Fanon #3.5

In this section of Fanon, viewpoints are shifted once more as now the author of the book, John Edgar Wideman, (Not Thomas, the main character who is also an author) narrates. As he shows a film executive from Paris around his hometown of Homewood, we see what kind of everyday realities the writer lives with and how this influences his book. Raised poor, Wideman bares his secrets to the reader and to Mr Godard, the executive. He tells us "I know I won't find anything I want on the bare shelves, probably not even the one or two staples - fresh milk, bread - my mother and I need to get by til the next two mile trek to the nearest supermarket can be arranged" (100). Wideman lives in conditions far from luxurious and his character, Thomas' existance isn't much more lavish. This suggests a parallel between Thomas and his author's worlds that helps us understand Wideman's motivations behind writing his story. Franz Fanon was a crusader for victims of violence concerning race and class and inspired similar leaders worldwide. Wideman's choice of subject for his book likely stems from his own experiences with these problems. In an interview within the text of his book, Wideman says "Power feels good...especially in the hood after all the shit some of us updogs must eat to gain a little power. Fifteen seconds' worth. And that fifteen seconds more than most people, particularly the ones stuck in this bareass ghetto get" (109). As a writer whose work is on the New York Times' "100 Most Notable Books of 2008" list, Wideman has certainly achieved his fifteen seconds of fame. But we can also see through this quote that his desire to rise above his class and the status he was born into that can only be achieved in a free country like one that Franz Fanon fought for.