of the world.It is on this deep level that the future-which will later onseemto burstsuddenlyandwithoutwarningintobloom-isbeingprepared.The same thinghappens in theUnitedStates.Resistance tothewarinVietnam,howeverweakitmayseemincomparisonwiththeapparentomnipotenceoftheimperialistappartus,mustbeunderstoodasahighlyimportantsymptomof whatisgestatinginthestillunconsciousdepthsofbroadsegmentsofthepopulation.TheUnitedStatesisnotisolatedby anycordonsanitairefromtherevolutionwhichisengulfng mankind,andeachaggressivestepthatitsgovernmenttakes along the roadofcounter-revolutioninevitablyawakensopposing forces within the country. ItisworththetroubletoanalyzethetestimonyofFanon because itillustrates how,in the midst ofthe worst disasters,the massesfndthemeansofreorgadizingthemselvesandcontinuing their existence when they haveacommonobjective.Systems cannotdothis.Nationsfall,armiescollapse,businessescloseor areexpropriated,colonistsfee,acityisdestroyedbybombardment.Butthemassesgoonliving;theytenaciouslyrecreate themselves,burytheirdead,andgoforward.Itisworththe troubletoanalyzeFanon,forthelifeofhumanitytoday,asin Algeria,ispreparingthelifeoftomorrow.Thedesire,thecollectivedecisionforsocialliberationissorootedinthe verylife ofallmankindthatitisasmuchapartoftheirexistenceasis theearthandtheair.Thereisnopower,noconventionalor atomicweapon thatcandestroy it.Alltherestmaydisappearnations,enterprises, cities. That,no. ThisideaisatthebottomoftheChinesestrategyagainst atomicwar.AnditisalsopresentinthestrategyoftheSoviet ary,oneof whosechiefsrecentlyreferredtothepossiblewar 14 ADYINGCOLONIALISM throughcertainobviousactscarriedoutincommon,heis alsounited with the Soviet and theChinesecitizen.Theimmediate courseofhistorywillshow thedevelopmentofthisunion moreand moreclearlythroughmoreandmorepalpabledeeds. And the Algerianis also united with the American.If Algeria wasoncealone,todaythisisnolongerpossible.Khrushchev wantedtoignoreVietnam-andhefell.Vietnamistodaythe centeroftheglobalstrugglebetweenrevolutionandcounterrevolution.Inacertainsense,itistodaywhatAlgeriawasduringthatffthyearofthe revolutionin1959.Butwhatadiference!Today the war inVietnaminvolves immensepowers.The Soviet population,theChinese populationfollowhourbyhour what ishappening in Vietnam,andthere cannot be theslightest doubt that they are pressuringforintervention.ButtheAmericanpopulationisfollowingtheseevents,too.Andalthough their feelings are not clear,andevenstill terribly confused,one cannotdoubteitherthatthedominantlineofpressure,howeveritmaybeexpressed,istorestraintheirownleadersfrom unleashingaworldwar.Eveninthiscontradictoryformof fears,vacillations,anddoubtsinthefaceoftheworldsituation-whichdidnotexistduri thewaragainsttheAxispowers-thepressureoftheworldrevolutionisweighingonthe UnitedStates.Thispressureisbuildinguptoproduceamore positiveresponseonthepartofthestudentmovements-still smallbutveryexplicit-opposingAmericaninterventionin Vietnam.Never,inanycountry,doesasignifcantmassofstudentsrepresentonlythemselves;theyrepresentawholesector of the population thathas notyetdecided toexpress itself.This is valid for the Soviet Union as well as for the United States. Tobesure,itis notstudentdemonstrationsthatwilldecide whetherornotamajorwarwillbelaunched.Thebalanceof forcesisimmenselymorecomplexandintheendthedecisive buttons are controlledbyonly afew persons beyond allcontrol, whomayfeelcompelledtoactinthefaceofasituationthey consider desperatefor their ownsurvival:theimminent threat INTRODUCTION15 that ina particularmoment the loss of Vietnam would bring in its wake the loss of all Asia may be such asituation. Butthe greatvalueofFanon'sdescriptionsoftheconductof themassesisinunderliningtheimportanceoftheirinnerlife, theirprivatediscussions,theirresistance,theirseeminglyindirect actions.All this exists among all the peoples of the world.It is on this deep level that the future-which will later onseemto burstsuddenlyandwithoutwarningintobloom-isbeingprepared.The same thinghappens in theUnitedStates.Resistance tothewarinVietnam,howeverweakitmayseemincomparisonwiththeapparentomnipotenceoftheimperialistappartus,mustbeunderstoodasahighlyimportantsymptomof whatisgestatinginthestillunconsciousdepthsofbroadsegmentsofthepopulation.TheUnitedStatesisnotisolatedby anycordonsanitairefromtherevolutionwhichisengulfng mankind,andeachaggressivestepthatitsgovernmenttakes along the roadofcounter-revolutioninevitablyawakensopposing forces within the country. ItisworththetroubletoanalyzethetestimonyofFanon because itillustrates how,in the midst ofthe worst disasters,the massesfndthemeansofreorgadizingthemselvesandcontinuing their existence when they haveacommonobjective.Systems cannotdothis.Nationsfall,armiescollapse,businessescloseor areexpropriated,colonistsfee,acityisdestroyedbybombardment.Butthemassesgoonliving;theytenaciouslyrecreate themselves,burytheirdead,andgoforward.Itisworththe troubletoanalyzeFanon,forthelifeofhumanitytoday,asin Algeria,ispreparingthelifeoftomorrow.Thedesire,thecollectivedecisionforsocialliberationissorootedinthe verylife ofallmankindthatitisasmuchapartoftheirexistenceasis theearthandtheair.Thereisnopower,noconventionalor atomicweapon thatcandestroy it.Alltherestmaydisappearnations,enterprises, cities. That,no. ThisideaisatthebottomoftheChinesestrategyagainst atomicwar.AnditisalsopresentinthestrategyoftheSoviet ary,oneof whosechiefsrecentlyreferredtothepossiblewar 16 ADYINGCOLONIALISM asnapopularrisingofthemasses"anddescribedthe .means being developed forreorganizing the lifeofthe country mcase ofanatomicattack. It is afact thatapeople whowentthroughtheAlgerianwar donotfeelintimidatedbytheatomicmenace.Nordothe people who are living through the war in Vietna.Nr even .do those who, without experiencing actual warfare,hve lIves which are"apermanentstruggleagainstanomnipresentdeath,"s Fanon says.And it is easy to imaginethat ifoneday the transIstorradioofaBolivianminer,oraColombianpeasant,oran AlgerianfellahtellsthemthatMoscowandPekinghaveben destroyedbyatomicbombs,theywillriseupfuriouslyandmstantaneously todestroyinturn allthatwhichrepresentstheir enemies.And ifin the same moment theyare also told that,on the otherside,New Yorkhasdisappearedfrom themap,their strengthwillbemultipliedbecausetheywillseethattheir enemies no longer haveany support,andtheywillfeelthata immense weight has beenlifted from their shoulders.The tStlmony ofFanon-and how much distance has been covered smce then!-shouldmakeusrefectthathumanity,onceithas reachedsuchadegreeofdecisionanuollectiveconscience, cannot be destroyed by war, whatever may be theimmeasurable damage war can wreak. Perhaps this thesis isnotvery inspiring for aresident ofNew York.ButitwasinspiringfortheCubansin1 962whenthey faced the imminent prospect of atomic destruction.Onthe 27th of OctoberfewpeopleinHavanadoubtedthatthatafternoon theywouldundergoanatomicattack.Fewhadillusionsabout their chances."They'regoingtowipeus outonthespot. "But nobodywas afraidorwavered.Itwasimpressive,moving,this collectivesecurity.Cubafeltherselftobepartofhumanity. Theentirepopulationfeltlikethesoldierwhoknowsthat, though thenext skirmishwillsurelycosthimhislife,hemust not finch but must help prepare the way for the triumph ofhis friends.TotheendCubawasabletotakeherowndestinyin hand,andshewon.Ifinthatmomentshehadvacillated. INTRODUCTION17 beggedforatruceorfallenback,shewouldhavelost,been invaded.Thusherdecisionwaspartofthestrengththatmade theenemydrawback."We'dratherhavethemkillusallthan goback to theold life."Thisis whattheCubansaid,whatthe Algeriansaidinhismomentofdecision,whattheChineseand the Vietnamesearesaying.This verydecisionmakesanythreat inefectiveandatthesametimeunitesthedestinyoftheindividual and the collectivity with that ofhumankind.The destiny ofhumankindis todayfoundin revolution,oneofwhosestages is described from within by Fanon inthis book. Onlybybecomingapartofthisworldwiderevolutioncan theresidentofNewYorktakehishumandestinyuponhis shoulders.Onlythuswillhefndthedoortothefuture,and onlythuscanhisactionbeefective.Becausethisactionrests notonhumanitarianabstractionsbut onthereallifeofhuman beingstoday-inAlgeria,Vietnam,theCongo,China,Indonesia,all ofLatinAmerica. Whentheimmensemajorityofhumanityislivingthrough theseproblemsandtheseexperiences,whenthereallife,the realfutureofthousandsofmillionsismodelledonthisrevolutionarylife,whenhumanityistakingitsdestinyinitshandsin thisway,itispurecharlatanismtotalkofsuchthingsasa "cyberneticrevolution."Itishumanbeings-notsystems,machinesorweapons-whodecidetheirownlives.Toignorethis is to isolate asmallsegmentofhumanity,thepopulationofthe United States,fromthe life, the problems,andthe changes that the immensemajorityofhumanityisexperiencing.Itistoisolate this segment from the futureand from life and to shut it up inside a provincial andpragmaticnarrowness.Itisthe people of AlgeriaandVietnam,nottheUnivacsnortheNewYorkStock Exchangewho,inthe fnalanalysis,decidethe futureandwho, togetherwiththeAmericanpeople,willdecidetomorrowwhat to do with theUnivacsandwiththevast technologywhichwill belong to them. Zanzibar,inanevenmoredecisiveformthanCuba,hasdemonstratedthattoayanyrevolutionagainstimperialismcan-16 ADYINGCOLONIALISM asnapopularrisingofthemasses"anddescribedthe .means being developed forreorganizing the lifeofthe country mcase ofanatomicattack. It is afact thatapeople whowentthroughtheAlgerianwar donotfeelintimidatedbytheatomicmenace.Nordothe people who are living through the war in Vietna.Nr even .do those who, without experiencing actual warfare,hve lIves which are"apermanentstruggleagainstanomnipresentdeath,"s Fanon says.And it is easy to imaginethat ifoneday the transIstorradioofaBolivianminer,oraColombianpeasant,oran AlgerianfellahtellsthemthatMoscowandPekinghaveben destroyedbyatomicbombs,theywillriseupfuriouslyandmstantaneously todestroyinturn allthatwhichrepresentstheir enemies.And ifin the same moment theyare also told that,on the otherside,New Yorkhasdisappearedfrom themap,their strengthwillbemultipliedbecausetheywillseethattheir enemies no longer haveany support,andtheywillfeelthata immense weight has beenlifted from their shoulders.The tStlmony ofFanon-and how much distance has been covered smce then!-shouldmakeusrefectthathumanity,onceithas reachedsuchadegreeofdecisionanuollectiveconscience, cannot be destroyed by war, whatever may be theimmeasurable damage war can wreak. Perhaps this thesis isnotvery inspiring for aresident ofNew York.ButitwasinspiringfortheCubansin1 962whenthey faced the imminent prospect of atomic destruction.Onthe 27th of OctoberfewpeopleinHavanadoubtedthatthatafternoon theywouldundergoanatomicattack.Fewhadillusionsabout their chances."They'regoingtowipeus outonthespot. "But nobodywas afraidorwavered.Itwasimpressive,moving,this collectivesecurity.Cubafeltherselftobepartofhumanity. Theentirepopulationfeltlikethesoldierwhoknowsthat, though thenext skirmishwillsurelycosthimhislife,hemust not finch but must help prepare the way for the triumph ofhis friends.TotheendCubawasabletotakeherowndestinyin hand,andshewon.Ifinthatmomentshehadvacillated. INTRODUCTION17 beggedforatruceorfallenback,shewouldhavelost,been invaded.Thusherdecisionwaspartofthestrengththatmade theenemydrawback."We'dratherhavethemkillusallthan goback to theold life."Thisis whattheCubansaid,whatthe Algeriansaidinhismomentofdecision,whattheChineseand the Vietnamesearesaying.This verydecisionmakesanythreat inefectiveandatthesametimeunitesthedestinyoftheindividual and the collectivity with that ofhumankind.The destiny ofhumankindis todayfoundin revolution,oneofwhosestages is described from within by Fanon inthis book. Onlybybecomingapartofthisworldwiderevolutioncan theresidentofNewYorktakehishumandestinyuponhis shoulders.Onlythuswillhefndthedoortothefuture,and onlythuscanhisactionbeefective.Becausethisactionrests notonhumanitarianabstractionsbut onthereallifeofhuman beingstoday-inAlgeria,Vietnam,theCongo,China,Indonesia,all ofLatinAmerica. Whentheimmensemajorityofhumanityislivingthrough theseproblemsandtheseexperiences,whenthereallife,the realfutureofthousandsofmillionsismodelledonthisrevolutionarylife,whenhumanityistakingitsdestinyinitshandsin thisway,itispurecharlatanismtotalkofsuchthingsasa "cyberneticrevolution."Itishumanbeings-notsystems,machinesorweapons-whodecidetheirownlives.Toignorethis is to isolate asmallsegmentofhumanity,thepopulationofthe United States,fromthe life, the problems,andthe changes that the immensemajorityofhumanityisexperiencing.Itistoisolate this segment from the futureand from life and to shut it up inside a provincial andpragmaticnarrowness.Itisthe people of AlgeriaandVietnam,nottheUnivacsnortheNewYorkStock Exchangewho,inthe fnalanalysis,decidethe futureandwho, togetherwiththeAmericanpeople,willdecidetomorrowwhat to do with theUnivacsandwiththevast technologywhichwill belong to them. Zanzibar,inanevenmoredecisiveformthanCuba,hasdemonstratedthattoayanyrevolutionagainstimperialismcan-18 ADYINGCOLONIALISM not but leadthe way tosoialism.Thereisnoanti-imperialist revolutioninanycolonialcountrythatdoesnotmeanoverthrowing capitalismatthesametime.Algeriaisanotherpro?. Andinthissocialistobjectivetherevolutionsinthecolomes todayfndthelinkwhichj oinsthemtothecomingAmerican revolution.For this reason,anyactionthatunitesasegmentof theAmericanpopulation,nomatterhowsmallitmayseem, withtheglobalrevolution,representsandintroducesinthe UnitedStatesanimmensestrength,inthesamewaythatthe Algeriancombatantrepresentednotonlytefrepowerof hisgun,buttheconstantandpowerfulactlOnofanentire \people. ThisbookbyFanontestifesnotsomuchtothedeat of colonialism as tothelifeofthe masses in thisageofrevolution. It continues to be today, in the still underdeveloped countries,a clarioncalltomakecommoncause,withoutreservationsor limitations,withthosemasses,tobecomeapartoftheirstruggles,andabovealltofeelandundtand. astheirownthe tremendousstrengthofaunitedpeople.Thlsmeans,really,to submitoneselftotheprofundityoftheinnerlife-real,not apparent-ofone'sownpeople,tounderstandthesignsand symptomsoftheimmediatefuturethatwillcomeoutofthose depthsandnotoutofthesuperfcialremnantsofadeadpast whichstill seems,butonly seems,tocontrolthe future.Inreality,Fanonis callingus alltoprepareourplaceinthisrevolutionthatischallenging,transforming,andunitingallofhumanity. AdolfoGilly April,1965 Potspt Inasmall sectionofthecityofSantoDomingo}Dominican peopleinarsareresistingthemilitarinvasionbyAmerican troops.Men}women}children}workers}soldiers}stud.ents} nclosedin ascanttwosquarekilometers,withoutsuppltes}wzth-INTRODUCTION 1 9 out efectiveoutsidesupport-fromRussiaor anybodyelse-are resistingthegrL"atestmilitarypowerofthecapitalistworld. Thatpowercannotadvance}althoughithasthemilitaryforce towipeoutthiszoneinlessthananhour.Whoandwhatis containingit?WhatistheforcethatisanimatingtheDominicans?The peopleinthesetwosquarekilometersarenotalone. TheentireDominicanpopulationisexpressingitselfthrough thesearmedciviliansinthesefewblocks.Butthethreeanda halfmillionDominicansarenot aloneeither.Theforceofthe worldwiderevolution}whichsustainedA 1geriaandissustainingZanzibar} hasfoundapointofsupportinthearmedpopultionofSantoDomingo.Thesepeople}withoutdeclarations) withoutgrandgestures,butsimplybyresistingwitharmsin hand} are representingthat revolutiondaybyday.They are the greatestsymbol of humandignity. EverythingthatyesterdaypermittedtheA 1gerianstoresist andconquer)istodaybeingexpressedbytheDominicanpeople.IftheDominicansareabletoresistinthisway)thismeans that no revolutionaryforceortendency,nomatter howsmall it may seem) is alone or isolated if it knows how to represent)inits policies)itsacts)anditslife,thisimmenseforcethatistrans formingtheworld.Incontrast)aloneandisolatedarethose who)withgreatpowerandmeans)wishtobrakethisforceor refuseto supporttheDominicanswithmorethandeclarations. TheDominicancrisis,liketheSino-SovietandtheAlgerian crises)isindicatinginitswaythattheprofoundrealityofthe revolutionartransform. ationisfght ingtoexpressitselfopenly and to doawaywithexternal appearances perpetuated fromthe past.Thenewcontentis creating cracksintheold formswhich aretryingtostifeit. Tomorrowtherewillbenomorearms.Todayarmsinthe handsofapeoplechangethedeepestrecessesoftheirlives. Thisintroductionwasalreadywrittenwhenthemilitaryjunta thatgovernsBoliviasetouttosnatchthearms,theradios)the workers'controlfromtheminers}workers)andpeaantsof 18 ADYINGCOLONIALISM not but leadthe way tosoialism.Thereisnoanti-imperialist revolutioninanycolonialcountrythatdoesnotmeanoverthrowing capitalismatthesametime.Algeriaisanotherpro?. Andinthissocialistobjectivetherevolutionsinthecolomes todayfndthelinkwhichj oinsthemtothecomingAmerican revolution.For this reason,anyactionthatunitesasegmentof theAmericanpopulation,nomatterhowsmallitmayseem, withtheglobalrevolution,representsandintroducesinthe UnitedStatesanimmensestrength,inthesamewaythatthe Algeriancombatantrepresentednotonlytefrepowerof hisgun,buttheconstantandpowerfulactlOnofanentire \people. ThisbookbyFanontestifesnotsomuchtothedeat of colonialism as tothelifeofthe masses in thisageofrevolution. It continues to be today, in the still underdeveloped countries,a clarioncalltomakecommoncause,withoutreservationsor limitations,withthosemasses,tobecomeapartoftheirstruggles,andabovealltofeelandundtand. astheirownthe tremendousstrengthofaunitedpeople.Thlsmeans,really,to submitoneselftotheprofundityoftheinnerlife-real,not apparent-ofone'sownpeople,tounderstandthesignsand symptomsoftheimmediatefuturethatwillcomeoutofthose depthsandnotoutofthesuperfcialremnantsofadeadpast whichstill seems,butonly seems,tocontrolthe future.Inreality,Fanonis callingus alltoprepareourplaceinthisrevolutionthatischallenging,transforming,andunitingallofhumanity. AdolfoGilly April,1965 Potspt Inasmall sectionofthecityofSantoDomingo}Dominican peopleinarsareresistingthemilitarinvasionbyAmerican troops.Men}women}children}workers}soldiers}stud.ents} nclosedin ascanttwosquarekilometers,withoutsuppltes}wzth-INTRODUCTION 1 9 out efectiveoutsidesupport-fromRussiaor anybodyelse-are resistingthegrL"atestmilitarypowerofthecapitalistworld. Thatpowercannotadvance}althoughithasthemilitaryforce towipeoutthiszoneinlessthananhour.Whoandwhatis containingit?WhatistheforcethatisanimatingtheDominicans?The peopleinthesetwosquarekilometersarenotalone. TheentireDominicanpopulationisexpressingitselfthrough thesearmedciviliansinthesefewblocks.Butthethreeanda halfmillionDominicansarenot aloneeither.Theforceofthe worldwiderevolution}whichsustainedA 1geriaandissustainingZanzibar} hasfoundapointofsupportinthearmedpopultionofSantoDomingo.Thesepeople}withoutdeclarations) withoutgrandgestures,butsimplybyresistingwitharmsin hand} are representingthat revolutiondaybyday.They are the greatestsymbol of humandignity. EverythingthatyesterdaypermittedtheA 1gerianstoresist andconquer)istodaybeingexpressedbytheDominicanpeople.IftheDominicansareabletoresistinthisway)thismeans that no revolutionaryforceortendency,nomatter howsmall it may seem) is alone or isolated if it knows how to represent)inits policies)itsacts)anditslife,thisimmenseforcethatistrans formingtheworld.Incontrast)aloneandisolatedarethose who)withgreatpowerandmeans)wishtobrakethisforceor refuseto supporttheDominicanswithmorethandeclarations. TheDominicancrisis,liketheSino-SovietandtheAlgerian crises)isindicatinginitswaythattheprofoundrealityofthe revolutionartransform. ationisfght ingtoexpressitselfopenly and to doawaywithexternal appearances perpetuated fromthe past.Thenewcontentis creating cracksintheold formswhich aretryingtostifeit. Tomorrowtherewillbenomorearms.Todayarmsinthe handsofapeoplechangethedeepestrecessesoftheirlives. Thisintroductionwasalreadywrittenwhenthemilitaryjunta thatgovernsBoliviasetouttosnatchthearms,theradios)the workers'controlfromtheminers}workers)andpeaantsof 20 ADYI NGCOLONIALISM Bolivia.Thejuntacould advanceandstrikebecausetheleadershipfedatthefrstheavyattack.Buttheminersandworkers resisted.More than tendaystheyfoughtwitharmsinhand,and carriedoutageneralstrikewithoutcentralizedleadershipand underenormoushandicaps.Themilitaryjunta,assassinating hundredsofpeople,wasabletooccupythemines,takeover theunionsandtheminers'radios,becausetherewasnoleadership tounitetheworkersandthepopularforceswhichtogether wouldhavebeenabletorout thejunta.Butthejuntacouldnot andwillnotbe abletoreachitsessentialobjective:therecovery ofthearmsheldbytheminersandpeasants.Thearmyadvanced,butthearmswerehidden.Nobodyrespondedtothe invitationtoturnovertheirguns.Withoutleadershipthedefeatwasinevitableandtheminershadtoretreat.Butthey werenotbroken:proof-thehiddenarms.Nobodyhidesa weapon-attheriskofdeathorofthelossofhiswages,which inBoliviaisalmostthesamething-ifttisnotinordertocontinuetheresistance,ifheisnotalready,bythisactalone, continuingthebattle. Themilitias,theunions,andtherevolutionchangedforever theBolivianpeople,andthisfactnomilitaryjuntacanerase. Onthecontrary,thepermanentdynamismoftheworldwide revolutionwillcontinuetofndsupportwithinBolivia.Itwill helptoregroupforces,astodayitishelpingtheDominicanto resist,and to takethedirectionindicatedbytheseforces,which istowipeoutthemilitaryjuntaanditssocialsystemandnot simplytonegotiatewithit.Fortheolcf leadership'spoliticsof negotiationsimplyledtodispersalandfight. AsinglelineunitesSantoDomingo,Vietnam,Bolivia,ALgeria:theyareexpressionsofasinglerevolutionthatembraces theworld.Andfromthemomentwhentheirpeoplessucceeded intakingtheirdestinyintheirhandsbyforceofarms,nothing andnobodycouldmakethemretreat.Withdifcultyand throughcrisesandconfictsliketheSino-SovietandtheALgerianones,butstubbornlyandinexorblynevertheless,they INTRODUCTION 21 are makingemergethevanguardsandthedirectionsthatrepresenttherevolutionarystageofhumanity,andtheyarepreparingbytheirprogramandmethodstheadvancesandthesocialistdecisionsforwhichhumanityisalreadyprepared. June,1965 AdotfoGilly2 2AolfoG.iIIyisan. ArgentinejournalistwhowritesforseveralpublicanonsInLatinAmerIca,Italy,FranceandtheUnitedStates.Heisthe authoroftheMRPressbook,InsidetheCubanRevolution.ThisintroductionwastranslatedfromtheSpanishbyNellSalm. 20 ADYI NGCOLONIALISM Bolivia.Thejuntacould advanceandstrikebecausetheleadershipfedatthefrstheavyattack.Buttheminersandworkers resisted.More than tendaystheyfoughtwitharmsinhand,and carriedoutageneralstrikewithoutcentralizedleadershipand underenormoushandicaps.Themilitaryjunta,assassinating hundredsofpeople,wasabletooccupythemines,takeover theunionsandtheminers'radios,becausetherewasnoleadership tounitetheworkersandthepopularforceswhichtogether wouldhavebeenabletorout thejunta.Butthejuntacouldnot andwillnotbe abletoreachitsessentialobjective:therecovery ofthearmsheldbytheminersandpeasants.Thearmyadvanced,butthearmswerehidden.Nobodyrespondedtothe invitationtoturnovertheirguns.Withoutleadershipthedefeatwasinevitableandtheminershadtoretreat.Butthey werenotbroken:proof-thehiddenarms.Nobodyhidesa weapon-attheriskofdeathorofthelossofhiswages,which inBoliviaisalmostthesamething-ifttisnotinordertocontinuetheresistance,ifheisnotalready,bythisactalone, continuingthebattle. Themilitias,theunions,andtherevolutionchangedforever theBolivianpeople,andthisfactnomilitaryjuntacanerase. Onthecontrary,thepermanentdynamismoftheworldwide revolutionwillcontinuetofndsupportwithinBolivia.Itwill helptoregroupforces,astodayitishelpingtheDominicanto resist,and to takethedirectionindicatedbytheseforces,which istowipeoutthemilitaryjuntaanditssocialsystemandnot simplytonegotiatewithit.Fortheolcf leadership'spoliticsof negotiationsimplyledtodispersalandfight. AsinglelineunitesSantoDomingo,Vietnam,Bolivia,ALgeria:theyareexpressionsofasinglerevolutionthatembraces theworld.Andfromthemomentwhentheirpeoplessucceeded intakingtheirdestinyintheirhandsbyforceofarms,nothing andnobodycouldmakethemretreat.Withdifcultyand throughcrisesandconfictsliketheSino-SovietandtheALgerianones,butstubbornlyandinexorblynevertheless,they INTRODUCTION 21 are makingemergethevanguardsandthedirectionsthatrepresenttherevolutionarystageofhumanity,andtheyarepreparingbytheirprogramandmethodstheadvancesandthesocialistdecisionsforwhichhumanityisalreadyprepared. June,1965 AdotfoGilly2 2AolfoG.iIIyisan. ArgentinejournalistwhowritesforseveralpublicanonsInLatinAmerIca,Italy,FranceandtheUnitedStates.Heisthe authoroftheMRPressbook,InsidetheCubanRevolution.ThisintroductionwastranslatedfromtheSpanishbyNellSalm. Preface The Algerian war willsoon be enteringits sixth year.Noone amongusinNovember1954,nooneintheworld,suspected thataftersixtymonthsoffghting,Frenchcolonialismwould stillnothavereleaseditsclutchandheededthevoiceof the Algerian people. Fiveyearsofstrugglehavebroughtnopoliticalchange.The FrenchauthoritiescontinuetoproclaimAlgeriatobeFrench. Thiswarhasmobilizedthewholepopulation,hasdriven themtodrawupontheirentirereservesandtheirmosthidden resources.TheAlgerianpeoplehavegiventhemselvesno respite,forthecolonialismagainstwhichtheyarepittedhas allowedthem none. TheAlgerianwar-themosthallucinatorywarthatany peoplehasever wagedtosmashcolonialaggression.ItsadversariesliketoclaimthatthemenwholeadtheAlgerianRevolution are impelled by a thirst for blood.Thedemocrats who were sympathetictoitrepeat,fortheirpart,thatithasmademistakes. IthasinfacthappenedthatAlgeriancitizenshaveviolated thedirectivesofthecommandingbodies,andthatthingsthat shouldhavebeenavoidedhavetranspiredonthenational soil. Almostalways,incidentally,theseconcernedAlgeriancitizens. ButwhathastheRevolutiondoneinsuchcases?Hasit eludedits responsibilities?Has it notpenalizedthose whose acts threatenedtocompromisethetruthofthecombatwe were waging?HasnotMr.Ferhat Abbas,president ofthecouncilof theG.P.R.A.\publiclyannouncedthesometimescapital measurestaken bythe leadership of the Revolution? 1 G.P.R.A.-GouvernementProvisoiredelaRtpubliqueAlgerienne, the provisionalgovernmentoftheAlgerianRepublic.(ranslator'snote) 23 Preface The Algerian war willsoon be enteringits sixth year.Noone amongusinNovember1954,nooneintheworld,suspected thataftersixtymonthsoffghting,Frenchcolonialismwould stillnothavereleaseditsclutchandheededthevoiceof the Algerian people. Fiveyearsofstrugglehavebroughtnopoliticalchange.The FrenchauthoritiescontinuetoproclaimAlgeriatobeFrench. Thiswarhasmobilizedthewholepopulation,hasdriven themtodrawupontheirentirereservesandtheirmosthidden resources.TheAlgerianpeoplehavegiventhemselvesno respite,forthecolonialismagainstwhichtheyarepittedhas allowedthem none. TheAlgerianwar-themosthallucinatorywarthatany peoplehasever wagedtosmashcolonialaggression.ItsadversariesliketoclaimthatthemenwholeadtheAlgerianRevolution are impelled by a thirst for blood.Thedemocrats who were sympathetictoitrepeat,fortheirpart,thatithasmademistakes. IthasinfacthappenedthatAlgeriancitizenshaveviolated thedirectivesofthecommandingbodies,andthatthingsthat shouldhavebeenavoidedhavetranspiredonthenational soil. Almostalways,incidentally,theseconcernedAlgeriancitizens. ButwhathastheRevolutiondoneinsuchcases?Hasit eludedits responsibilities?Has it notpenalizedthose whose acts threatenedtocompromisethetruthofthecombatwe were waging?HasnotMr.Ferhat Abbas,president ofthecouncilof theG.P.R.A.\publiclyannouncedthesometimescapital measurestaken bythe leadership of the Revolution? 1 G.P.R.A.-GouvernementProvisoiredelaRtpubliqueAlgerienne, the provisionalgovernmentoftheAlgerianRepublic.(ranslator'snote) 23 24 ADYINGCOLONIALISM Andyetwhatispsychologicallymoreunderstandale. than these sudden acts ofviolence against traitorsand war cnmmals? ThemenwhofoughtintheFirstFrench Army campaignhad been revoltedbytheself-appointed dispensersofjusticeamong theirfellow-soldierswhoshotatcoll aborators.Thosewhohad recapturedtheIsleofElba,whohadfoughtthecampaignof ItalyandhadparticipatedinthelandingatToulonwereoutragedbysuchfratricidal,illegalandoftenshamefullyconductedsettlingsofaccounts. YetwedonotrememberanyconvictionofFrenchguerrillasforsummaryexecutionspreceded by tortures of unarmed citizens. The NationalLiberationFront,atthetimewhenthepeople wereundergoingthemostmassiveassaul tsofcolonialism,did not hesitate to prohibit certain form;f action and constantly to remindthefghtingunitsoftheinternationallawsofwar. Inawar ofl iberation,thecolonizedpeoplemustwin,butthey must do socleanly,without"barbarity."TheEuropeannation thatpracticestortureisabl ightednation,unfaithfultoitshistory.The underdevelopednationthat practicestorturethereby confrmsi ts nature,playstherole ofanunderdevelopedpeople. Ifitdoesnotwishtobemorallycondemnedbythe"Western nations,"anunderdevelopednationisobl igedtopracticefair play,evenwhilei ts adversary ventures,withaclearconscience, into the unlimited exploration of new means of terror. Anunderdevelopedpeoplemustprove, byitsfghting power,itabilitytosetitselfup asanation,andbythepurity of every one ofitsacts,thatit is,even tothesmallest detail,the most lucid,the mostself-controlledpeople.Butthisisallvery difcult. WhereasintheregionofMascara,exactlysixmonthsago, morethanthirtycombatants-encircledandhavingexhausted theirammunition,afterhavingfoughtwithrocks-weretaken prisoner and executedbeforethevil lage,anAlgeriandoctorin another section detached amilitarymission fromthe frontierin ordertobring back i nhastemedicineurgentlyneededtotreat theailmentofaFrenchprisoner.Inthecourseofthejourney PREFACE 25 twoAlgerianfghterswerekilled.Onotheroccasionssoldiers have been assignedto engage i n a diversion maneuvertoenable agroupofprisonerstoreachtheregionalcommandpostunharmed. TheFrenchministersLacosteandSoustellehavepublished photographswithaviewtosullyingourcause.Someofthese photographsshowthingsdonebymembersofourRevolution. Butthereareotherphotographsthatshowsomeofthethousands of crimes of whichtheBellounis andthe harkis2armedby theFrenchArmyhavethemselvesbeenguilty.Finallyand above all, there arethose tens ofthousands of Algerianmen and women who have been and continue to be victims oftheFrench troops. No,itisnottruethattheRevol utionhasgonetothe lengths to which colonialism has gone. But we do not onthis account justify theimmediate reactions ofourcompatriots.Weunderstandthem,butwecanneither excusethem nor rejectthem. BecausewewantademocraticandarenovatedAlgeria,because webelieve one cannotrise and l i berate oneself in one area and sink in another, we condemn, withpaininourhearts,those brotherswhohavefungthemselvesintorevolutionaryaction withthe almost physiologicalbrutalitythat centuries ofoppressiongive riseto and feed. Thepeople who condemnusorwhoblameus for these dark aspectsoftheRevolution knownothing oftheterrible problem facedbythechiefwhomusttakedisciplinaryactionagainsta patriot guilty, for example, ofhaving killed a notorious traitoror,worse,awomanorchild-withouthaving receivedordersto do so. This man who must be judgedintheabsenceof a code, of anylaw,onlybytheconsciencethateachonehasofwhatis allowableandwhatis forbidden,maynotbeanewmani n the combat group. He may have given, over aperiod ofmonths,unmistakable proofs ofabnegation,ofpatriotism,ofcourage.Yet ZBellouni-anF.L.N. leaderwhowentovertotheFrench.Harki-an ArbmilitiamaninthesericeoftheFrench.(Translator'snote) 24 ADYINGCOLONIALISM Andyetwhatispsychologicallymoreunderstandale. than these sudden acts ofviolence against traitorsand war cnmmals? ThemenwhofoughtintheFirstFrench Army campaignhad been revoltedbytheself-appointed dispensersofjusticeamong theirfellow-soldierswhoshotatcoll aborators.Thosewhohad recapturedtheIsleofElba,whohadfoughtthecampaignof ItalyandhadparticipatedinthelandingatToulonwereoutragedbysuchfratricidal,illegalandoftenshamefullyconductedsettlingsofaccounts. YetwedonotrememberanyconvictionofFrenchguerrillasforsummaryexecutionspreceded by tortures of unarmed citizens. The NationalLiberationFront,atthetimewhenthepeople wereundergoingthemostmassiveassaul tsofcolonialism,did not hesitate to prohibit certain form;f action and constantly to remindthefghtingunitsoftheinternationallawsofwar. Inawar ofl iberation,thecolonizedpeoplemustwin,butthey must do socleanly,without"barbarity."TheEuropeannation thatpracticestortureisabl ightednation,unfaithfultoitshistory.The underdevelopednationthat practicestorturethereby confrmsi ts nature,playstherole ofanunderdevelopedpeople. Ifitdoesnotwishtobemorallycondemnedbythe"Western nations,"anunderdevelopednationisobl igedtopracticefair play,evenwhilei ts adversary ventures,withaclearconscience, into the unlimited exploration of new means of terror. Anunderdevelopedpeoplemustprove, byitsfghting power,itabilitytosetitselfup asanation,andbythepurity of every one ofitsacts,thatit is,even tothesmallest detail,the most lucid,the mostself-controlledpeople.Butthisisallvery difcult. WhereasintheregionofMascara,exactlysixmonthsago, morethanthirtycombatants-encircledandhavingexhausted theirammunition,afterhavingfoughtwithrocks-weretaken prisoner and executedbeforethevil lage,anAlgeriandoctorin another section detached amilitarymission fromthe frontierin ordertobring back i nhastemedicineurgentlyneededtotreat theailmentofaFrenchprisoner.Inthecourseofthejourney PREFACE 25 twoAlgerianfghterswerekilled.Onotheroccasionssoldiers have been assignedto engage i n a diversion maneuvertoenable agroupofprisonerstoreachtheregionalcommandpostunharmed. TheFrenchministersLacosteandSoustellehavepublished photographswithaviewtosullyingourcause.Someofthese photographsshowthingsdonebymembersofourRevolution. Butthereareotherphotographsthatshowsomeofthethousands of crimes of whichtheBellounis andthe harkis2armedby theFrenchArmyhavethemselvesbeenguilty.Finallyand above all, there arethose tens ofthousands of Algerianmen and women who have been and continue to be victims oftheFrench troops. No,itisnottruethattheRevol utionhasgonetothe lengths to which colonialism has gone. But we do not onthis account justify theimmediate reactions ofourcompatriots.Weunderstandthem,butwecanneither excusethem nor rejectthem. BecausewewantademocraticandarenovatedAlgeria,because webelieve one cannotrise and l i berate oneself in one area and sink in another, we condemn, withpaininourhearts,those brotherswhohavefungthemselvesintorevolutionaryaction withthe almost physiologicalbrutalitythat centuries ofoppressiongive riseto and feed. Thepeople who condemnusorwhoblameus for these dark aspectsoftheRevolution knownothing oftheterrible problem facedbythechiefwhomusttakedisciplinaryactionagainsta patriot guilty, for example, ofhaving killed a notorious traitoror,worse,awomanorchild-withouthaving receivedordersto do so. This man who must be judgedintheabsenceof a code, of anylaw,onlybytheconsciencethateachonehasofwhatis allowableandwhatis forbidden,maynotbeanewmani n the combat group. He may have given, over aperiod ofmonths,unmistakable proofs ofabnegation,ofpatriotism,ofcourage.Yet ZBellouni-anF.L.N. leaderwhowentovertotheFrench.Harki-an ArbmilitiamaninthesericeoftheFrench.(Translator'snote) 26 ADYINGCOLONIALISM hemustbejudged.Thechief,thelocalrepresentativ ofthe ruling body,mustapplythedirectives.HemustsometImes .be theaccuser,the other members of the unit havingbeenunwIllingtoaccusethisbrotherbeforetherevolutionarycourt. Itisnoteasytoconduct,withaminimumoferrors,the struggleofapeople,sorelytriedbyahundredandthirtyyears ofdomination,against an enemyasdeterminedandasferocious as French colonialism. Mrs.ChristianLilliestierna,theSwedishnewspaperwoman, talkedinacampwithsomeofthethousandsofAlgerianrefugees.Here isan extract from her report: Thenextintheli newasaboyofsevenmarkedbydepwounds madebyasteelwirewithwhichehad-eenbudwhilerench soldiersmistreatedandki l ledhisparentsandhisSIsters.Aheutenanthadforcefully kepttheboy'seyesopen,sothathewould seeand rememberthisfor alongtime . . . .Thischildwascarriedbyhisgrandfatherforfvedaysandfve nightsbeforereachingthecamp. . Thechildsaid:"ThereisonlyonethmgIwant:tobeableto cutaFrenchsoldierupintosmallpieces,tinypieces!" Does anyone thinkitiseasy tomake this childofsevenforget boththemurderofhisfamilyandhisenormousvengeance?Is thisorphanedchildgrowingupinanapocalypticatmosphere the sole message that French democracy will leave? NoonethoughtthatFrancewoulddefendfootbyfootthis shamelesscolonialismforfveyears,acolonialismwhichis matched,onthecontinent,byitshomologueinSouthAfrica. NordidanyonesuspectthattheAlgerianpeoplewouldmake its place in history with such intensity. Normustwedeludeourselves.Therisinggenerationsare neithermorefexiblenormoretiredthanthosewholaunched thestruggle.Thereis,onthecontrary,ahardening,adeterminationtobeequaltothehistoricalchallenge,adetermination, too,nottomakelightofhundredsofthousandsofvictims. Andthereisalsoanexactappraisalofthedimensionsofthe confict,ofthefriendshipsandthesolidarities,oftheinterests and the contradictions of the colonialist universe. PREFACE 27 "Havingagun,beingamemberoftheNationalArmyof Liberation,is theonlychance the Algerianstillhasofgivinga meaning to his death.Lifeunderthe dominationhaslongbeen devoid of meaning. . . . " Suchstatements,whentheyaremadebymembersofthe Algeriangovernment,arenottheexpressionofanerrorof judgmentorofa"to-the-bitter-end"attitude.Theyarethe plain recognition of the truth. There is in Algeria,astheAlgerianpeopleseeit,anirreversiblestituation.Frenchcolonialismitselfhasrecognizedit,and itattempts,anarchically,totagalong behindthe historic movement.IntheFrenchNationalAssemblyeightyAlgeriandeputies haveseats.But today this serves no purpose. The single college3 has been accepted bythe extremists of the domination,butin1959thisappearsludicrous,inviewofthe extraordinarydimensionsassumedbytheAlgeriannational consciousness.Questionanywomanoranymananywhereon theearth'ssurfaceandaskherorhimiftheAlgerianpeople havenotalreadyacquiredtherighttobetwentytimesindependent.There is no one,in1959,apart fromthoseFrenchmen whohavedraggedtheircountryintothishorribleadventure, who does not yearn to see the end of this slaughter and the birth of the Algerian nation. Nevertheless,thereisnoendinsight,andweknowthatthe FrenchArmy ispreparingaseriesofofensivesforthecoming months.The war goes on. Men are therefore entitled to wonder what are the reasons for thisobstinacy.Onehasthedutytounderstandthisentrenchmentinawarwhichhasalltheearmarksofamorbidinfatuation.WewanttoshowinthisfrststudythatontheAlgerian soilanewsocietyhascometobirth.Themenandwomenof Algeria today resembleneitherthoseof1930northose of1954, nor yet those of1957.The old Algeria isdead.Alltheinnocent aPreviouslyEuropeansandnativesinAlgeriahadbeenelectedsep' arately,toseparate"colleges"havingdiferentpowers.(ranslator'snote) 26 ADYINGCOLONIALISM hemustbejudged.Thechief,thelocalrepresentativ ofthe ruling body,mustapplythedirectives.HemustsometImes .be theaccuser,the other members of the unit havingbeenunwIllingtoaccusethisbrotherbeforetherevolutionarycourt. Itisnoteasytoconduct,withaminimumoferrors,the struggleofapeople,sorelytriedbyahundredandthirtyyears ofdomination,against an enemyasdeterminedandasferocious as French colonialism. Mrs.ChristianLilliestierna,theSwedishnewspaperwoman, talkedinacampwithsomeofthethousandsofAlgerianrefugees.Here isan extract from her report: Thenextintheli newasaboyofsevenmarkedbydepwounds madebyasteelwirewithwhichehad-eenbudwhilerench soldiersmistreatedandki l ledhisparentsandhisSIsters.Aheutenanthadforcefully kepttheboy'seyesopen,sothathewould seeand rememberthisfor alongtime . . . .Thischildwascarriedbyhisgrandfatherforfvedaysandfve nightsbeforereachingthecamp. . Thechildsaid:"ThereisonlyonethmgIwant:tobeableto cutaFrenchsoldierupintosmallpieces,tinypieces!" Does anyone thinkitiseasy tomake this childofsevenforget boththemurderofhisfamilyandhisenormousvengeance?Is thisorphanedchildgrowingupinanapocalypticatmosphere the sole message that French democracy will leave? NoonethoughtthatFrancewoulddefendfootbyfootthis shamelesscolonialismforfveyears,acolonialismwhichis matched,onthecontinent,byitshomologueinSouthAfrica. NordidanyonesuspectthattheAlgerianpeoplewouldmake its place in history with such intensity. Normustwedeludeourselves.Therisinggenerationsare neithermorefexiblenormoretiredthanthosewholaunched thestruggle.Thereis,onthecontrary,ahardening,adeterminationtobeequaltothehistoricalchallenge,adetermination, too,nottomakelightofhundredsofthousandsofvictims. Andthereisalsoanexactappraisalofthedimensionsofthe confict,ofthefriendshipsandthesolidarities,oftheinterests and the contradictions of the colonialist universe. PREFACE 27 "Havingagun,beingamemberoftheNationalArmyof Liberation,is theonlychance the Algerianstillhasofgivinga meaning to his death.Lifeunderthe dominationhaslongbeen devoid of meaning. . . . " Suchstatements,whentheyaremadebymembersofthe Algeriangovernment,arenottheexpressionofanerrorof judgmentorofa"to-the-bitter-end"attitude.Theyarethe plain recognition of the truth. There is in Algeria,astheAlgerianpeopleseeit,anirreversiblestituation.Frenchcolonialismitselfhasrecognizedit,and itattempts,anarchically,totagalong behindthe historic movement.IntheFrenchNationalAssemblyeightyAlgeriandeputies haveseats.But today this serves no purpose. The single college3 has been accepted bythe extremists of the domination,butin1959thisappearsludicrous,inviewofthe extraordinarydimensionsassumedbytheAlgeriannational consciousness.Questionanywomanoranymananywhereon theearth'ssurfaceandaskherorhimiftheAlgerianpeople havenotalreadyacquiredtherighttobetwentytimesindependent.There is no one,in1959,apart fromthoseFrenchmen whohavedraggedtheircountryintothishorribleadventure, who does not yearn to see the end of this slaughter and the birth of the Algerian nation. Nevertheless,thereisnoendinsight,andweknowthatthe FrenchArmy ispreparingaseriesofofensivesforthecoming months.The war goes on. Men are therefore entitled to wonder what are the reasons for thisobstinacy.Onehasthedutytounderstandthisentrenchmentinawarwhichhasalltheearmarksofamorbidinfatuation.WewanttoshowinthisfrststudythatontheAlgerian soilanewsocietyhascometobirth.Themenandwomenof Algeria today resembleneitherthoseof1930northose of1954, nor yet those of1957.The old Algeria isdead.Alltheinnocent aPreviouslyEuropeansandnativesinAlgeriahadbeenelectedsep' arately,toseparate"colleges"havingdiferentpowers.(ranslator'snote) 28 ADYINGCOLONIALISM blood thathasfowed onto the national soil has produced a new humanity and no one must fail to recognize this fact. Havingonceafrmedthatit"wouldnothandvertoth.e Arabsonemillionofitssons,"FrancetodayproclaImsthatIt willneverabandontheSaharaanditsresources.Sucharguments,tobesure,carrynoweightwiththeAlgerian.Hereplies that the richnessof acountry isnotanexcuseforoppress-ing it. Weshallshowthattheformandthecontentofnational existence already exist in Algeria and thattherecanbeno turningback.Whileinmanycolonialcontrieitistheinependence acquired by a party that progressIelymfoms. e dIfused nationalconsciousnessofthepeople,mAlgenaItISthenationalconsciousness,thecollectivesuferingsandterrorsthat makeitinevitablethatthepeoplemusttakeitsdestinyintoits own hands. Algeriais virtuallyindependent.TheAlgeriansalreadycon-sider themselves sovereign. ItremainsforFrancetorecognizeher.Thisisobviouslyof utmostimportance.Buttherealsituationto?iimportt.It deservestobeknown,foritfundamentallyhmitsthemIlitary orpoliticalhopesofFrenchcolonialism. WhydoestheFrenchgovernmentnotputanendtothe Algerian war? Why does it refuse to negotiate with he members oftheAlgeriangovernment?Sucharethequestionsthatan honestman,in1959,isentitledtoask. Itisnotenoughtosaythatcolonialismisstillpowerfulin France.ItisnotsufcienttosaythattheSaharahasmodifed the facts of the problem. All this is true,but thereissomething else.It seems to us that in Algeriatheprincipalpointonwhichmenofgodillan? the French governmentstumble is the European mmonty.ThIS is why we have devoted a whole chapter to this question. Algeriaisasettlers'colony.Thelastsettlers'colony. obe talkedabout was South Africa.Thepointsmadearefamihar to all. PREFACE 29 Algeria's Eur