IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH | Page 14

its omissions, the new course was essentially an entire
treatise that abundantly clarifies the mentality that prevails among Cuban authorities: “We are here: the
black presence is in our Cuban culture.”
The first question one might ask is: “Do we Cuban
Afro-descendants have to remember or reaffirm that
we are here?” Second: “Are we solely present in Cuban culture?” One might, perhaps, talk about the Chinese or Arab presence in Cuban culture, but it is a
crass error not to acknowledge African culture and its
derivatives as an essential and determining component
in our national culture.
Another important thing to note is the persistent manner in which any and all contributions made by Africans and their descendants to the creation of Cuba are
limited to a cultural, folkloric and subaltern position.
The level of banality and superficiality with which extremely famous and prestigious intellectuals and academics talk about this subject is chilling. They always
lack an objective, critical perspective, and seem bent
on protecting the image of Cuba’s leaders, those principally responsible for the last half century’s enormous fractures, inequalities, and ignorance concerning our true history.
Given these intellectual excesses, pro-government
platforms that present themselves as committed to
equality and anti-racism do not deign to protest for or
demand an adequate, just and consistent treatment of
the subject that offers a means for citizens to think in
a way that promotes respect for reality and historical
truth.

Years and years of the silences, omissions, distortions
and fear that have been imposed have created a sociological scene regarding racism that simply reproduces
the same views of a century ago. On the one hand, the
white, supremacist, political class of people in power
promotes its egalitarian and inclusive rhetoric, but
does nothing to attenuate existing inequalities and
bring about historical justice. The socioeconomic
measures they implement reaffirm the disadvantage
and despair of Cuban blacks. On the other hand, you
have the millions of Afro-descendants who suffer the
rigors of a society in crisis and with no future. Despite
the demogogic rhetoric, we are still victims of fractures and inequalities that do not diminish.
At the center of the political and intellectual debate
about this delicate issue are those of us who are activists, seriously committed to equality and justice. We
are determined to challenge repressive intolerance so
we can contribute to the construction of a fully egalitarian and integrated Cuba. Those who would be the
false prophets of the anti-racist struggle, who reaffirm
their verbal commitment to a struggle, actually betray
it every day, which bolsters intolerance in Cuba. Instead, what they really do is ratify the government’s
approach and also defend its special interests.
The personally motivated apathy of the Cuban authorities and its fellow, pro-government hacks complicates the context in which we work and increases the
challenge we face. Yet, we are not willing to take even
one step back from this struggle for the truth and justice.

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