|
AfroCubaWeb
|
|
Robin Moore reviews Afro-Cuban Voices:
On Race and Identity in Contemporary Cuba, 9/04 Pedro Pérez-Sarduy Jean Stubbs |
Now that we have seen Miami Cubans so concerned about free speech in Cuba that they wanted to force Elian Gonzalez's father, a communist party member, to come to Miami to testify "freely" about his son, this book features a torrent of free speech from inside the island on one of most sensitive topics around. From the book:
"The ethnic factor is fundamental as the new millenium begins. In Cuban history, the race question is one that has been extraordinary linked to the search for a national identity in the context of racial divide. After 30 years of revolution, the crisis 1990s have witnessed paradoxical developments where race is concerned.
There has been a symbolism of race deployed, black Cuban support for the revolution is
invoked, and Afro-Cuban culture celebrated. At the same time, there have been
increasing racial divides in the restructuring process and a perceived growing unease
about those divides, especially among black and brown Cubans. This book is the first to
privilege their voices.
In interviews conducted in 1994-96, Afro-Cuban women and men, of different generations,
walks of life, and parts of the island, reflect on their lives and experiences of race in
both pre- and post-revolutionary Cuba, and the broader issues of race and racism.
Together, they constitute eloquent and moving testimony to the tremendous openings
provided by the revolution, and also its contradictions. They challenge dominant views of
Cuban history, on and off the island, which have downplayed a long tradition of black
Cuban thinking and leadership. They express the urgent need to end the silences and
distortions of history and celebrate black achievement; to counter the resurgence of
racial stereotyping; and to rethink notions of Africania, Hispanidad and Cubanidad.
The interviews are framed by an introduction which draws on the editors' extensive knowledge of Cuba and Cuban history. They trace historical parallels between the period 1868-98, which were 30 years of armed struggle for political independence from Spain and abolition of slavery; the 1920s to mid-1940s period of popular struggle to the point of the failed 1933 revolution, populism and popular front; and the 1959-1989 revolutionary period. In all three, the races forged in struggle what might be seen as a 'social pact' to usher in a more racially egalitarian and pluralistic society.
The years 1898-1920, with two US military occupations and the demobilization of the Liberation Army, along with massive foreign investment and Euro-American immigration, saw the race barriers resurrect to the point of the 1912 race war and a concomitant strengthening of Hispanicism, as well as North Americanism. A similar, if less racially divided, process can be seen in the years of the late 1940s Cold War and 1950s coup and repression. Again in the 1990s, the 'social pact' is under duress.
The introduction seeks also to place 1990s Cuba in comparative Americas perspective, looking especially at Brazil and the US. A certain 'convergence' of race relations, it is argued, calls for rethinking conceptual frameworks of bi-polar (US) and multi-racial --Brazil, Cuba--models.
This is designed to help contextualise three key questions regarding race that the book as a whole sets out to address. How far has the revolution made a difference? To what extent is that difference eroding today? And what can be done?
A precursor article to this book can be found on this web site: "What do Blacks have in Cuba?"
From the forewords:
"At a time when Cuba is undergoing immense economic and social changes, race becomes a kind of cultural litmus test for the national identity. . . . This anthology illustrates fully that it is possible to be both revolutionary and black in Cuba." -- Manning Marable, Columbia University
"The authors of Afro-Cuban Voices, also key actors in the new, unfolding dialogue about race in Cuba, make a seminal contribution through a forthright critique of racial blind spots in official history and present-day racial discrimination." -- James Early, director of cultural studies and communication, Smithsonian Institution
Despite prolific literary production on the subject, it is still enormously difficult to penetrate or understand the black experience in the Americas. This beautiful, poignant collection os snippets of thoughful reflections and conversations by a wide range of Afro-Cubans will go far toward understanding. It deftly cuts through the caricatures, myths, stereotypes, and misconceptions about blacks, not only in Cuba, but also across much of the Americas. The 14 accounts represent passionately articulate voices than span geographically, generations, occupations, and politic al persuasions. They come from Havana and Santiago as well as the provinces in between. Their brith dates, not always indicated, span the early 1920 to to late 1960. They include docgtors, writers, artists,teachers, actors, musicians, and maker of batá drums for santería festivities.These talented people all succeeded against great odds, regadless of when they came to maturity in Cuba. Their interesting personal stories, candidly related, illustrate graphically the substantial difficulty of being nonwhite either before or after the Cuban revolution. An excellent introductury essay and a few informative notes provide a powerful context for the personal reflections. Highly recommended to both public and academic libraries. - F.W.Knight, Johns Hopkins University. " |
Pérez Sarduy, Pedro and Jean Stubbs, eds. Afro-Cuban Voices. On Race and Identity in Contemporary Cuba. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2000, 200 pp. ISBN #0-8130-1735-1. Introduction. Notes. Glossary. Bibliography. Hardcover
Reviewed by Robin Moore |
They may be contacted through this web site.
Afro-Cubans Voices is available from Amazon.com for April 2000. The publisher, the University Press of Florida, may have it availabe in March 2000. It will be available in major bookstores and can be ordered from the University Press of Florida at http://www.upf.com/Spring2000/sarduy.html. From Amazon, just click ==>
See Pedro's home page for their other books.
From the University of Florida Press' catalog entry for the book:
Afro-Cuban Voices On Race and Identity in Contemporary Cuba Pedro Pérez Sarduy and Jean Stubbs From the forewords: "At a time when Cuba is undergoing immense economic and social changes, race becomes a kind of cultural litmus test for the national identity. . . . This anthology illustrates fully that it is possible to be both revolutionary and black in Cuba." -- Manning Marable, Columbia University "The authors of Afro-Cuban Voices, also key actors in the new, unfolding dialogue about race in Cuba, make a seminal contribution through a forthright critique of racial blind spots in official history and present-day racial discrimination." -- James Early, Director of Cultural Studies and Communication, Smithsonian Institution From the series editor: "A courageous attempt to deal head-on with the issue of race in Cuba today. . . . Perez Sarduy and Stubbs [seek to] put a human face on this debate, and do so well. The book will be received with relief by some and with frustration by others. Controversial it will undoubtedly be, since -- as with most things Cuban -- strong emotions are a given assumption. It will be an admirable beginning for the series and, it is hoped, will spark a much-needed debate in the United States on many aspects of the Cuban question. It is about time." -- John M. KirkBased on the vivid firsthand testimony of prominent Afro-Cubans who live in Cuba, this book of interviews looks at ways that race affects daily life on the island. While celebrating their racial and national identity, the collected voices express an urgent need to end the silences and distortions of history in both pre- and postrevolutionary Cuba. The 14 people interviewed--of different generations and from different geographic areas of Cuba--come from the arts, the media, industry, academia, and medicine. They include a doctor who calls for joint U.S.-Cuban studies on high blood pressure and a craftsman who makes the batá drums used in Yoruba worship ceremonies. All responded to four controversial questions: What is it like to be black in Cuba? How has the revolution made a difference? To what extent is that difference true today? What can be done? Exposing the contradictions of both racial stereotyping and cultural assimilation, their eloquent answers make the case that the issue of race in Cuba, no matter how hard to define, will not be ignored. Pedro Pérez Sarduy is a Cuban poet, writer, and journalist who has worked for Cuban and British media. Jean Stubbs is a British historian and professor of Caribbean studies at the University of North London in England. Both have published on topics related to Cuba and the Caribbean. They are coeditors of AFROCUBA: An Anthology of Cuban Writing on Race, Politics and Culture. Contemporary Cuba Series ISBN 0-8130-1735-1 Cloth, $24.95 To order, see http://www.upf.com/Spring2000/sarduy.html |
[AfroCubaWeb] [Site Map] [Music] [Arts] [Authors] [News] [Search this site]