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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.
Wylie, Lana. Perceptions of Cuba: Canadian and American Policies in Comparative Perspective. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2010, 59-61 (accessed December 18, 2013).
In Cuba many citizens have a strong sense of Nationalism. Jose Marti had a strong impact on Nationalism in Cuban society. He states “If the republic does not open its arms to everyone and move forward the benefit of everyone, the republic will die” (Krauze 17). This statement shows how Marti believed that every Cuban was equal and that no matter of race or ethnicity they are all together in their soon to be republic. This shows how Marti believed that all people of Cuba are together and this strengthens their Nationalism. His push for independence from Spain shows that he believed Cubans were strong enough to become a strong, connected country independent of any outside influence. Marti’s belief that all people living in Cuba are Cubans plays an important role in Cuba’s fight for independents. Weather they are black, Spanish, indigenous or white they are all Cubans and should be free from others control. This idea of Nationalism laid the foundation for what is now modern day
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)
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...
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,
Cubans have a mixed heritage composing of 27 Percent of the population with 64 percent white Spanish and a 9 percent of African ancestry. The Cuban society is unique with the use of expressions and words that other Spanish-speaking countries do not use. Cubans are very friendly in nature; it is uncommon to meet any outgoing citizen without their communicative, enthusiastic and hospitable values despites 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, but thanks to the government’s strong emphasis on education, the literacy 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
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.
Cuba is a haven to its residents. The proper name of Cuba is Republic of Cuba with Havana as its capital; a large Caribbean island nation under communist rule is the largest of all islands in the Caribbean. The country also includes more than 4,000 other much smaller islands and cays. On October 27, 1492 Christopher Columbus sighted Cuba and by 1514, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar had conquered the island for the Spanish crest. The country was given its independence in 1902. I will discuss about Republic of Cuba and its beauty. This paper is conducted by its history, traditions, clothing, music, food, and some enjoyable facts.
Henkel, Knut. "Cuba's Economic Crisis: Tough Challenges Ahead for Raul Castro."SPIEGEL ONLINE. DHL, 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .
Paterson, Thomas G. Contesting Castro: The United States and The Triumph of the Cuban Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
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.
The readings of week five by Ernesto Che Guevara and Philip Oxhorn discussed the social foundations in Cuba. In relation to what was learned in lecture and the series “Cuba Libre”, Cuba was a place that has struggled with its social foundation for many centuries. These authors describe the underdevelopment of the country and the formation of class. The uprising of socialism after the revolution led by Fidel Castro, shows how people in Cuba have been greatly affected. Both the socialist and capitalist views are important for the political structure of Cuba. I believe these excerpts explain the reasons for the shift in capitalism to socialism in the Americas as well as describe how this has affected the developing country.
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