Eye for an Eye: The Role of Armed Resistance ... - Freedom Archives

this process . In The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon addressed the issue of
liberatory violence and its effect on the personality of the colonized person . Fanon
asserted "At the level of individuals, violence is a cleansing force . It frees the
native from his inferiority complex and from his despair and inaction ; it makes
him fearless and restores his self-respect ." , In communities like Canton, where an
inspirational "Bad Negro" like C.O . Chinn supported the Movement, other Blacks
were moved to support it through offering themselves as to protect COFO work-
ers. In other communities, like Natchez, Blacks were moved to challenge white
supremacy through joining the Deacons or other forms of armed resistance after
an act of racist terrorism (e .g. the bombing attack on George Metcalf) . In these
instances, individuals consciously decided to sacrifice themselves and to chal-
lenge their personal fear to support the Movement. As other Blacks began to see
their fathers, uncles, brothers, mothers, aunts, sisters and neighbors pick up
weapons to defend the Black community and the Movement, fear was overcome
and confidence in Black humanity was increased.
Equally important, white supremacists were challenged by open Black
defiance and armed resistance . Fear and intimidation were major instruments in
the system of segregation. Not only did white supremacist terrorism create fear in
Black people, but their submission to this system allowed white racists to be
openly arrogant and haughty in their "superiority." Confronting better organized
and more numerous Blacks with guns upset the environment which allowed white
supremacists to act with such insolence and open disrespect . In turn, due to armed
resistance, fear of Black rebellion and retaliation began to increase in the white
community. This proved to be a great weapon, not only winning concessions from