The business of obscuring language is a mask behind which stands the much bigger business of plunder

The business of obscuring language is a mask behind which stands the much bigger business of plunder

Frantz Fanon, a prominent thinker and revolutionary from Martinique, was known for his critical analysis of colonialism and its impact on language and culture. In his seminal work, "The Wretched of the Earth," Fanon delves into the ways in which colonial powers use language as a tool of oppression and control. He argues that the business of obscuring language is not simply a means of communication, but a deliberate strategy to maintain power and perpetuate exploitation.

Fanon believed that colonial powers deliberately obfuscate language in order to maintain their dominance over colonized peoples. By imposing their own language and culture on the colonized population, they effectively erase the native language and traditions, making it difficult for the colonized to resist or challenge their authority. This process of linguistic and cultural erasure serves to dehumanize the colonized, rendering them voiceless and powerless in the face of colonial rule.

Moreover, Fanon argues that the business of obscuring language is a mask behind which stands the much bigger business of plunder. Colonial powers exploit the resources and labor of colonized peoples for their own benefit, while simultaneously denying them the means to articulate their grievances or resist their oppression. By manipulating language and controlling the narrative, colonial powers are able to justify their exploitation and maintain their grip on power.

Fanon's analysis of language and power sheds light on the insidious ways in which colonialism operates, and the lasting impact it has on the colonized population. By understanding the role of language in maintaining colonial dominance, we can begin to challenge and dismantle the systems of oppression that continue to shape our world today. Fanon's work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of language in the struggle for liberation and justice, and the need to resist the business of obscuring language in order to confront the much bigger business of plunder.