IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 5 ENGLISH | Page 33

tionary Directory (DR-13-M). These two
movements revealed two extremes society’s power to act in opposition to the government with little or no black or mestizo
representation. Their proportion on the
governing boards was 0.2% and 0%, respectively. 8
The period between 1959-1970 marks a
turnaround with power’s social relations. The MR-26-7 leaders emerge
victorious in the new government, leaving the DR-13-M leadership behind.
Many of them left or were subtly removed from the political context. Those
who seconded official politics were
made diplomats, mostly in developed,
European countries. 9
This historical cycle created a political
elite that would decide the country’s
economic destiny. This was possible
because of the consolidation of a oneparty system built upon a strategy of
national unification in the struggle
against a mortal enemy. 10

sentatives of the upper class and broad
sectors of the middle class.
Second stage (1963-1965): An exodus
of representatives of the so-called middle and upper middle class takes place.
Most of them own properties characterized by excellent architecture.
Third stage (1965-1979): Known as the
Quinquenio Gris [Gray Quinquennium]
in Cuban culture, although it lasted almost 15 years and brought about the
exodus of many intellectuals and artists.
Fourth stage (1980-1994): This period
starts with a massive exodus via the
Port of Mariel and ends with the Crisis
de los Balseros [Rafter Crisis], almost
always on account of political reasons.
It is also exceedingly characterized by
the departure of blacks and mestizos.
This outmigration includes workingclass people as well as ex-convicts and
convicts lacking the tools with which to
culturally learn how to confront the
challenges of living outside their customs and identities.
Fifth stage (1994-now): People are leaving due to almost entirely economic
reasons, although this does not obviate
those who do so for political or personal
reasons. 13
A sixth stage could be called the one of
Silent Emigration14, which is thought to
be large and includes family members
of Cuban diplomats who have been retired or removed from their positions
and ordered to return to Cuba.15

Along with this political process, which
some historians have called convulsive,
there is also a social process of forced
emigration, at different times and for
dissimilar reasons ranging from political
to personal. This impacted on the economic situation over a long period of
time, 1959-2014, and brings with it as a
final result the abandonment of property
suggested by Japanese historian Ryuichi
Ishikawa, Abandoned Home/Taken
Home. 12

Stages of emigration

Realities

First stage (1959-1962): After the passage of the Agrarian Reform Law and
others, like the declaration that the nascent Revolution was socialist in nature,
there is an important exodus of repre-

Cases such as those in Pinar del Río
(Villamil neighborhood, Historic Center, and Finca Calero, Hermanos Cruz
neighborhood); Havana (Miramar, Vedado); Matanzas (Calle Milanés, Aven-

33