Richard Philcox’s 2008 translation of Frantz Fanon’s 1952 book, Black Skin, White Masks, holds relevance for Black/Africans in America. Fanon’s words describe the post-colonial impact of race and racism in France and critique his academic studies. He demonstrates how people of African descent wear masks to manage living under the guise of oppression.
During lunch breaks at work, I re-read the book, Black Skin, White Masks. Seeing the worn paperback on the table sparked conversations with multiple coworkers. We bonded through Fanon’s thesis on how colonialism and racism influence language, dress, sexuality, and self-concept.
My coworkers and I acknowledged the struggle to lift masks, switch between public and private personas, and thrive in the United States. Previous difficulties with earning respect and gaining recognition at predominantly white institutions impacted our productivity and sanity. In our current roles within the Umoja Community Education Foundation, we recognized that authenticity has value.
While Blackness lends unity in Black organizations, other aspects of identity can disrupt continuity.
As a writer and endurance athlete, my personal and professional life don’t always align. I bathe in solitude when writing or running outdoors for hours. However, my work mandates collectivity and collaboration.
To succeed, I must leave the introvert in my office, on the pavement, or at home.
With a team, I conduct research, write articles, and lead professional development workshops. Our work aims to foster belonging and to encourage academic achievement among Black and non-Black students through African-centered courses, programs, and services. We collaborate to encourage high school and college students in developing self-worth.
Frantz Fanon wrote, “Our history takes place in obscurity, and the sun I carry with me must lighten every corner.”
It’s the perception of forgotten and ignored stories that guides many of the Umoja Community Education Foundation’s endeavors. We emphasize African diasporic culture values and contributions through our partnerships with colleges and universities in California and Washington. Our presence on campuses aims to shine light on Umoja scholars and their potential to excel in dark academic and social corridors.
We teach students to resist by leaning into authenticity and excelling in school. Is this easy? No. But we encourage students to find motivation to succeed in their ancestral lineage and to resist when others attempt to limit or define them.
Frantz Fanon indicated, “It is easy to understand why the first reaction of the Black man is to say no to those who endeavor to define him.”
The social constructs of race and gender make it difficult for many Black men to create their identity. Some allow toxic masculinity to pollute their potential. Individuals succumb to structural oppression and make poor choices to escape the entanglements of reality.
Fanon suggests that fear and stereotypes associated with Black men lead to various forms of violent behavior. The idea of Black men as criminals and over sexualized beings encourages limited expectations and ill treatment.
Because tension often fills the room whenever we make our presence known, many Black men feel the pressure to conform. Some find it crucial to embody the characters in the dangerous narrative concerning Black men. Others find it necessary to create a separate story.
Frantz Fanon shared, “Perhaps that is why today’s Blacks want desperately to prove to the white world the existence of a black civilization.”
Sometimes, educated Blacks/Africans in America feel compelled to speak and write about the contributions of Africans throughout the diaspora. We provide grandiose speeches and write dynamic books about our accomplishments because the sting of oppression is painful. Like Fanon, advanced schooling enhanced our awareness, yet we continue to grapple with feelings of inadequacy.
It requires intentionality to decolonize our minds, embrace the beauty of Blackness, and recognize our positive contributions to society.
Frantz Fanon said, “In no way must my color be felt as a stain.”
How can we begin to transform our minds, remove masks, and reveal greatness?
- Read books.
By investing in literature, we can cultivate thoughts reminiscent of our Ancestors in Kemet and other parts of the African diaspora. Explore the works of Frantz Fanon, Ayi Kwei Armah, Wade Nobles, Frances Cress Welsing, Molefi Asante, Asa Hilliard, Linda James Myers, and others.
From these authors, you will learn what Frantz Fanon affirmed in the book, Black Skin, White Masks: “I was not a primitive or a subhuman; I belonged to a race that had already been working silver and gold 2,000 years ago.”
- Get fit.
Your mind needs a healthy body. Make exercising a priority. You don’t have to follow my lead and become an endurance athlete. Eat nutritious foods and engage in forty minutes or more of moderate intensity exercise on three or more days per week.
When you combine a fitness regimen with reading, it’s possible to enhance self-esteem and adhere to Frantz Fanon’s final prayer, “O my body, always make me a man who questions!” If man is not applicable, replace it with your gender identity. Holistic fitness enhances our ability to question conformity.
- Seek help.
Be willing to admit when you need help. Identify a spiritual leader or mental health professional in your community. Listen to Dr. Brandon Gamble’s comments on the October 15, 2025, episode of The Carl Nelson Show, beginning at minute 58.00. The Association of Black Psychologists has a directory of psychologists, counselors, and therapists, such as Dr. Gamble, who are willing to guide you in peeling back the layers of masks.
On the last page of Fanon’s book, Black Skin, White Masks, he leaves this idea, “It is through self-consciousness and renunciation, through a permanent tension of his freedom, that man can create the ideal conditions of existence for a human world.” Revealing the full spectrum of Black skin beneath White masks is fundamental to mental, physical, and spiritual freedom.
Vernon C. Lindsay, PhD
Dr. Vernon C. Lindsay, PhD is the Umoja Community Education Foundation’s Scholar in Residence. He supports the foundation in conducting research, writing articles, developing curricula, and leading professional development sessions that incorporate culturally relevant practices and student-centered strategies.
