A Tradition of Literacy: Césaire in and out of the Classroom

Literacy, often considered an individual achievement, brings with it, according to Aimé Césaire, special responsibility, that is, its beneficiaries should speak for the oppressed and be in the forefront in the struggle for collective liberation. Césaire's model stands in stark contrast to the goal of French colonial education, a crucial arm of the mission civilisatrice that trains the elite to maintain the status quo. This essay examines on a broad scale Aimé Césaire's presence in the educational arena. Who were his role models as a student and what societal prejudices and pressures did he have to overcome? What influence did he have as a classroom teacher? What impact did he have as a mentor to those who discovered him only through his work? I contend that Césaire's defense of literacy is one key aspect of his legacy.