Concerning Violence

Franz Fanon was a French psychiatrist/philosopher who studied the psychology of colonization and was an activist in the Algerian National Liberation Front as they sought to remove French influence from their nation. Fanon argues in "Concerning Violence" that act decolonization requires violence to physically free a land and people from outside control, but also to psychologically free the natives from the alienation  they experienced at the hands of their oppressors. In this sense, violence is a cleansing agent that restores the native peoples humanity to them. It seems in this sense that violence is the natural response to the violence natives have faced, and in bringing about their emancipation the indigenous people build solidarity through the struggle. However, after a nation is decolonized the violence often continues. It is for these reasons that he feels reparations are due to aid in the rebuilding of the country and the native's humanity.