A century ago today, one of the most vital thinkers of the 20th century, Frantz Fanon, was born. A Martinique-born psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary, Fanon’s work fundamentally reshaped our understanding of colonialism, race, and the struggle for human liberation.

In seminal works like “Black Skin, White Masks” and “The Wretched of the Earth,” Fanon didn’t just diagnose the political and economic structures of oppression; he delved into its devastating psychological impact. He argued that the coloniser’s greatest weapon was the imposition of an inferiority complex upon the colonised. Consequently, he championed a radical, humanistic vision where liberation was a total project, requiring not just the reclaiming of land, but the reclaiming of the self.

“To speak is to exist for the other,” he wrote. On his centenary, Fanon’s voice remains a searing, indispensable guide. He challenges us to confront the lingering shadows of colonial thought in our institutions, our societies, and even within ourselves. He reminds us that the fight against injustice is a fight to restore a stolen humanity.

Let’s honour his legacy not just by reading his words, but by doing the necessary work of decolonisation.

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What does Fanon’s work mean to you today? Share your reflections in the comments below.