Black Solidarity and the Cuban Revolution

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Uh, good day. You're listening to and watching Black Agenda Report. I'm Margaret Kimberly. The Republic of Cuba is in the news a lot lately, and not for good reason. Re reasons. The US has intensified its more than 60-year-old blockade by preventing the delivery of oil to that country. Venezuela, which was a major supplier, is now under US control and other nations in the region are under various threats from the US.

[00:00:32]Of course, this blockade is causing great suffering as Cuba is unable to provide reliable uh sources of electricity as a result of the US actions. Our guest to discuss this is Dr. Rosemary Mey. She is the author of Fidel and Malcolm, Memories of a Meeting, which chronicles the significance of the 1960 meeting between Fidel Castro and Malcolm X. She has lived and worked in Cuba and was an international journalist for Radio Habana Cuba. She joined she joins us from New York City to discuss the latest US threat against Cuba and how we should understand it in the context of the history of US Cuba relations. Thank you.

[00:01:19]Thank you so much for joining me.

[00:01:21]>> Thanks Margaret for inviting me. This is my first time on your program so this is great. Thank you so much.

[00:01:27]>> Very cool. Um, you know, before we talk about this current moment where there's this terrible crisis for Cuba, let's talk about uh some history, especially about your book. Uh, explain to our listeners why the encounter that Malcolm and Fidel had was so important.

[00:01:49]>> Well, thank you. I I I really appreciate that because number one, a lot of times people think that the 1960 meeting between Fidel and Malcolm X at the Hotel Teresa uh was like a fir a first moment of US particularly African-American Cuba relations. It was a continuum. And I say that because most people don't realize until they go to Cuba and they see the how how much of an African country it is, right? Um it's all a part of the it was all a part of the transatlantic slave trade and we have to link that you know that Cuba's struggle for independence uh Frederick Douglas even himself at at one time challenged young black men to go to Cuba and support the Cuban struggle for independence. So we had this long history of uh of Cuba and US relations. I mean I'm talking about kind of like the personal history, the cultural history and what have you. So by the time Fidel even even after um independence and even during the whole period of Cuba being under US domination with Batista and and the you know black folk were going back and forth to Cuba but they for example Josephine Baker uh artists traveled to Cuba but of course they were under the um under the whole way of of segregation you know and and they had to stay in different hotels.

[00:03:16]Langston Hughes relationship to uh Nicolaskien who's a national poet of Cuba was a very strong relation. So there's there was there's always been that kind of relationship. However, it was this political relationship that was solidified when Fidel and Malcolm came together. We're at we're talking about the end of the so-called Cold War, a struggle for independence in Africa. And by the way, when Fidel came up to Harlem, I mean, it was during the time of the UN General Assembly. So all all of the African uh liberated countries liberate being liberated from colonialism, they arrived in in Harlem to meet with Fidel. So, so that meeting in 1960 was 10 days in Harlem was significant because what it did, it consolidated what we now know as a continuum type of relationship between anti-imperial anti-imperialist folks, revolutionary folks, uh, who traveled back and forth to Cuba and supported the revolution. um during uh the 60s right after the triumph of the revolution uh um formerly known as uh Leroy Jones um they traveled to to Cuba with a delegation and so it that relationship was consolidated under the Cuban revolution.

[00:04:35]You know, you you mentioned uh Cuba um uh as a um a plantation economy and the slave trade. The Amastad, we all know the story of the Amistad of uh the enslaved people who managed to break free for a while and fought for their freedom. The Amastad started, the voyage began in Cuba. Amastad means friendship in Spanish. So, uh that uh I I think things like that are are important for us to know. And it was a huge huge um thing in Harlem. People were overjoyed that Fidel was staying at the Hotel Teresa. Um that uh Malcolm X uh met him there. And then of course because he was Fidel was in Harlem, then other world leaders had to come up to Harlem. Nou um uh who else and who am I I forgetting but at any rate uh and other other world leaders >> arrived he was >> uh Nou uh and uh and others uh all came up to Harlem too and it this was something that Harlemmites were very proud of. There were crowds of people um and so tell us about that. Tell us about the kind of solidarity that existed uh for ordinary people, ordinary uh black people who were not in any official capacity. And yet there was this pride uh this happiness that um uh world leaders including Fidel Castro who was very popular always with black people that they were in Harlem. Talk to us about that. Well, you know, well, I think we have we go back to like a a lot of the the revolutionary nationalists and the pan-Africanists, they were also in Harlem. Uh prior to uh brother Carlos Cook's uh Dominican uh he had laid kind of like a foundation uh the the art the Garveyes for example, there were more I don't know if people know this, but there were more um there were more uh chapters of uh Garvey's um UNIA in Cuba.

[00:06:50]People don't know that and that went any many other parts of the Caribbean, you know, and and so one of his boats, as a matter of fact, uh sank on on a little in a harbor uh in Cuba and which right now I think there's some brothers and sisters called uh diving for a purpose.

[00:07:08]We hope that eventually they might be able to um raise that little little boat up. But I'm just saying that that there was this this energy in Harlem at the moment. there was a Harlem Writer Guild uh which was really important um to organizing some of the demonstrations that were outside of the hotel and in in the book I had an opportunity to um to interview a lot of the folk and most of them now are are our ancestors who uh witness um this this incredible uh visit of Fidel and Juan Almeida who uh black general general that fought in the revolutionary struggle with Fidel.

[00:07:51]He had a habit of coming out in the afternoon and he would walk up and down uh 125th Street and pe people would gather and follow him to the housing project there and and people remember that, you know, they remember that that kind of sol that kind of solidarity. Of course, there were those the haters who uh interpret the whole trip that there were these um Cubans who were cooking chickens and uh they were uh hanging them out the window. you know, kind of, you know, that that cultural racism, the anti-cultural racism that we know about to try to discredit um the Cuban uh revolutionary because they came and they had on their fatigues, you know, they they were just off of the off of the revol, you know, moments from from winning the revolutionary struggle was able to share with us a lot of the personal stories that he had gotten from folk who who witnessed the uh the meeting. So the meeting was critical.

[00:08:47]The meeting was important. And that meeting, I'm telling you, Margaret, they you talk to young people in Cuba, they can tell you about Fidel in Harlem with Malcolm Xie. You know, they'll tell you that. And it's so revered because for folks who go to Cuba who have not been there, that meeting again is kind of like memorialized because there's a little park, a little park in a section of of Havana called Vidado. There's actually a um an entire plaque. It's it's a sculpture almost of Malcolm on one side and Martin Lu and this is right there in the middle of of of a section of a banner and all around you see Malcolm's uh quotes from Malcolm. I'm telling you Malcolm is revered in Cuba. The book is his his autobiography has been translated even when the president came um a couple of year years ago. He told the folk at we were at the um uptown at the um Malcolm X center and he said that >> Harlem you know reading Malcolm you know it was a required reading and so I'm telling you Malcolm is alive and that's why so many people embrace him and know our struggle there because of that 1960 meeting between these two leaders and and look they were you know one led a revolution and the other one he told them Malcolm said to Fidel you know you've done in your country, what we're still struggling to do here. And I think that that's a very important statement that we can hold on to and see why now we have such a responsibility to >> Yes, we do. And I wanted to talk about uh uh Cuba's role that's it's not discussed often enough in overthrowing a parttheid in South Africa. that yeah because >> committed itself to fighting armed struggle uh the battle of Quito carnival in Angola uh was very key in turning the tide.

[00:10:55]>> Yes.

[00:10:56]>> Uh so I I think that's something to remember that liberating uh the uh countries around the world was always a priority for the Cubans and it's one of the reasons why the US hates them so much.

[00:11:10]>> Yeah. I mean the US has to admit will can never admit two defeats. one was defeat at plyhron or the bay of pigs right and then of course defeat against apartheid uh because I don't know if people know this but fidel explained it and it has been explained many times of course it we don't know about it Cuba airlifted it almost its entire military to to South Africa to Angola to that area and Cuban troops volunteered to go and fight there and they will tell you that when they returned they didn't come back with gold and silver and all of the uh natural resources that we hear about now which are being negotiated right and so the battle of Quita Konval was was crucial because it laid the framework it forced the aparttheid both part apart regime to the negotiating table and so and then of course that freed up the fact that Nelson Mandela got out of got out of prison, right? And one of the first things that he did, he traveled to the US and then he went to Cuba. And in Miami, he was snubbed by the anti-Cuban forces. He went to Cuba to thank the Cuban people for what they had done. And that's important that people need to understand that Africa owes a debt to Cuba. and not just the military aspects of it, but also the thousands of doctors, nurses, health care personnel who have gone to Cuba and served, right?

[00:12:50]And when the um with this last fascist regime of Trump and others, the first thing that they did, they went to African countries where those health care workers were, the Caribbean where those healthcare workers were, and and using um incredible uh thresholds of of just bullying those those countries.

[00:13:11]Remove your remove your medical people out of Cuba. I I'm sorry, out of Africa, out of uh the Bahamas, out of Trinidad.

[00:13:19]Well, we know what happened with Trinidad. So, the threat that's a whole another story that you've covered, but um but Cuba, you know, Cuba is so significant and important because it represents what we ourselves are struggling for. Independence, self-determination, a right to be human, literally. That's really what it's about. And so so Cuba's you know Cuba Cuba Afrolatin blood has flown freely in Africa and in Latin America from Cuba. So that's important.

[00:13:52]That's an important history and and we owe we owe a debt to to Cuba today and we need to be repaying it now.

[00:14:02]>> You know it's it's interesting that you point that out. uh while there was always this solidarity, there are people who are allied with the state, the US state, black people who express this phony concern for black people in Cuba, uh who say Cuba is racist, black people are treated badly there, as if we aren't treated badly here. Um but uh uh and and the revolution they have themselves um um acknowledged their shortcomings in dealing with racism in Cuba. But even if they had not um I I think it's important to um to call out this alleged concern because it's all on behalf of the US state to say that Cuba has a human rights problem. The US has the biggest prison population of any country in the world. I don't know how anybody here has the nerve to compare Cuba's human rights record with that of the US. Cuba hasn't u isn't bombing Iran or giving Israel weapons to bomb hospitals or or any of the terrible human rights abuses the US uh has committed. But these people pop up at opportune moments. um to disparage Cuba allegedly on behalf of black people. Uh talk to us about that.

[00:15:34]>> Well, you know, it it's and it's right now it's very dangerous because what you're seeing particularly uh social media influencers who are putting it all out over the internet that um Cuba is racist. It has never done anything for black Cubans. uh uh that Cuba's uh the po the prison population all the things that you just mentioned right and many of these individuals they don't know and that and that everything that Cuba has done as an as a as a country that concretely expresses its international internationalism that it only do does that to buffer up its itself you know and so therefore that's another racist aspect it's very dangerous and uh I don't know if you read this article by Sam Anderson where he really lays out how this is so destructive. Now, I'll I'll send it if you don't have it. How this is really a strategy that's that aligns itself to the o to to the the most racist opposition, you know, to to the Marco Rubios. And so therefore, how can you say that a country is racist number one, when who are who are the beneficiaries of educ who were the most beneficiaries of free health care, of education? And like you said, Cuba acknowledges that yes, that there is no institutionalized racism, but clearly how can you get rid of people's personal behaviors and people's personal attitudes and and and none of us are are apologists for for for what Cuba has done, you know, in terms of the race question. But one thing I can tell you, it has a national program, the Apante Commission. And that aante commission over the past 10 or 12 years has just done so much because what the commission has done it consciously uh has organizations and particularly black Cuban women their their group of sisters called Afro feministas and every year they have a conference. We're going to it in July. Maybe you can travel with us. And they and they really lay out what Cuba what they're doing in terms of dealing with issues of race. Okay.

[00:17:44]Because right now, you're absolutely correct with the with the with the blockade and that's what we call it.

[00:17:51]Those who need the as access to resources more are actually black Cubans, right? However, who left Cuba in the first place? It was the lighterkinned, the white Cubans who ended up. So, they were able to always send resources back to to Cuba. Black folks stayed in Cuba because they, as I said, they benefited from the revolution, right? They bitted with health care, education, and was and the culture was able to thrive. So, you know, we have to really uh challenge those black folk who who what they're doing is actually they're supporting this whole idea that Cuba should be invaded by milit. I mean, you could you it's it's like what what many Cubans are doing. The anti-Cuban forces are saying, "Okay, go ahead America, US rather. I I hate to use that word, America. This is part of the Americas. Go ahead, US.

[00:18:46]Invade the country. Bring capitalism back." Okay. And and and that's basically what it just I can't get it. I can't wrap it around my head. How can you love your people and yet you're calling for their uh demise and their genocide? Well, you know, you call these people influencers. They're opportunists of various kinds. They're paid operatives. And I think it's important for us, even as we counter their arguments, to to just uh to say that.

[00:19:18]But, uh, as as we begin to close, uh, Cuba is in a terrible crisis right now.

[00:19:24]>> Yes.

[00:19:25]>> US preventing it. There was a shipment of oil from Russia, but it's more than a month ago. That's gone. That means there's no electricity. So you people on dialysis, babies in incubators, refrigerating food, refrigerating medicine, all of the things you need in order to live have become very very difficult. Um, and the US is th as Trump said, I'm going to have the honor of taking Cuba. Um, and uh, so this is a very dire moment.

[00:20:00]Have you traveled to Cuba recently since this uh worst crisis began?

[00:20:05]>> Uh yes I have. And I've seen the I've lived with folk in the blackouts quote unquote sometimes 24 hours uh 12 hours.

[00:20:14]People are using charcoal to cook which impacts you know the health. Um you know you're right um no doctors have had to suspend surgeries. Thousands of surgeries have been suspended. Um it it is a ter it is a bad situation I'm telling you. But on the positive side, you know, Cuba is moving forward forward towards um just eventually becoming solar oriented. Uh fossil fuel is is will be gone. The use of fossil fuel will be gone if they're able to to continue the rate that they're they're doing in terms of establishing solar farms all over the country. And I have to admit, we have to say who's helping to do that and that is China. And and over the past six months, it's been amazing how solar has become really important to just allowing basic things to function. Okay. On that level, because what the revolution has done is put us, you know, it just it's not letting things happen. Even you they call it their creative resourcing to how that's the best way that I can explain it where priority obviously is given to making sure that um the the old people are able to uh have access to cooling centers uh the food situation the priorities are are at the point and even to the point of education the educational system is still functioning and and the school the medical school is still functioning and they're doing it in a creative way. the teachers who teach in the outer parts of the country are moving into cities where where it it's almost like collectivizing resources, you know, and and and and and that's important to see how the revolution despite the fact of preparing for a possible invasion. At the same time, life is going on. People are still organizing conferences, people are still moving around. It's difficult. It's really difficult. But, you know, conversely, you know, it it's all about uh for for the for the Cubans affirming how they represent so much to the world.

[00:22:22]on I did a program a c couple of days ago and I know we don't have much time but maybe at some point uh on Friday uh hundreds of thousands of Cubans came out demonstrating right in and this is in Havana right in front of the US embassy calling for an end to this blockade and also denouncing the arrest of the former president of Cuba Raul Castro you know I mean th this is so absurd you know, and so you're seeing resistance while you're seeing this country still trying to bully Cuba and still calling uh, you know, saying we're going to invade. I mean, people are still living and and that's important. They're holding on to their who they are, you know, and we'll defend their revolution.

[00:23:12]That's uh that's wonderful to hear, you know, those of us in solidarity. I'm all I'm I I can only imagine what it's like to be in Cuba. I'm living in this state of anxiety. Yes. Uh so for example in the past weekend Trump didn't go to his son's wedding and I said ah they're going to invade Cuba this weekend. I'm sure many other people thought so as well. Will they do what they did in Venezuela indicting Raul Castro using lawfare? Uh you mentioned the threats to other countries forcing them to end the uh their relationships with the medical brigades. It's it's it's horri it's a crime what the US is uh is doing to Cuba. And I think and we need to call it that. That's that's what it is. It's a war of aggression.

[00:23:59]>> Yes. And it's a way it's it's economic genocide. It's collective punishment.

[00:24:03]It's all of that. And we watch we watch genocide on TV every night that's carried out by the Zionists against the Palestinian people. and we cannot stand and allow this to happen to our neighbors, our families 90 miles away from here. One point that is important, um I was in a meeting last night where Cuban America there there is a CubanAmerican, there are some Cubanameans who are denouncing this, but we don't hear about them because the media doesn't put that out, right? We only hear about the Rubio's and what's going on in in Miami. But there are some Cubanameans who are really opposed to this and that's that's important. And you need that force. They need to know that they have to align themselves with those the rest of us who are in solidarity because you know Cuba cannot fall because if it does it the loss will not just be Cuba alone. It it will it will belong to all of those who dare to believe that another world is possible.

[00:24:59]And that's what Cuba represents. That's what it represent. That another world is possible. you know, >> and they want us to think this uh crapacular world they've given us is uh the only is the high watermark of of civilization. Uh before we go, how do uh how do our listeners find out about your work and your activities?

[00:25:19]>> Okay. Well, number one on if you're listening from New York, uh wherever you're listening from, you're going to find out that around the country, you're going to be seeing uh the National Network on Cuba, which is organizing uh demonstrations uh New York on Sunday at 1:00 in front of the uh uh uh the new the old post office on 34th Street.

[00:25:42]There will be a demo at uh a organization called IFO. I'm on the board of Co. Ifco pastors for peace uh will be sending 60 60,000 pounds of of material aid to Cuba. So if people want to get in touch with IFO, you can do that by just going online to ifco.org and uh you can get in touch with that project. I think that that's important.

[00:26:10]And then there's another project that people that I'm working with a young group called Carlatas Warriors for Cuba.

[00:26:17]C A R L O T A S Warriors the number four Cuba. It's an Instagram project, but it lays out all the things that are going on, how you can get in touch with us, what you can do, and daily information about what's happening in Cuba. So there there are those kinds of information projects and we're organizing people to go to Fidel Centennial in August and I'll share more information about that with you uh so that you can let your listeners know Margaret and as long as you can travel to Cuba we're organizing you can organize a delegation you can take 10 10 people 15 people you know black folk like Ron Daniels is in Cuba right now along with um Herb Boyd journalist so we we we will you need to all of that kind of information that's coming out where people are there seeing what's going on firsthand and the impact of of what's what the United States government is doing. I don't even want to call it a government. It's it's an empire. It's crumbling and it's trying to just bully the world and we can see that everywhere.

[00:27:21]>> Yes. And the the that demonstration you referred to is Sunday, May 31st. Yes.

[00:27:26]>> 100 p.m. at the main post office on 8th Avenue and 33rd Street. there are a number of organizations uh who will be represented there. Um I thank you that's uh we're we're out of time but I I thank you so much. This has been such a pleasure talking to you and of course I have to have you back again.

[00:27:47]>> Yes, I would love to daily. Okay, be well, Margaret. And thank you so much for your work and your analytics, your how you analyze this stuff because you know it's not just about Democrats or Republic Republicans. They helped to bring Cuba to where it is today. And we can get into that later.

[00:28:06]>> And that's Dr. Rosemary Mey discussing solidarity with Cuba. Thank you so very much.

[00:28:13]>> Thank you for inviting me.