Identidades in English No 4, December 2014 | Page 22

It is the Citizens’ Committee for Racial Integration’s (CIR) premiere academic and cultural
event.
Once again, the El Vedado (Havana) neighborhood apartment that serves as the headquarters for
this civic organization - and site of Cuba’s first
exhibition, “Hall of Illustrious Black Men and
Women” - was too small to hold the dozens of
people attending the opening event. Late on
Thursday the 11th, Juan A. Madrazo Luna presented in his opening words a number of the
CIR’s international achievements this year. He
explained that CIR leaders and activists had established solid links with organizations and institutions in a number of countries, for joint work
and collaboration. In addition, they had participated in important political and academic meetings at around the world.
The CIR coordinator (Madrazo) reiterated that the
institution’s main mission was to broaden its relations and dynamics with movements - both
within and outside Cuba - working to affirm values such as respect for diversity and the protection of human rights, in order to contribute the
creation and generation of the critically important
civil society along with rights desired by the Cuban people. Madrazo Luna highlighted the importance of the CIR’s ties, describing projects in
collaboration with the Nuevo País initiative and
the Platform for Cuban Integration.
CIR national vice-coordinator Leonard Calvo
Cárdenas announced the winner of the 2014 Tolerancia Plus (Tolerance Plus) award in the area of
race. Among nominees were a number of well
known individuals: Pastor Elías Murillo (United
Nations Rapporteur for the CERD committee
[Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination], La Peña de Jazz de Santa Amalia (a
jazz venue in Havana), Dr. Juan Antonio Alvarado Ramos (President, Platform for Cuban Integration), and Cecilia Ramírez (leader of the
Center for the Development of Afro-Peruvian
Women). Distinguished professor and researcher
Tomás Fernández Robaina, whose extensive research and teaching has spread knowledge of
Cuba on the island proper and in many other
places, was the winner; his recovery and writing
of the historical truth about the contributions of
22

Afro-descendants to the creation of Cuba and its
culture are renowned.
Calvo Cárdenas assured that the awarding of this
prize is evidence of the CIR’s desire to
acknowledge the merit and results of those who
work beyond ideological limitations or political
preferences. The CIR decided to highlight Fernández Robaina’s selfless work, through many
books, courses and talks around the world, which
he has accomplished without abandoning his loyalty to the Cuban government.
The event ended with an substantive cultural program that included chamber music concerts, song,
presentations by a number of Cuban hip hop artists, and the ever-popular folkloric music group
Tiemblatierra.
Also in attendance were the activists Sonia Garro
and her husband Ramón Alejandro Muñoz, who
had been recently released from prison after
nearly three years of arbi