Response Post 2

I found myself drawn to the excerpt on chapter one of Fanon’s novel entitled Black Skin, White Masks. This specific chapter addresses African American men’s language. One thing I found particularly interesting was the fact that black men had to go to France in order to be considered “human.” In fact, Fanon states, “the more the black Antillean assimilates to the French language, the whiter he gets—i.e., the closer he comes to becoming a true human being” (2). This implies that all black Antillean folks were considered more or less animals. However, the hope for the black Antillean people was not completely lost. According to Fanon, the more black folks (the colonized) assimilate to white culture (the colonizer), the “whiter [they] will become” (2-3). These two quotes really put the black Antillean people’s identity into perspective for me.

I did not quite understand what Fanon meant when he said in one of his foot notes that when the black man goes home after living in France for a time, “he gives the impression of having completed a cycle, of having added something that was missing. He returns home literally full of himself” (3). I think that this quote basically means that black men who traveled to France to learn about the colonizer’s culture, language, and values became a “whole” person, or—in this case—a “whiter” man.


I found myself wondering about the female black Antilleans. In particular, I did not understand how they would be able to understand their husbands once they returned home from the Metropolis of France and spoke the colonizer’s language and forgot most of their native tongue. Unless, of course, the females tagged along with the males, it does not make sense to me how their relationships could have worked out terribly well since communication is essential in any relationship.


From reading James Baldwin’s novel, Another Country, I feel like I have gained more insight into racial and sexual identity. I personally accept homosexuality, but I have had trouble accepting bisexuality. I used to think that bisexuals were simply homosexuals who were pretending to be attracted to the opposite sex in order to gain attention and to be more accepted. Also, I thought it was just an experimental phase that some individuals go through before they consider themselves homosexual. However, after reading this novel, I feel like I have more of an understanding and respect towards bisexual individuals. One thing that I can say without hesitation is that this book is definitely not for close-minded, homophobic individuals, and is—without a doubt—a novel for mature adults only.


I thought this novel was written very well and I liked how realistic the plot was. Also, I was impressed with Baldwin’s writing style. I was drawn into the novel straight away (something that rarely happens to me).


The story starts off with the demise of a black man named Rufus Scott who is a jazz drummer that ends up committing suicide. I found it particularly upsetting when I learn of Rufus’ domestic abuse towards his white girlfriend named Leona. It upset me that Leona ends up in a mental institution. This then puts Rufus in a deep depression which causes him to commit suicide. It is this traumatic event that leads the other characters into a struggle to figure out why Rufus killed himself. For instance, Rufus’ friend, Vivaldo, blamed himself for Rufus’ death since he chose to ignore Rufus’ need for sexual comfort, mainly since he was homophobic at the time. However, once he spends one night with Eric, his whole perspective on sexuality is changed.