Cuba On My Mind

Cuba is Doomed

2011-10-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

On April 7 Tad Szulc mentioned anti-Castro military camps in Guatemala early on in his article, and revealed everything except the minor details

Was He Then as He Has Always Been?

2006-05-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Shortly after the attack at Bay of Pigs began, Castro declared that Cuba was and would continue to be a socialist nation. Some believe that Castro was always a communist, with plans to rule Cuba forever, and an eye on the rest of the Western hemisphere. It doesn’t matter that the Cuban Communists didn’t openly befriend Castro until they absolutely had to. Others believe that the Cuban

45 Years Ago This Week

2006-04-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

It turns out that the man who invented Fidel worked for the same paper that suppressed a story about the Bay of Pigs invasion. Four years after Mathews conjured Fidel out of thin air, NY Times journalist Tad Szulc, later a Castro biographer (as was Matthews), made an agreement with Kennedy to delay news items that might “alert the Cuban government ”

Looking Back at Fidel’s Inventor

2006-04-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

As we approach the 45th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961, a new book provides a glimpse at US-Cuba relations at a time when the media still had teeth and the economic embargo against Cuba was young. “The Man Who Invented Fidel,” by New York Times reporter Anthony DePalma, looks closely at the reporter who bravely followed a

The Truth About Herbert L. Matthews

2006-04-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

In mid-February 1957 an American journalist made his way into the Sierra Maestra mountain range in Oriente province to conduct an interview with Fidel Castro. For months it had been speculated that Castro had been killed, and that journalist’s words in the New York Times not only brought him back to life, but painted him in ways that were very palatable to an American audience of the time. The

History’s Underdog in Classic Finals

2006-03-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

When was Cuba not the underdog? The odds were against Carlos Manuel de Céspedes when he ushered in the age of armed struggle against the Spanish Empire and began the Ten Year War in 1868. The odds were against José Martí when he began to organize the Cuban Revolutionary Party in 1892. Three and a half centuries earlier, the odds were against Hatuey, the brave Taíno that opposed Spanish

Cuba in the Semifinals

2006-03-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Cuban baseball team for overcoming a slow start and making it to the semifinals of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Four teams left in a 16-team series. Two semifinal games today. One final game next Tuesday. One winner. Although we all win when the world plays baseball, and this series has allowed me to rediscover a great game in which anything can happen. To get

Website vs. Blog

2006-03-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Someone recently asked me about the difference was between a blog and a website. Having had at the time less than half my normal dose of hot caffeine, I understood the question to be less generic and more personal, such as: what is the difference between “your” website and your blog (Cuba on My Mind). Here are the differences: The website is objective, careful and studied. The blog is

Kick Them When They’re Down

2006-03-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

In 1992, when the Soviet Union dismantled, we had a golden opportunity to end the embargo and normalize relations with Cuba. This would have been a magnanimous gesture, and would have sent average Cubans the message that the U.S. was not their enemy and could be trusted. Instead of choosing to open the door and allow them “a way to come back,” as President Jimmy Carter would say, our choice was

The Cuban-Democracy Years

2006-02-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

The following facts and figures come from Cuba’s experience with Democracy prior to 1959. In the 83-year period between 1869 and 1952: - Cuba had 20 years of Spanish rule in between 13 years of wars. - There were 2 military occupations by the U.S.

How To NOT Make Contact

2006-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Cuba will not negotiate with the U.S. until Guantánamo Bay is returned to the island. The U.S. will not end the embargo until Castro brothers (Fidel and Raul) is no longer part of the Cuban government. During the Cuban wars for separation from Spain, the Spanish empire would not enter into negotiations with the Rebel Government until the rebels laid down their arms. Of course, the rebels

Ok to Play, but No Pay

2006-02-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

Cubans who play at the upcoming World Baseball Classic tournament (March 3-20, in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan) will not receive a dime. Not even if they win the 16-nation tournament. On January 20th the U.S. Treasury Department changed its previous ruling and decided that Cuba could play in the games. This change of mind came after Cuba offered to donate all the proceeds to Katrina

Racism, 1850s Style

2006-01-30T19:55:00.000-08:00

Last month I came across some disturbing passages that revealed the racist ideology of the 1850s. The passages came from the book by Alexander Humboldt, The Island of Cuba. More precisely, they came from the Preliminary Essay by J.S. Thrasher that appears at the beginning of the book, which was reprinted in 1969 by Negro University Press. Thrasher originally translated the book, leaving out a

Race War of 1912

2006-01-17T00:24:00.000-08:00

The struggle for racial equality in Cuba is a unique and painful story, full of dramatic gains and losses, victories and atrocities. The various articles and images that make up the current Race in Cuba section at the site is but a peak into a much larger and complex world, where black and white have a different meaning than they do here in the states. We grow as individuals by exploring these

Strike One, You’re Out!

2006-01-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

We don’t have to play ball with anyone we can’t conquer. Or so it would seem by last month’s announcement that Cuba will not be allowed to play at the upcoming World Baseball Tournament (March 3-20 in the U.S., Japan and Puerto Rico) because of the embargo. Should it matter that some of the best baseball players in the world come from Cuba? Or that Cuba has won 3 of the 4 gold medals since

Maceo in Havana, January 1 1896

2005-12-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

They thought they had turned him back at Coliseo. On December 23 1895, Antonio Maceo’s troops suffered serious losses in their struggle for Cuban independence. The Cubans suffered many casualties, and Maceo’s horse was killed as he rode in battle. But the Mambises would not give up their goal to bring the war to Havana. The Spanish Army thought they had turned him back, and they celebrated with

The Ten-Year Itch

2005-12-26T17:17:00.000-08:00

As historyofcuba.com approaches its tenth year, I can’t help thinking about how much has changed and how much hasn’t. Ten years ago the Internet didn’t exist as a popular term. It was simply the Information Superhighway, and Netscape was smart-choice browser. Today, the Internet is the media of choice and has grown to 1 billion users. Ten years ago I didn’t think for a second that the embargo

Race War and Ridley Scott

2005-12-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

All the riddles of modern life are addressed, if not answered, in the history of Cuba. Preparing a new section on “Race in Cuba” for the website has been a fascinating experience, and I was glad to revisit and learn more about men like Martín Morúa Delgado, José Miguel Gómez, Evaristo Estenoz, Julían Valdés Sierra and many others. If the first 20 years of the Cuban republic (1902 – 1922) were

Play Ball & Be Nice

2005-11-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

Sporting and cultural events have disappeared from the collective Cuba-U.S. experience, and we all loose with that score. Given the potential humanizing effect on all parties involved, it makes sense for us to have yearly games, be it All-Star team competitions or games between league winners. Wouldn’t it be great if these games were on TV? During time outs and game breaks, they could show

America’s Heart & Soul

2005-11-21T19:33:00.000-08:00

The true heart and soul of American society is not visible in the official policy towards Cuba. The kind of transactions and interactions that take place among typical Americans on a daily basis is completely absent from this policy. Just today I saw a woman give a homeless man a sandwich, a bus driver let someone get on who was short of change, a fruit vendor ran after a woman who forgot her

Martí and Maceo: Good Baby Names

2005-11-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

I recently met a beautiful 6-year-old boy named Martí. Not only was he as healthy and loved as the kids in Tina Panziera’s picture, but his parents explained that he was named after Cuba’s José Martí (as if there could be any doubt). About ten years ago I attended a baby-naming party given by an expecting African-American couple, and I offered Maceo as a possible first name. I showed a few

Cha Cha Cha in the Rain

2005-11-04T06:19:00.000-08:00

Aside from a long, complex history that includes centuries of struggle for independence and identity, one of the traits that define Cubans of all shapes, sizes and hyphenations is our odd and often bizarre sense of humor. It’s not just that humor pops up at inopportune times, but that even the most outrageous situation can be seen from a humorous point of view. Case in point. Two Cuban rebels (

Holiday in Havana

2005-10-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

It seems that between 2-300,000 American citizens travel to Cuba each year. Most go through Mexico or Canada, and stay only a few days. Many come back on the same day, fearing the punishment for visiting forbidden territory. At best, the numbers are only a guess, but Havana is likely to be the most popular destination for American tourists, and The City is as great a subject for

The “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” Immigration Policy

2005-10-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

A 6-year-old Cuban boy drowned on October 13 in an attempt to reach the U.S. illegally, and I can’t help thinking that a sane and humane policy on Cuba could have prevented his death. Apparently, the 33-foot boat was trying to outrun a US coast guard when it capsized, and the boy was trapped underneath. Thirty adults were rescued. Current immigration law (that applies only to Cubans) dictates

Used Cuban Music

2005-10-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Remember record stores? Before you could download music, people would go to commercial outlets often called “record stores” or “music stores.” Most large cities still have “used” music stores, in which a large variety of music can be found, and these stores are much more fun to rummage through than today’s typical pre-packaged “media outlets,” since you’re likely to run into anything and

October 10 1868, the Cry of Yara

2005-10-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

This day marks the official beginning of Cuba’s armed struggle for independence a mere 137 years ago. Cuba had been a Spanish colony for almost 4 centuries when Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (pictured) organized the uprising now remembered as the Ten Year War. From this war emerged the heroes that would forever be identified with Cuba’s bid for independence from the Spanish empire; Maximo Gómez,

Chucho Valdéz

2005-10-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

Recently I compiled a CD to give away at a work party. It was to be all solo piano, and I had planned to use tracks from various pianists. It was an exciting project to plan; 75 minutes of music—whatever I wanted… the only rules were that I had to use my own CDs and/or whatever I could borrow from friends, the library, or as a free download. I knew I’d have to use the Chucho Valdéz track “

Cuba @ the Movies: Thirteen Days

2005-09-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

The most serious conflict in director Roger Donaldson’s “Thirteen Days” is not between the U.S. and the Soviets during the “missile crisis that shook the world” in October 1962. The clash here is between the U.S. President and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Like a child with a hammer who only wants a handful of nails, the war complex can’t wait to go into action, even if it means unleashing

Ivan the Terrible and Other Disasters

2005-09-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

It seems fitting that a country in which blacks and whites fought side by side for identity and independence would also set the standard by which emergency response should be measured. In September 2004, a category-5 storm known as Ivan The Terrible passed through Cuba, unleashing 160-mph winds and destroying property like a special effect in a Roland Emmerich movie. The government knew Ivan was

The Babalú Bad Boy

2005-09-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

We were at a club in West Hollywood, well over 1.5 decades ago, waiting to see what was said to be one of the last performances by the great punk group The Dead Kennedys, when I got a mildly shocking, though pleasant cultural surprise. The band was late, and the crowd was eager to slam-dance their nervous energy. The club announced that as we waited for the band to appear, we were all invited

Cuba at the Movies: Sean Connery in “Cuba” (1979)

2005-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

As far as I know, Sean Connery never went to Cuba as James Bond, but in the film “Cuba” directed by Richard Lester, it often feels like he wished he were somewhere else. Connery plays a British soldier of fortune that comes to aid Cuba’s dictatorship from the advancing rebels, but the story is weak and uninspired, and we never feel close enough to any of the principals to understand them or

Why Can’t We Be Friends? Part 3: Manifest Destiny

2005-09-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

In 1848 President Polk offered Spain $100 million for Cuba, and in 1854 President Pierce upped the ante to $130 million. Spain declined the offer both times. Through diplomatic channels, the U.S. government made it known that “it would forcibly resist the acquisition of the island by any other nation.” Spain was equally locked into its position; “(We) will neither now nor ever enter into any

Cuba @ the Movies: Bond, James Bond

2005-08-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

On occasion, as it has become necessary to serve queen and country, super agent James Bond has had to infiltrate Cuba in order to save the world. Bond’s most recent foray into the island takes place in Die Another Day (2002). He tracks a North Korean killer, who’s undergoing a radical gene-therapy procedure that will given him a brand new face and increased life expectancy. He’s first spotted

Why Can’t We Be Friends? Part 2: The Havana Club

2005-08-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

“The movement in Cuba for annexation to the United States began as early as 1810,” writes historian Philip Foner in, “A History of Cuba and its Relations with the United States, Volume II, 1845-1895.” A few wealthy Cuban slave-owners were “swayed by their personal experience of life in the United States, where they were infected by the ‘go-ahead spirit’ and ‘get-rich doctrines’ of American

Why Can’t We Be Friends? Part 1: The Ownership Society

2005-08-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

“Cuba must be ours… Give us Cuba and our possessions are complete.” - Moses Yule Beach, New York Sun, July 23 1847 For over 150 years the U.S. has attempted to annex, control or dominate Cuba, and some of us can’t accept that Cubans declared their independence from the U.S. in 1959 with the emergence of the Cuban Revolution. Some of us refuse to acknowledge that we have no right or moral

Cuba @ the Movies: I know it was you, Fredo

2005-08-10T00:04:00.000-07:00

Cuba is only part of what’s at stake for Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in “Godfather II” (1974). If things go his way, he will inherit control of the casinos and hotels in Havana from Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg). Instead, the Revolution ruins everything. (The Hyman Roth character was based on Meyer Lansky.) Just after Batista announces his immediate resignation, Pacino delivers the line to John

Lucky Luciano Not So Lucky in Cuba

2005-07-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

By now its common knowledge that American mobsters found a “willing partner” in Cuban governments of the 1940s and ‘50s, and that Meyer Lansky had a friendship and business relationship with Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, but did you know that famed mobster Charlie “Lucky” Luciano spent six months in Cuba after his deportation from the U.S.? At the end of WWII Luciano was released from a U.S

Que Sera, Sera!

2005-07-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

“Cuba isn’t going to open up the way Eastern Europe did,” says Jamie Suchlicki, director of the Institute of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami, in the AP article by Todd Lewan published in June 2005. “Cuba will probably act more like China” he predicts, speculating that it may take up to ten years after Castro’s death for true change in U.S. policy towards the island

Cuban History Rocks!

2005-07-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

Faster than Star Wars! More action than a Jerry Bruckheimer movie! With more unique characters than a collaboration between David Mamet and Robert Altman! More left turns than San Francisco and more right turns than Salt Lake City. All in a country smaller than a medium state, and a span of time longer than half a millennia. Here are some early trailers: 1511. Cuba’s first

Andy Garcia

2005-07-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

You can barely recognize him in “Confidence.” He looks faded and corrupt as Gunther Butan. But slowly his familiar face starts to peer through the salt-pepper facial hair and character lines and you recognize him from memory. This is one of my favorite Garcia performances, even though it’s a supporting role with little screen time. Check out an early scene in which Butan confronts 2 crooked

Cuban Music

2005-07-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

One of the most significant contributions Cuban culture has made to world culture is music. I’m often asked about Cuban music and musicians by people from all over the world; Spain, Argentina, Japan, Africa… I’m still knocked out by the fact that people are listening to Chucho Valdez in Africa… Are they listening to Ernesto Lecuona in Paris? Likely. In San Francisco? Yes! I can verify that

By way of an introduction

2005-06-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tall palm trees and warm sands. Roaring waves and cool, ocean breezes… rumbas and comparzas rhythmically parading down the street in a colorful flutter of dance, music and worship. These are not memories I have from Cuba, they’re symbols of a country now lost to me in all but this blog and the history site I’ve been nursing for nine years now… my child. My