Cuba blasts US black leaders for charges of racism

As a Cuban refugee, We left because of Castro. Call it socialism, communism, etc,. Although I was young, I never heard the racist card being played out. In fact, a black woman saved my fathers life from the Castro hit squad. She was my nanny, friend and part of the family.

It's my opinion that no one in Cuba is happy. Not white, black or mestizo. They have to keep their mouths shut because of the consequences! If a few are talking now, be careful. Castro will not put up with it. All of these people had an opportunity to leave the country. Today, many are still trying to escape.

Those who stayed in Cuba were fooled by great speeches, deception and promises of change for the welfare of all. Socialism was the change and communism the end result.

No freedom of speech here folks. Many were executed on suspicions of saying something wrong!

How fortunate we are to be in a country where you can speak your mind. Lets be careful here in America. Lets not be fooled by great speeches and promises of change for the welfare of all. We must be wise, alert and leary of those who make false promises! If not, be prepared to lose your freedom of speech!

I'm sorry, but "mestizo?" The Spanish wiped out the entire native population in Cuba. You must mean mulatto.

"All of these people had an opportunity to leave the country." The key word is had, and even during the Mariel, Cubans didn't have the resources. It's not that simple; also, when the Cuban coast guards are shooting you down or when the United States coast guards are redirecting or deporting you back, there's no opportunity then. The only method now is to send remittances to Cuba, and have Cubans buy the necessary materials to escape? But even then, of course, they still can be deported. The U.S. is not immigration friendly. It tends to accept unwillingly, lol.

"Those who stayed in Cuba were fooled by great speeches, deception and promises of change for the welfare of all. Socialism was the change and communism the end result.."

Yeah I agree. There are many history books about it :)

Those who stayed in Cuba were fooled by great speeches, deception and promises of change for the welfare of all. Socialism was the change and communism the end result.

I agree; it's always good to be inquisitive, challenging, alert and curious as to what each typical politicians does or promises. I learned that of many generations of my family, from Franco to Castro.

The racist card is played all over the world, unfortunately. In fact, I would not like to be in Russia at the moment. :(

What "racist card"? These are legitimate criticisms.

How many white Cubans are working in the sugar cane fields?

Black, white, mixed, chino-latino, all are suffering in contemporary Cuba. But Fidel is no longer in charge, so it's time to direct the criticisms elsewhere. The Castro brothers are senior citizens (albeit powerful ones), but the infrastrcture and mechanisms in place need to be attacked. This is one such attack.

Dr. Darsi Ferrer should be released, and Harry Belafonte should say so.

I recall Cuba's offer after Katrina struck, and it was a fine gesture, though rebuffed by Pres. Bush.

Yet another example of the US interjecting themselves into other societies

The U.S.? Or was it actually:

60 prominent U.S. black leaders

Yet another example of the US interjecting themselves into other societies

How's this different from the advocacy we saw by Americans in the '70s on behalf of Soviet Jewry? Was that any less meddlesome?

No there are mestizos in Cuba...I have a friend who is Mestizo Cuban and he is not mulatto. So you are clearly wrong about them wiping out the native population...he escaped in an old truck tire from Cuba.

I am pretty sure. I'll give you the history sources. You must mean "strigueno," which they may appear to be mestizo but they are not.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/41/310.html

These links show the destruction:

http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/histcuba.html

http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/smallpox.html

You must mean there a small amount of traces of Taino blood, but that's not really mestizo. It may appear to be it, but Cubans are mostly mixed. The striguenos are the ones that appear mestizo, but they're aren't pure mestizo, they are mixed. My aunt who appears Mestiza would say the same thing.

There are many history books on the obliteration of natives and it's pointless to list because it shouldn't be argued, but here are a few:

http://www.amazon.com/History-Cuba-Palgrave-Essential-Histories/dp/1403962596/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260154126&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Cuba-Reader-History-Culture-Politics/dp/0822331977/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260154126&sr=8-2

Lies my Teacher Told me, and many more

However these are perhaps the speculation you are talking about:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091028170849AALZEQ6

To say that there are mestizos around is almost saying there was no total destruction of the indigenous populations of Cuba. The symbol of this destruction is always communicated trough the story of Hatuey.

However the DNA evidence supporting the claim of small blood traces are little to none because I have not found one study showing it found DNA traces of indigenous populations in Cubans. There are claims out there but those are claims and developed through a misinterpretation. I accidentally implied traces, but there is no support for that. Probably will never unless there is money for the research.

I am positive he is ladino not mulatto the man has had DNA done on him and he has no african ancestory. His ancestory is Taino Indian and Spaniard. DNA studies in fact have shown that they were not eliminated but intermarried with European men that came over to the islands. The men did not bring women so they intermarried, had children who became ladino...some intermarried with Africans as well so then you also have mulattos...but mestizos or ladinos do exist in Cuba and they are not as uncommon as you seem to think especially in Eastern Cuba.

Your friend is not purely indigenous, and in no way is. He's not, for example, a Mexican who has a long history of Aztec, French or Spanish mixing. The Mexican individual will have a strong DNA showing indigenous ancestry in him. However, you show no support about DNA studies done in Cuba because there are no studies that have been done in Cuba, and if there is show it to me, so I can enlighten most Cubans. To my peoples, we have no clue of this, and our history makes it clear that all natives from Cuba were eliminated unless somehow they were enslaved and brought to Spain, then later brought to Cuba. That's another issue, and difficult to confirm. I don't know any case of that either. In order for me to believe you, you must show that the consensus among Cubans is wrong. The Cuban peoples have this consensus: there is no indigenous population left in Cuba, or indigenous Cubans in this planet. There is speculation, however, of emigrants entering Cuba and mixing. However, there is no support for that claim either. Again, if there is, show me. There is indigenous populations in Puerto Rico, and there are studies that corroborate that, but that's Puerto Rico. Even at that, most Puerto Ricans are mixed; they are not fully indigenous or Mestizo: the variation would have to show 50% European and 50% Indigenous. That is very difficult to find.

If you're a revisionist, I'm glad, but in order to revise history you must prove yourself.

I never said he was purely indigenous did I? Go back and read my post..I said he is LADINO which mean mestizo that was in reference to the post that claims that there are no mestizos that are Cuban which is wrong. There are no pure Taino indians as they are all now mestizos or mulattos.

There are DNA studies that show that the Taino have not been eliminated as you claim. That is a big bit of misinformation.

http://www.kacike.org/GuitarEnglish.html

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/41/316.html

http://www.lasculturas.com/articles/14-culture-a-identity/22-the-taino-survival

and btw, not all Mexicans are Aztec there were a variety of indigenous groups that roamed Mexico.

There are no pure Taino indians as they are all now mestizos or mulattos.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/41/316.html With this very link you show me that I was wrong, and that many of us are wrong. This should be revisionist and explored. I am very surprised indeed about the fact of Taino descendants in Cuba. I still don't think it is proper to call them mestizo, however. I say this because some have already mixed with African ancestry, and that would be another category?

Ladinos specifically refers to Central America, and these native descendants are in the Caribbean. Why are you using Ladino instead of indigenous?

Encarta: Ladino: 2. Spanish-speaking Native Central American: somebody of partially Spanish or indigenous ancestry in Central America who speaks Spanish

There are DNA studies that show that the Taino have not been eliminated as you claim

I didn't say that. I said this which would contradict the above quote: "There is indigenous populations in Puerto Rico, and there are studies that corroborate that, but that's Puerto Rico."

"and btw, not all Mexicans are Aztec there were a variety of indigenous groups that roamed Mexico."

Sorry if I used a stereotype, but I know there are different groups in Mexico, but Aztecs were a major group that dominated the area viciously.

Anything else that I need to know?

While Cuba is part of both the Carribean and the North American continent it is not that far from other Latin American countries and the language spoken in Cuba is Ladino. I tend to use it interchangably with Mestizo...I live in Honduras if that clears it up for you any. I am considered Ladino or mestizo because I am mixed with Indian and European roots. However, my husband is full blood Mayan without a drop of European so he is clearly not a Ladino...but our son is.

The Taino were common on Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico Islands...as you already know.

I agree that some are clearly mixed with African blood and contention would be that they are mulatto..which is partially correct. However, I live in Honduras where there is a significant Garifuna population. The Garifuna do not mix much but when they do clearly the children are mulatto. However, if the children look more Indian they tend to be considered Ladino...though it is usually not until the African blood lines is somewhat washed out by Ladino intermarrying in the 3-4 generation. For instance the children of my neighbor are mulatto and they look mulatto. However, their children are also children mixed with Ladino and mulatto and are more Ladino looking and therefore it is very rare to hear anyone call them mulatto. People in Honduras rarely discuss race and it is not a big deal here..I suspect Cuba is not much different in that aspect...racism is not the same here as it is in the sense of the US racism. Yes, it exists..just not on the level it does in the US.

btw, I am not trying to be a smart butt...this is just a passion of mine. I did not discover my roots to be Cherokee until by accident a few years ago...I always thought Aztec or Comanchee and Spaniard..imagine my surprise when I found out the mix was Cherokee and Shepardic ...

LOL I know you were not trying to be smart, but I was. I gave you a hard time because I expect when someone corrects my ignorance to show support of their claims, which I acheived from you, and thank you. Now when I encounter many, VERY many Cubans that do not know we have a small Taino ancestry still circulating in our peoples; I'll inform that great deal. :)

I agree that racism in Cuba isn't pervasive as it is in the U.S., but at least here, all groups have an opportunity to obtain whatever it is they want. In Cuba, that's very difficult. Here, you have the freedom to express your racism as long as you don't hurt anyone when doing it, but in Cuba, FOS is not possible or encouraged. Sometimes we have to sacrifice things in the name of liberty, which I believe Jose Marti would agree with. People that champion the society in Cuba and its socialism have a hard time empathizing the true conditions and inequalities in the country. That is one thing I hate. Those people should travel (ironic I know), not as travelers, but as residents in Cuba. They should reside, and see if they like authoritarianism, and see whether if they are segregated after not being tourists; they'd be surprised. Cuba has class segregation, however, many don't want to realize it, so they overlook it.

Anyway, thanks for everything and I wish you a happy holidays, and keep on fighting for La Raza since we are the part of the West anyway. :) Don't worry, the West loves us, even if they want to rape us. :)

I fully understand the situation that has occurred in Cuba it is a travesty to say the least. You are right in that the people have no freedoms. I know a woman who had recently arrived from Cuba a few years ago. She was terrified to even eat at a restaurant for fear the police were coming to take everyone out and to jail. I was beside myself at first for her attitudes, but then later understood what they were after talking at length to her. I had to work hard to get her to trust me...she seemed to think everyone was some sort of government agent that was going to tell on her for speaking her mind...so clearly that was a problem in Cuba as well. She told me that doctors earn very little and it is really not worth being a doctor in Cuba because you earn nothing and even if you go out of the country to work you have Cuban agents with you and cannot escape or they will look for you and kill you. She told me prostitutes earn more than doctors do and that life is worth very little. She spoke about the food rationing to me and it is hard to imagine living on that amount of food and the small variety...wow. Those who think that Cuba is doing well are sadly mistaken. The west doesn´t want to rape Latino countries as much as they want control..but they are equal opportunity at controlling ..

We've normalized relations with Vietnam, China and Russia. Why is it that the US has a different standard when it comes to Cuba?

Tony the attitude slowly has been changing, more with this administration and Congress than any in the past decades. This is perhaps one of the only areas I agree with Obama. Some members of Congress, Ron Paul, have been trying to open trade with Cuba and on for a long time.

The majority of Cuban-born Republicans have this grudge with Castro. Why? Because his government stole their property, wealth and so on. Until these generations die, until the Castro brothers and Diaz-Balart, family and friends die, the United States and Cuba will still struggle to be neighbors. Until then, we will slowly persuade Cuba into capitalism and democracy. However, if the next administration does a 180 like McCain or someone who is bought by Diaz-Balart and friends, then Cuba will continue its form of government until bankruptcy, and somehow that is unlikely. Communism in Cuba has been there since the 50's. Soviet Union did not eve mirror Cuba's accomplishment, perhaps because the USSR had lost so much money in financing Cuba. Also, it could be that the States' trade is helping. :)

The majority of Cuban-born Republicans have this grudge with Castro. Why? Because his government stole their property, wealth and so on. Until these generations die, until the Castro brothers and Diaz-Balart, family and friends die, the United States and Cuba will still struggle to be neighbors.

So it would seem the US government is being held hostage to 50 yr old grudges that get in the way of prudent policy. That is quite disturbing. I appreciate your taking time to shed light on the subject.

Politicians are obviously managers of policy, and they are no politicos; they vote mostly on special interest unfortunately. We can only conlude money talks.

Yeah no problem, if you want OBJECTIVE information regarding Cuban, Cuban-American, U.S. and Cuban relations and politics: http://havanajournal.com/

There are forums and so on.