A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
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The 60 signatories to a letter denouncing racism in Cuba seem to consider themselves extensions of Barack Obama's State Department. The logic of their action, as articulated by Dr. Ron Walters, is to encourage the United States to “make the Black condition in Cuba 'part of any negotiations on the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba.'” Then maybe the Cubans can negotiate with the U.S. on behalf of African Americans.
The Insanity of the African American Racial ‘Critique’ of Cuba
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford
“They have allowed themselves to become tools of U.S. foreign policy, in the age of Obama.”
Late last year, a group of 60 prominent African Americans circulated a letter denouncing racism in, of all places, Cuba. I say, of all places, because almost any other country on the planet would be a better target than Cuba for a scathing and very public racial critique by African Americans. The letter claims that Cuba treats its Black population with “callous disregard.”
It is true that lines of color continue to exist in Cuba 50 years after Fidel Castro proclaimed the triumph of the revolution. Cuba had once been described as the most racist country in Latin America, a Spanish slave colony later subjected to 60 years of U.S. occupation and domination. It would be idiotic to think that such deep layers of racial oppression could be easily peeled away, or made to disappear by decree. But Cuba has made miraculous progress, helped in great measure by the fact that so many of its most racist citizens moved to Miami.Cuba’s solidarity with African liberation is unequaled among nations, both militarily and in support of African civil society. Cuba has offered its life-saving medical services to people of all nations, including the United States. And Cuba has been a haven, a home in exile, for Black American freedom fighters since the early days of the revolution.
So why would a celebrity list of Black Americans single out Cuba for special criticism? They have allowed themselves to become tools of U.S. foreign policy, in the age of Obama. The signatories include Dr. Ron Walters, a veteran activist and distinguished political scientist at the University of Maryland. In an article explaining his actions, Dr. Walters himself noted that there is only a one-year gap in life expectancy between Cuban whites and Blacks and mulattoes, and Cubans live slightly longer than the average for the United States. In the U.S., whites live more than six years longer than Blacks. Black Cubans live five years longer than African Americans. Dr. Walters also notes that Black and mulatto Cubans graduate at higher rates than white Cubans. These kinds of data are clear indications that the Cuban racial divide is far less pronounced than in the United States.
“Black Cubans live five years longer than African Americans.”
The signatories cite figures that purport to show that people of African descent are more likely to be incarcerated than whites. But those same figures show a much lower rate of Black incarceration in Cuba than in the United States, and a far lower percentage of Blacks among Cuban political prisoners. Still, Dr. Walters wants to make the Black condition in Cuba “part of any negotiations on the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba.” In that statement, Walters is saying that the United States – of all nations – should negotiate with Cuba on the status of Cuba's Black citizens, before the U.S. lifts its illegal embargo and otherwise starts behaving like a civilized neighbor. I must assume that means the Cubans will have the same right to negotiate the treatment of Black Americans: an end to mass Black American incarceration, freedom for Black American political prisoners, a lowering of Black unemployment – and all the rest of our problems. But of course, Dr. Walters and the other signatories aren't suggesting that. They're just making themselves useful to the Empire, and saying to Hell with solidarity.
For Black Agenda Radio, I'm Glen Ford. On the web, go to www.BlackAgendaReport.com.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.
Comments
Thank you for this report
Reading it left me feeling unsure if I was reading the Onion. What utter absurdity.
Also, I have re-posted this story at Queers Against Obama with multiple links back to the original BAR source and an emphasis that this was the work of BAR...not me.
If I am infringing on copyright and/or you just don't want it reposted there, let me know and I will remove it. Nevertheless, thank you again for bringing this matter to light!
Hasta la victoria siempre,
Elián Maricón
Celebrities, with a few
Celebrities, with a few exceptions, are as ignorant as the general population. Sometimes even more so as their time is spent honing their talent (or what passes for it these days) with little time spent on education or news watching/reading (except for the same CNN or Fox propaganda that fries citizen brains).
As for those ignorant intellectual celebs such as poets, writers, and PhD profs, their biggest problem is being part of the social circle of the political and corporate cabal that run the world. It's nice and comfortable hanging out and collecting swag (foundation funding, book deals, TV gigs, jobs for selves/family, etc) from the cabal and they'll do anything to keep in with the clique.
I wonder did any signer to this crap letter see the irony or hypocrisy of demanding Cuba get its racial shit together when their own country is knee deep in its own racial issues. Obviously not, since they signed off on it.
Excellent critique again
Again you make excellent observations, astute analysis and on-target critiques. I heard R Walters once and really liked his inspiration. But this act he took is, as you suggest, seems more poltical than objective and intelligent. I also find myself having to challenge "PhDs" who often end up sounding hypocritcal and forget the systemic forces from Anglo-centric states that function to maintain white supremacy. Dr Walters fell for that game. It seems that when this is done they intentionally ignore the solidarity with the indigenous and become a tool of white supremacists, as was done in this letter. That's exactly what white supremacy does, divide and conquer among the people of color. I am really disappointed and critical of Walters knowing this. Thank you for, as usual, your great work!
Race Relations Amerikkka and Cuba (OH NO THEY DIDN’T)!!!
Thanks Mr. Ford another great article. Here is a link to an article on the same topic and may give readers another perspective of this story http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/reverse-images-the-acrimonious-debate-on-race-in-cuba/ .
Amerikkka trying to critique Cuba on its race relations (OH NO THEY DIDN’T)!!! The same Amerikkka that has spent the last four going on five centuries (half a millennia) physically mentally and emotionally abusing terrorizing and torturing its African Diaspora (Not that Amerikkka surely you jest!!!). It is utterly astounding that the US would attempt to criticize any nation about its race relation. It is even more astounding that Black People would sign any document that would support that critique knowing the history of race here in this country and the history of Cuban/Amerikkka relations.
If that is not enough we should remember that there are plenty of Anglo European Cuban nationals living here in this country that long for the day when Cuba was the Ho haven and drug/gambling/gangsta paradise for those who were connected to it during the Batista era (and you know where that left the Afro Cubans). They would like nothing better than to retake Cuba and turn it back to the good ole days when the good ole boys were running things. This is the REAL reason for this fake critique of race relations in Cuba and the pushing of a petition on black folks getting them to sign it.
If any of the signees had used their head for something other than a hat (or tinfoil) rack they might have remembered or thought about some of the stuff mentioned above and would not have signed their john doe’s to the rag. At least not without fact checking the info or finding out who was sponsoring/pushing the thing and supporting it. They should have recognized it for what it really is. Just another attempt in a long and well documented string of never ending activities designed to criminalize demonize and vilify the current Cuban government. This time they are playing African Americans like a deck of cards (Not the race card Please!!!) while using the Afro Cubans as window dressing to hide their real intent. That would be to create an atmosphere where they could kick start (lets all say it together) a dissidents’ movement. Haven’t we seen this movie before in the Balkans and more recently in Iran???
I guess the feeling is that since a good many Black folks are still tweaking on the Obama Kool Aide they can just about get us to fall for anything they pushed in front of us. Sure Cuba has problems with race just like every other nation (especially in the western hemisphere where White Supremacy reigns supreme). But at least in Cuba they are BUILDING schools for Afro Cubans and EDUCATING them in those schools. Mean while the only things they are building here in Amerikkka is PRISONS!!! At the same time they are closing more schools than you can count and firing all the teachers (just ask the folks in Chicago Nola and more recently Detroit Kansas City and Central Falls R. I.)!!! And Oh by the way Cuba is educating some OUR (Amerikkkan) students in THEIR Med schools for FREE (How They Do That)??? Are we educating any Med students for FREE??? I know that all Cubans much less Afro Cubans have some of the same social family and life issues that all Americans much less African Americans have here but at least Cubans have FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE (OMG)!!! Mean while here in Amerikkka our health care is (don’t get me started on that if you know what I mean)!!!
We need to be more historically geo-politically and situationally aware so that we are not so easily hoodwinked into playing the fool ALL THE TIME!!! Somebody (I just can’t remember who) said quote “If you do not stand for something you will fall for anything” unquote. I Wonder Who that was I can’t X-actly remember.
Peace
S Murph