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2. Black Cubans Are Proud Of Their Dark Skin, Thick Lips, Wide Hips
- Collection:
- Black Caribbean Literature (BCL)
- Contributers:
- Hall,Wiley A.,III (Author)
- Format:
- Newspaper Article
- Publication Date:
- 2000-07-12
- Published:
- Jacksonville, FL
- Location:
- African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Journal Title:
- The Jacksonville Free Press
- Journal Title Details:
- 28 : 3
- Notes:
- "You must understand that we are very different in Cuba," insisted Gabriel Molina Franchossi, director of Gramma newspaper, the official organ of the communist party in Cuba. "To Afro-Cubans, big lips and big backsides are objects of beauty. To us, such images represent the feminine ideal." Afro Cubans also seem naive. Cubans are fond of saying that Fidel Castro abolished racism when he came into power 40 years ago, as though this can be accomplished by a simple decree. What they really mean, of course, is that Castro outlawed discrimination And again, who am I to say he hasn't? In the United States, discrimination didn't become illegal until the mid-60s when Congress passed a series of civil rights laws effecting voting rights, equal employment, and fair housing. By 1968, Richard Nixon was ending a wave of white backlash into power and the process of undermining those gains began. Blacks appear to have had a different experience in Cuba, where better than 40 percent of the population is either Black or mestizo (mixed) and where a fair percentage of those who are considered "white" acknowledge some degree of African or mestizo blood in their heritage. "We in Cuba are not so easily categorized as in the United States," said Reynaldo Calviac Lafferte, director of the International Press Center. He pointed to a wall in his office. "In the same family, there are some who are as white as that wall." Then he slapped his patent leathers. "And there are some who are as black as my shoes. For us, race is not an issue like it is for you."
3. Learning from the Black experience in Cuba
- Collection:
- Black Caribbean Literature (BCL)
- Contributers:
- Hall,Wiley A.,III (Author)
- Format:
- Newspaper Article
- Publication Date:
- 2000-03-03
- Published:
- Washington, DC
- Location:
- African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Journal Title:
- Afro - American Red Star
- Journal Title Details:
- 28 : A10
- Notes:
- "You must understand that we are very different in Cuba," insisted Gabriel Molina Franchossi, director of Gramma newspaper, the official organ of the communist party in Cuba. "To Afro-Cubans, big lips and big backsides are objects of beauty. To us, such images represent the feminine ideal." Under Castro, Blacks are well represented in the country's ruling bodies. Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world and mortality rates comparable to that of Europe and the United States. Successful Afro Cubans are quick to note that they and their children have been afforded opportunities since what they call "the triumph of the Revolution" that they would never have received under the old regime.
4. `Unequal justice': Haiti vs. Cuba
- Collection:
- Black Caribbean Literature (BCL)
- Contributers:
- Strausberg,Chinta (Author)
- Format:
- Newspaper Article
- Publication Date:
- 2000-04-24
- Published:
- Chicago, IL
- Location:
- African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Journal Title:
- Chicago Defender
- Journal Title Details:
- 252 : 1
- Notes:
- "In our Cold War fight with Castro, (we were) willing to subsidize Cubans to leave to come here and at the same time lock Haitians out. That is not fair, and we deserve a different policy," [Jesse L. Jackson Sr.] said. He said the U.S. pays to bring Cubans here, subsidizes them, but pays to send Haitians back to Haiti. "That's not fair," he stated. "Haiti fought for our freedom." "The Cubans are political refugees looking for political freedom, and they're given money to come, but, the Haitians are economic refugees so they must go back. There are more Haitians who've died... than Cubans," Jackson said calling for an end to the double standard of refugees between Cuba and Haitians seeking to come to America.