Havana, Part III

Concluding my trip in Cuba a month ago reinforced my fundamental philosophy - hope is a powerful and instructive discipline.

My gratitude for these comrades knows no limits.

Across the past 30 days, I found myself somewhat scattered when folks inquired about my trip to Cuba. The word I still employ most frequently is transformative - but even that powerful meditation doesn’t seem to do it justice. When I close my eyes, I envision the pink taxi cabs, the Cuban flag, young Cuban couples out for dates, and beautiful smiles everywhere. I juxtapose my experience in Cuba to my American reality - in my home country, racism reigns, capitalism exploits, and people unnecessarily suffer. In Cuba, perhaps the final assertion applies - though, if it indeed does, it is because of the cruel embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba over sixty years ago.

In reviewing my notes for this series, I wrote down a reflection from Let This Radicalize You - by Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes - at some point after I concluded my trip. It must’ve been right after, as this passage appears right after the Cuba portion of my notebook. The section that drew my attention concerned events that occurred in Chicago during the summer of 2020. An incredible youth base-building organization, Chicago Freedom School, faced harassment from the Chicago Police Department for feeding and housing young people during the racial justice protests of that time period. I kept thinking - only in America would this type of repression and intimidation meet people who are trying to care for one another. As the American government largely abandons millions of people, it dedicates its resources to prosecuting and intimidating those who extend solidarity to others. Despite this, somehow, the United States still appoints itself as the moral arbiter of world affairs - to the detriment of billions of people across the globe.

As promised in Havana, Part II, I now return to the afternoon of October 24, 2023 in my reflection. During remarks delivered by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez of Cuba to our delegation, we collectively felt the gravity of the trip.

A delegation of the Democratic Socialists of America with President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his Cabinet - October 24, 2023

Comrades from North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois presented poignant remarks, and then President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez delivered a speech for half an hour. He spoke of his administration’s attempts to preserve the achievements of the Cuban Revolution, as well as adapt to the realities of global affairs in the twenty-first century. He spoke to the mass protests that occurred in Cuba in 2021, which brought to mind a question posed by a young comrade from Florida earlier that day - how do Cubans who support the Revolution, but are critical of the government, make their voices heard? His response highlighted property damage, which is a constant challenge in America; we want people to be able to express their dissent without the debate shifting to concerns about damage to replaceable property.

This conundrum exists in countries across the world, and - as American socialists - we are committed to emphasizing the democratic component of democratic socialism as we seek to build the better world of which we speak. The mass working class in the United States should fill empowered to participate in civic processes whenever & wherever they want - this is our charge for the next five, ten, fifty, and one hundred years. I believe we largely took the President’s remarks as a call to action to keep organizing and building across the United States, and it certainly served as a motivator in that regard.

The 43 incredible comrades and I - who experienced this life-changing trip together - recognize the formidable task ahead of us. The resurgence of the socialist movement moves through a number of tough parallel events - a likely Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, economic uncertainty for millions of people, and the full throttle effects of climate change.

However, we meditate on the deliberate hope of this moment- from tens of thousands of people protesting the imperial wars of the United States and its allies, mutual aid projects in cities across the U.S., and the general existence of community, reminding us that we have not and cannot do it alone.

I am thankful for a gathering in a Cuban community toward the end of the trip, which brought back memories of the joyous church gatherings of my childhood. The resilience of the human spirit - transcending the borders of nation-states - rises to meet the challenge of any given era. We will win that better world - starting in Cuba, flowing through the United States, and continuing to the rest of the globe.

Solidarity forever,

Andrew

On a closing note, we were told that the food in Cuba might not be as good due to the supply-chain limitations caused by the embargo. Fortunately, the meals just got better and better.

One of the best meals of the trip at El Jardin De Los Milagros.