cuban history

When Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959, he deposed a dictator. And then the man who promised democracy turned into a dictator himself, and turned Cuba communist. Did he also make Cuba better than it was before? Or worse? Today we dig into the Cuba Revolution, and also go over the centuries of foreign subjugation and internal chaos and corruption that preceded it. Cuba has been struggling since long before Castro took it over. We meet a few interesting players in addition to going over the history, including infamous revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Hail Nimrod! 

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When they speak, we listen.

Former Negro Leaguers Sam Allen and Pedro Sierra join Bob Kendrick at All-Star Week in Seattle to tell their stories of triumph over adversity, in front of a live audience. Hear stories of long bus rides and hot beef stew while Sam Allen traveled with the Memphis Red Sox. Hear Pedro Sierra's first reactions to prejudice in the United States, after leaving his native Cuba to play in the Negro Leagues. Hear about former Negro-Leaguer-turned-Country-Music icon Charley Pride, Dapper Dizzy Dismukes, Ted Rasberry, and a skinny Indianapolis Clown named Henry Aaron. And hear firsthand, how Jackie Robinson changed two lives forever in 1947.

Do not miss this very special conversation, with two of the last remaining storytellers of an unforgettable generation.

Follow Bob Kendrick on Twitter - @nlbmprez

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Dr. Gerald Horne, the 🐐historian and author of "Race to Revolution: The U.S. and Cuba during Slavery and Jim Crow”, discusses the intricate history of race and slavery between the U.S. and Cuba, the profound influence of U.S. slavery on Cuban society and politics, and the ongoing consequences brought on by the U.S. Blockade.

Dr. Horne discusses what slave resistance in Cuba looked like, the Haitian Revolution's deep significance and far-reaching impact on the Caribbean, and the surprising connections between Confederate slaveowners and the white Cubans who fled the island following the revolution in 1959. We also discuss the African nature of the Cuban Revolution (yes, it was an African revolution), the result of anti-communism and anti-Blackness on the island prior to the Cuban Revolution, and the long history of strong solidarity from Cuba to the African world.

This episode invites you to reflect on the historical threads that continue to weave the contemporary social and political fabrics, not only in Cuba but in the broader context of African liberation and international relations. 

Check out Dr. Horne's book "Race to Revolution" here and "The Dawning of the Apocalypse: The Roots of Slavery, White Supremacy, Settler Colonialism, and Capitalism in the Long Sixteenth Century" here. 

The clip you hear at the end of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz describing his meeting with Fidel Castro can be found here. 

Considering support Groundings on Patreon here.

There are a handful of people in history who seem to have had an uncanny ability to escape death. Whether evading a lone assassin, dodging friendly fire during the heat of battle, or simply defying the laws of nature by smoking over 200 cigarettes a day, these four historical figures featured in Episode 34 proved they were all Hard to Kill.

Books:
The Reign of Elizabeth by J.B. Black

Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner 

King Zog: Self-Made Monarch of Albania by James Tomes

The Double Life of Fidel Castro by Juan Reinaldo Sanchez & Alex Gyldén 

 Film:

Elizabeth I and Her Enemies (2017) Documentary

Washington (2020) Documentary

The Fidel Castro Tapes (2014) Documentary

On this episode, we talk about the US blockade against Cuba, which we define as a weapon of economic, political, racist, colonial warfare against the Cuban people. We hear from Belly of the Beast producer Daniel Montero, who explains the main character behind these mysterious protests, and then we dive into some historical context. Finally, we discuss the blockade in detail, and Luna tells us some of the important documentary projects they're working on. 

Make sure you check out Belly of the Beast's work on YouTube here, and follow them on Twitter as well here. 

#EndTheBlockade #UnblockCuba #CubaSíBloqueoNo

Music: "(DRILL) CUBAN DRILL - LATIN Brass Sax by Dios Mio Beats"

In October of 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on an island in the Caribbean Sea and christened it “Juana” in honor of Prince Don Juan, son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. From there, Cuba would remain under Spanish rule for over 400 years. Eventually, the United States would help the Cuban people overthrow their colonial rulers just as America had done a century before. Thus began a long and contentious relationship between America and Cuba. Ironically, it was America who also assisted a young Cuban revolutionary named Fidel Castro to overthrow a corrupt government and set up his own government. That was 1959 and Castro would remain in power for over 50 years while surviving more than 600 assassination attempts and outlasting 11 American presidents. With his death in 2016 and the resignation of his brother, Raul, in April of 2021, there have been new rumblings in Cuba. Will the Cuban people finally demand freedom, or will they continue under Communist rule? Will America once again involve herself in Cuban affairs? It seems there is more Cuban history yet to be written.

BOOKS

• Cuba: A History by Hugh Thomas
• The History of Cuba by Clifford Staten
• Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Robert Kennedy
• Modern Times by Paul Johnson
• America: A Narrative History by George Tindall and David Shi

 FILM

• Cuban Missile Crisis: Three Men Go to War (2012) Documentary
• JFK: A President Betrayed (2013) Documentary with Morgan Freeman narrating
• Fidel (1971) Documentary
• The Fidel Castro Tapes (2014) Documentary

This week's episode begins with a discussion of Craig's latest Florida Phoenix column investigation the damage the state's latest red tide outbreak has had on seagrass.

Our guest is Andrew Huse, author of "From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa," and an upcoming title about the history of the Cuban Sandwich.

Andrew's recommendations for a great Cuban sandwich: The Boozy Pig in Tampa and Sanguich in Miami.