DISCOURSE ON COLONIALISM - AIME CÉSAIRE & A POETICS OF ANTICOLONIALISM - ROBIN D.G. KELLEY

DISCOURSE ON COLONIALISM - AIME CÉSAIRE # TRANSLATION BY JOAN PINKHAM ## A POETICS OF ANTICOLONIALISM - ROBIN D.G. KELLEY ### Introduction - Aime Cesaire's Discourse on Colonialism can be viewed as a declaration of war against colonialism. Kelley suggests it resembles a manifesto but lacks traditional proposals found in manifestos. - Published in 1950, the text emerged as decolonization was gaining momentum, coinciding with socio-political upheaval in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. - The 1945 Pan-African Congress and the 1955 Bandung Conference are examples of global gatherings aimed at empowering colonized nations. - Notable revolts occurring during this period included China's Maoist revolution and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya against British rule. - As revolution became a shared experience across the globe, Cesaire's work is characterized as part of the “tidal wave of color” described by Malcolm X, where colonized peoples sought liberation. - Other influential works of the era include W.E.B. Du Bois's Color and Democracy (1945), Frantz Fanon's Black Skin, White Masks (1952), and Richard Wright's White Man Listen! (1957). - Cesaire's discourse centralizes colonialism's destructive nature, highlighting its impact on the colonized nations and the colonizers themselves. - Kelley emphasizes a Hegelian perspective, indicating that colonialism de-civilizes the colonizer, pulling them into barbarism through violence and moral depravity. - The critique extends to the ideological underpinnings of colonialism, suggesting that Europe’s civilization cannot stand without exploiting and degrading the colonized. - Cesaire's refrain that “Europe is indefensible” encapsulates his argument against European humanism grounded in colonial exploitation. - He argues that decolonization requires reinventing the colonized themselves, instead of returning to their past selves. - Cesaire uses the term “thingification” to describe how colonialism reduces human beings to mere objects. - He critiques colonial discourse, foreshadowing the rise of postcolonial studies. - Kelley notes that most discussions around postcolonial theory mention Discourse without examining its substantial contributions to anti-colonial discourse. - The differences with Fanon's criticism, especially regarding Marxism, suggest that Cesaire does not abandon his Marxist roots but instead attempts to expand upon them within the context of colonialism. - A fundamental shift is proposed where the anticolonial struggle becomes the most significant revolutionary movement, transcending the proletarian revolution. - Cesaire envisions a new world beyond capitalism or socialism, challenged by colonialism, with imagination and new values required to build this future. - Kelley describes Discourse as a surrealist text that strives to delve deep into the human unconscious, allowing the reader to understand the full impact of colonialism emotionally and philosophically. ## Aime Cesaire's Background - Aime Cesaire was born in 1913 in Martinique, raised in a relatively well-educated family despite being of lower-middle-class status. - He was a bright student, winning numerous academic prizes and eventually moving to France for further education. - Cesaire’s time in Paris was formative, introducing him to key figures like Léopold Sédar Senghor and influencing the Negritude movement. - The movement sought to celebrate African culture against assimilation into French norms. - Collaboration with other intellectuals led to the founding of the journal L'Etudiant noir, where Cesaire articulated concepts associated with Negritude. - He argued against assimilative politics, insisting that racial identity and the myriad cultural experiences associated with being Black could not be subsumed into a single narrative. ## Revolutionary Literature and the Context of Discourse - Kelley identifies Discourse on Colonialism as part of a wave of radical literature produced during the cold war era, framing the colonial question as vital for understanding modern history. - Emphasizing that Cesaire critiques both colonial systems and the ideologies that sustain them, the text argues against notions of European superiority as inherently flawed and dangerous. - Kelley points to colonialism's insidious effects such as historical revisionism and the perpetuation of stereotypes that maintain colonial power dynamics. - A notable critique by Cesaire is directed at the European bourgeoisie, who benefitted from colonialism while ignoring its brutal implications. - Cesaire's prognosis warns that European societal decay is linked to its colonial practices, leading to a moral and ethical downfall characterized by barbarism and violence. - The systematic destruction of indigenous cultures and economies under colonialism further contributes to this sense of impending catastrophe for Europe itself. - Cesaire reflects on the cultural and civilizational losses caused by colonization, contributing to a sterile and exploitative environment devoid of true interaction between civilizations. - He emphasizes that real cultural exchange cannot exist within the constraints imposed by colonial power structures. - Cesaire's assertion that “colonization equals thingification” emphasizes the significance of cultural loss over superficial statistics of material progress under colonial rule. - Throughout the text, a clear distinction is made between the superficial benefits claimed by colonizers versus the crippling psychological and cultural effects inflicted on the colonized. - Finally, Kelley reiterates that Discourse on Colonialism remains an essential text that lays bare the interconnectedness of colonialism, capitalism, and emerging fascisms, encouraging future intellectual and activist endeavors to engage with its insights constructively.