WHY WE TOOK IT TO CUBA
University has a “ memorandum of understanding ” with the University of Havana to establish “ mutually beneficial education , research relationships and creative activities ” between the two schools .
Fittingly , we have brought this symposium to the Casa de las Américas , a Cuban organization that was founded for the purpose of nurturing the social and cultural links between people across the American hemisphere .
We are here because of Cuba ’ s closeness to people of the African diaspora ; and because as Esteban Morales , Cuba ’ s great intellectual and conscience of his nation , once told me , “ Every Cuban has a little Congo in him .”
We have come here because book banning in the United States , which disproportionately targets African Americans , has reached an epidemic level .
And we are here because we believe our presence in the Casa de las Américas will spark a broader conversation about the silencing of the voices of people of African descent . •
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