Harbouring Fanon

Abstract

Harbouring Fanon Christine Dixie (bio) This series of prints found in this issue merges the concept of harbours as both literal places—spaces in which ships are anchored, and merchandise, ideas, and languages are exchanged—and the concept of giving harbour—or shelter—to a particular vision of the world. I draw on two visual tropes: early maps (via woodcuts) which track European empires’ initial forays into depicting the harbours of potentially profitable territories and the contemporary mapping of space (via Google Maps). These two tropes are separated by time but are conflated onto specific geographic locations. I also see this series as a non-mimetic portrait of Frantz Fanon through a depiction of some of the literal harbours he travelled in his lifetime. The ten prints track his life from his birthplace on the island of Martinique to his death place in Bethesda, Maryland. The contemporary reference of Google Maps points to the continued influence of Fanon in the present. [End Page 273] Harbouring Fanon in Martinique Frantz Fanon was born on the Caribbean island of Martinique, which was then a French colony and is now a French single territorial collectivity. . . . Fanon left Martinique in 1943, when he was 18 years old, in order to join the Free French forces.1 Harbouring Fanon in Martinique superimposes images of the island of Martinique. Harbouring Fanon in Dominica At the age of seventeen, Fanon fled the island as a “dissident” (a term used for Frenchmen joining Gaullist forces), traveling to [British-controlled] Dominica to join the Free French Forces.2 Harbouring Fanon in Dominica superimposes images of the island of Dominica. Harbouring Fanon in Casablanca [Fanon] enlisted in the Free French army and joined an Allied convoy that reached Casablanca. He was later transferred to an army base at Béjaïa on the Kabylie coast of Algeria.3 Harbouring Fanon in Casablanca superimposes images of the harbour at Casablanca. Harbouring Fanon in Oran Fanon left Algeria from Oran and served in France, notably in the battles of Alsace. In 1944 he was wounded at Colmar and received the Croix de Guerre. When the Nazis were defeated and Allied forces crossed the Rhine into Germany along with photo journalists, Fanon’s regiment was “bleached” of all non-white soldiers. Fanon and his fellow Afro-Caribbean soldiers were sent to Toulon (Provence). Later, they were transferred to Normandy to await repatriation.4 Harbouring Fanon in Oran superimposes images of the harbour at Oran. [End Page 274] Harbouring Fanon in Alger Fanon left France for Algeria, where he had been stationed for some time during the war. He secured an appointment as a psychiatrist at Blida-Joinville Psychiatric Hospital in 1953. He radicalized his methods of treatment,5 particularly by beginning sociotherapy to connect with his patients’ cultural backgrounds. He also trained nurses and interns. Following the outbreak of the Algerian revolution in November 1954, Fanon joined the Front de Libération Nationale, after having made contact with Dr Pierre Chaulet at Blida in 1955.6 Harbouring Fanon in Alger superimposes images of the harbour at Algeria. Harbouring Fanon in Tunis Fanon left for France and traveled secretly to Tunis. He was part of the editorial collective of El Moudjahid, for which he wrote until the end of his life. He also served as Ambassador to Ghana for the Provisional Algerian Government (GPRA).7 Harbouring Fanon in Tunis superimposes images of the harbour at Tunis. Harbouring Fanon in Accra Harbouring Fanon in Conakry Harbouring Fanon in Tripoli Fanon attended conferences in Accra, Conakry, Addis Ababa, Leopoldville, Cairo, and Tripoli. Many of his shorter writings from this period were collected posthumously in the book Toward the African Revolution. In this book Fanon reveals war tactical strategies; in one chapter he discusses how to open a southern front to the war and how to run the supply lines.8 Harbouring Fanon in Accra, Harbouring Fanon in Conakry, and Harbouring Fanon in Tripoli superimpose images of the harbour at Accra, the island of Conakry, and the harbour at...