Why did Frantz Fanon see violence as a response to colonial violence in The Wretched of the Earth?

In The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon argues that violence is the defining characteristic of colonialism, which functions through a process of domination, exploitation, and the systematic reordering of indigenous life. Because the colonial system is built upon and maintained by force, Fanon posits that the colonized can only reclaim their territory, national identity, and personal sanity through a counter-violence.12

Fanon views this revolutionary violence as a necessary tool for political engagement and a cathartic reaction to colonial oppression. He suggests that, when properly directed, such violence has a cleansing effect on both history and the individual, serving as a means to break the colonial mindset. By framing violence as a response to the inherent brutality of the colonizer, Fanon justifies it as a vital instrument for liberation, enabling the colonized to transform their reality and achieve true independence from the structures of colonial control.21