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Essays on Cuban history
Cuba in relations to the rest of Latin America
Cuban american culture
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Cuba Cultural Awareness
Culture defines the very fabric of society. It depicts where we as an ethnicity came from, our accomplishments, as well as our path to where we currently stand on this rapidly modernizing world. As Americans, it is apparent to all that others revere our diversified culture for its distinctiveness in acceptance of different racial, religious and ethical differences amongst our population. American culture has graciously adapted many traditions, beliefs, and ethnicities guaranteeing a freedom to form opposing interests and viewpoints of our own, while still expressing unity and solidarity. While Cuba seeks conformity, and grants far less freedom to form opposing views, Cuba has adapted as well, despite colonial oppression, creating Afrocubanism, which is defined by culture as,
Cultural forms, particularly music and dance, were crucial to the definition of the new nation during the neocolonial republic. Afrocubanismo, the syncretic result of the African majority's culture and that of the dominant European minority, was the "conceptual framework of modern Cuban culture." African rhythms were inserted into popular music, and the Eurocuban dances "danza" and "contra-danza" and the Afrocuban dances "son" and rhumba became popular. When Cuba was threatened with a diminution of its national identity because of the U.S. economic colonialism beginning in 1898, nationalist sentiment found in the Afrocuban music and dance of Oriente province a unique Cubanness free of foreign cultural and ideological influence. For a time, Afrocubanismo was the centerpiece of nationalist representation. (Culture)
Cuba today demonstrates itself as a mostly thriving nation. It is a nation in which all citizens are receive c...
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... overcome adversity, and have assimilated other cultures to create a unique blend. Despite overwhelming size differences, both nations command respect throughout the world community as a whole. Cuba has sought success through the concept of socialism, and the United States as a capitalist nation. Regardless of the method, both nations have achieved their independence from colonization and are self sustaining, culturally rich nations.
Works Cited
"Cuba." Every Culture. N.p., n.d. Bing. Web. 8 June 2014. .
Bourne, Peter G. Fidel A Biography of Fidel Castro. First ed. New York NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1986. N. pag. Print
Smith, Wayne S. Portrait of Cuba. First ed. Atlanta Ga: Turner Publishing Inc, 1991. N. pag. Print.
"Cuba." Pearson Education, n.d. Web. 11 June 2014.
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Within Aline Helg’s book titled, Our Rightful Share: The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-1912, she includes many historical events that serve as a foundation for her arguments in order to emphasize the "black struggle for equality" starting in the late 19th century and according to her, still transpiring today. These events are, the formation of the first black independent political party called the, Partido Independiente de Color (146), the United States’ role during intervention and the black struggle to overcome the system of racial hierarchies that had developed in Cuba. Blacks had to fight for equality while simultaneously being, "…accused of racism and antinationalism". (145) According to Helg, this placed an undue burden on the black groups that were organizing to demand their "rightful share" because it made divided the goals of their plight into many different facets, thus yielding a lack of unity necessary for their success. During the United States’ intervention, Cuban nationalism as a whole was threatened which also served to downplay the importance of demands being made by the Partido’s leader, Estenoz. The United States displayed a greater concern on the affirmation of its power as an international police, rather than allying its resources to help the indignant and discriminated Afro-Cubans. All of these circumstances illustrate the extremities of the political and social institutions that the Afro-Cubans attempted to defeat but could not. They also exemplify the perpetuation of the black struggle, and how it affected and continues to affect the lives of Afro-Cubans in present-day Cuba.
Cuba’s unpredictable shift toward socialism and its growing dependence on the Soviet Union divided both the leadership and the country at large. With a relationship dating back to before Fidel Castro’s installment into power, Russia and Cuba have both played major roles in the development and regression of each other’s economies and societies.
Wylie, Lana. Perceptions of Cuba: Canadian and American Policies in Comparative Perspective. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2010, 59-61 (accessed December 18, 2013).
Frustrated by the economic domination and policing of the United States, Castro started to cut the U.S. out of the economy and find sources elsewhere, the Soviet Union. This eventually led to the end of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. Castro’s popularity grew considerably, making him a “heroic symbol of anti-imperialism.” (Charlip)
The culture in Cuba is diversified by the lingua franca, religions, ethnicity, globalization, conflicts, and many more things. People in 1791 spoke french during the haitian revolution, but that has since died out as well as the languages the indigenous people spoke. Most all cubans now speak only spanish. During the neocolonial republic,
On this day 191 years ago John Quincy Adams expressed his prediction for the future of Cuban-American contact. The Cuban wars of independence were only 15 years away from his prediction when he estimated. These independence wars continue to influence Cuba’s cultural and political attitude toward Europe and the United States; This in part due to the externalities involved in the remodeling of social structure in the aftermath of the revolution. The intentions and motives of each faction: rebels, United States government, Spanish government, United States public, and the Cuban public, varied widely to an extend that caused even more concern in the future. Depending on the point of view of an outsider the situation in Cuba seemed to be a continuation of revolution...
Cubans are very friendly in nature; it is uncommon to meet any outgoing citizen without their communicative, enthusiastic and hospitable values despite their troubled country. In addition, they have a very strong patriotic value and they respect their national dignity. Even though Cuba is a relatively poor country, thanks to the government’s strong emphasis on education, the literacy rate remains high. The English language is a mandatory course in schools and it has been very popular among people in the tourism industry. With the installment of the Socialist Government after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, most of the middle class population left the island migrating to the United States settling largely in Miami, Florida and other U.S cities.
The current government and economic model of Cuba, its world relations, and America’s stance on the country, have all greatly changed since the Cuban Revolution. Changes are still underway and will likely be coming. Although there has been a mix of opinions with the Cuban people on Cuba’s government, and Fidel’s leading, many seem to be happy with Raúl Castro taking charge, even and especially from other countries; America being one.
This paper entails of Cuba’s history, traditions, clothing, music, food, and some amusing facts. Republic of Cuba was given independence in 1902. Music is energetic with an assortment of Rumba, Son, Danzón, and a variety of a music blend. Cuban cuisine is also notable for its fried goods, which I am not in favor for. Cuba has different traditions they follow and holidays that take an important part in Cubans’ lives. Cuba has gone through a current leader conversion and is more robust than ever. Cuba is a haven to its citizens; that they absorb all Cuba’s many
The film, “Cuba, an African Odyssey” by Jihan El Tahri depicts a very significant time period in African history. The film focuses on Africa’s liberation movements which were heavily supported by Cuba, under the leadership of Fidel Castro. Cuban intervention was crucial for the progressive decolonization process of Africa, which brought independence to many parts of the continent, and exemplified the positive power of internationalism.
Capitalism is an economic and political system where private business owners have power over trade and industry instead of the government. However, in Cuba this system did not help in bettering the developing country. This was partly due to the political corruption and unstable economy during that era. The series “Cuba Libre” tells about the hardships Cuba faced in its instability in economic and class infrastructure. This instability led to many revolts and coups that made the
Henkel, Knut. "Cuba's Economic Crisis: Tough Challenges Ahead for Raul Castro."SPIEGEL ONLINE. DHL, 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
During the 1950’s, Cuba was on the brink of revolution. The nation, which had suffered numerous corrupt and oppressive governmental regimes, fell victim to yet another when Fulgencio Batista seized power under a military coup in March of 1952. A cry for a just Cuba, that was economically, politically, and socially free continued to echo throughout the island. In 1959, a group of radical revolutionaries, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, overthrew the Batista dictatorship and put in place the political and social structures that exist in Cuba to this day.
The first, and the most important, is the Cuba government has the courage to reform and change themselves, which most governments do not have. During Fidel Castro’s government, things and regulations
Considering this, Cuba is portrayed to be so limited in opportunity, that you have to find the optimism/light. The use of scotopic lens forced me to really understand the struggles that the Cuban people go through, and in contrast it allowed me to understand the beauty of true life. I pose question of which society I 'd find most happiness in. In this reflection I seek to express the cultural, social, political, and economic similarities and disparities of Cuba and America in relationship to my