BY HARRY C. ALFORD,
PRESIDENT/CEO
NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.
Embargo is a very mild and cute term for what the United States is doing to this
southern neighbor. A more accurate term is blockade. There is an immense and
painful restraint of trade being inflicted on 12 million people (80% with
African lineage). In addition to the restraint of trade is a full assault on
capital access. The lack of capital access, which is the major barrier to
minority businesses in this country, is also being used as a tool by this
country against the populace of Cuba. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank, two of the most viable means of capital access in the world of
nations, is being denied to the 12 million Cubans via the veto power of the
precious member of both entities - the United States.
What has Cuba done to the United States to be the recipient of such a vicious
wrath? Has it done what was done in the Korean War? The communist North Koreans
and Red Chinese killed over 32,000 American soldiers and brutalized and expunged
many American prisoners. But yet, we have normal trade relations now with both.
Has it done what was done in Vietnam? The communists killed over 52,000 American
soldiers but now we enjoy normal trade relations. The fact is not one American
soldier has been killed during the current government of Cuba. The US sanctions
against Cuba are more vicious than the current sanctions against Iraq. The
sanctions clearly appear to be beyond reason.
Cuba being a communist country has nothing to do with it. The above examples of
former enemies, with the exception of Iraq, were and still are communist
countries. What is also important to note is that Cuba has the oldest communist
pedigree amongst these nations. Communism has been embraced within the Cuban
political spectrum since 1925. The Communist Party, before his exile, supported
even the dictator Batista in 1944. He came back into power, in 1952, via the
assistance of the US mafia and the CIA which provoked the revolution, led by
Fidel Castro, that overthrew him and the mafia operatives
and returned the nation to communism.
Cuba's history has a rich Black heritage. Christopher Columbus completed his
mission of exterminating over 3 million indigenous people within 20 years (the
first new world holocaust). From that point on slaves from Africa began arriving
to work the fertile land of Cuba. According to the census of 1794 there were
172,620 inhabitants: "96,440 whites, 31,847 free blacks, and 44,333 black
slaves". The significant number of freed Blacks is what has led to Cuba's
fascinating political and economic history. The United States yearned to seize
this island, the size of Florida, and so close to its border but feared the
amount of freed Blacks and the legacy of rebellion. The big query of the United
States? How to manage this valuable neighbor and exploit its riches without
having to deal with its large and proud Black populace. The United States took
its turn behind Spain in trying to harness the Afro-centric personality of Cuba
through the Platt Amendment, which gave the US military veto power on Cuba
policy after independence from Spain in 1899. However, unlike the United States,
Cuba dealt with discrimination via the Black trade unions revolt against
discrimination in 1912. Subsequent to that, with the exception of the Batista
regime, race was no longer an issue in Cuban policy.
Cuban history, unlike the United States, is replete with true accounting of
Black contributions. The three founders of the Independence are Marti, Maceo and
Gomez. Maceo was pure Black and Gomez was of mixed blood. The actual
contribution of Blacks in the history and pride of Cuba is documented and openly
on display. For example, the architecture of Old Havana is not referred to as
Spanish Architecture, as it would be in the United States, but as Black Moorish
Architecture as it was taught to the Spaniards. "Latin Music" is Afro-Centric
music. This accuracy in history puts Cubans at an educational advantage over
Americans.
It had been presumed by the National Black Chamber of Commerce that the American
media has portrayed Cuba in an inaccurate manner. The "oppression", national
hunger and legions of people fighting to "swim" or "paddle" away has long
appeared to be beyond credulity. It became quite obvious that to see the real
Cuba was to visit it. Thus, we applied for a license and began our historical
visit.
We arrived on a Saturday night and were impressed with a marketing sign once we
entered the international terminal of the airport, "Johnny Walker Black is
Smooth". Is this a communist state? The reception from the officials and the
many citizens outside the airport was apparently sincere. We saw thousands of
Cubans walking and interacting in the neighborhoods and streets of urban Havana.
Our hotel, Novetel de Miramar (Cuban owned, French managed), was every bit of
the 5 Star rating it has been given and the welcoming reception was magnificent.
The American media has portrayed communist Cuba as Godless. This created a great
surprise to me when I awakened Sunday morning and turned on the television to
see a live Catholic Mass in progress. Later, we would see that the tallest
statue in Havana is that of Jesus Christ and, also, many architecturally
impressive churches throughout the city.
In addition to live church on the television, we had direct access to CNN news,
ESPN, HBO 1& 2 and VH1 (an embargo?). In addition to those and the two national
stations there were stations piped in from France and Brazil. The Cubans know us
well through their own state regulated television. Our members would find as
they visited Cuban citizens that color television was a common event within
their homes.
While the embargo has been a damaging blow on the everyday economic opportunity
of the Cuban people, we see "holes in the dyke". Coca Cola and Sprite are
everywhere. Jack Daniels is popular in all of the bars. Scott paper was the name
brand of toilet paper and napkins in our hotel rooms. We experienced quite
professional presentations from government officials via
Windows '98 and Power Point. The government website www.cubaweb.cu receives 30
million hits per month. We also learned that many American based Fortune 500
companies have been to Cuba with more than tourism in mind. Like the 55
miles per hour speed limit, if the law is "stupid" even law abiding people will
abuse it.
We were surprised that we could venture into the populace as freely as in the
United States. There were no appointed guides and cabs were everywhere. Our
contingent was given the opportunity to explore Havana and its people. That
liberty was exploited and what we found was a free interaction that would rival
New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, etc. Havana has a good nightlife and the people
were very friendly and opinionated. In touring the Hemingway Marina, we were
surprised to find a boat with an American flag and a huge Indiana Pacers banner.
Also, in one of the condo driveways, we saw a 1999
Chevrolet Corvette. The local restaurant's menu and napkins were in total
English. Interesting?
Cuba has very little crime. That may be attributed to heavy community policing
and a general feeling of equality amongst the people. Police, single foot
patrollers, were everywhere. Despite the presence of the police, the spirits of
happy life and festivities were prevalent.
This nation has gone through a phenomenal economic crisis. The old Soviet Union
collapsed and with it went $9 billion in annual trade to Cuba. The embargo,
actually blockade, has prevented the nation from true international trade and
interaction with the total world. However, it has survived and, in fact, has
progressed. What has made Cuba able to survive this blockade has been its rich
tradition in education. The nation is 98% literate. 13% of its total workforce
is professional (mainly engineers). Its free healthcare system gives it one of
the lowest infant mortality rates in the world and an average lifespan that
rivals the US. In comparison with the rest of the nations in the western
hemisphere, the quality of life in Cuba can only be
described as good. This, despite an awful impediment caused by an economic
embargo that is mean spirited and dysfunctional in explanation.
Another thing that is puzzling is the people who jump into rafts and float away
from Cuba. The smart thing to do, if you choose to renounce your Cuban
citizenship and heritage, is to get a passport, save your money, buy a plane
ticket and fly away. The Havana International Airport is quite busy and active.
Many Cubans come and go as they please. Some of our new friends told us when
they would be coming to the United States via conferences and requested that we
meet again. Those, who choose to raft the deep waters are desperate and,
perhaps, on the "run". Another thing to ponder is how many American Cubans
travel back and forth to Cuba legally via the Miami Airport. In fact, we had to
charter a plane in order to find vacancies versus the regularly scheduled
flights to and from Havana via the Miami International Airport.
The Cuban federal agencies have detailed plans and timetables for progress and
economic development. Entrepreneurship is encouraged! It is vital for each Cuban
family unit, and the family units are strong in this nation, to have some access
to US dollars. All we saw in retail transactions were US dollars. The Cuban peso
is 21:1 versus the US dollar, which makes it twice as strong as the Jamaican
dollar. It would be a shame if the US continues to allow the Canadians, British,
French, Italians, Spaniards, etc. to have their way with this economy free of
our competition. This allows them to overprice the Cubans for their goods and
services and, more importantly, prevents American businesses from participating
in a great market.
There is a distinct American minority that spews hatred and irrational rage at
the Cuban people under the guise of demonizing Fidel Castro. How silly are we to
take the rationale that one man controls a very structured government and 12
million people under a full "lock down with hunger and constant oppression".
Cuba has changed since mafia dons Luciano, Genovese, Lansky, et al manipulated
the economy under a bought dictator named Batista (with the official protection
of the US Government). It will never return. The history of Cuba clearly shows
us that Cubans do not tolerate oppression. These people are obviously quite
happy. It may not be model Americana but what other nation is? How dare we buy
the dysfunctional hate rationale and issue rage and economic horror on a people
who are one of the hardest working, self loving and family centered societies on
this earth.
As our Chairman, Dr. Arthur Fletcher, has predicted, "Cuba will one day become
the Hong Kong of the Caribbean." It has the ingredients. This is why we should
treat this independent nation as any other on this earth. Unfortunately, this
very reason may be why we aren't.
The embargo, i.e. blockade, is a human rights transgression perpetrated by the
nation that prides itself in liberty. It is a modern day irony and must be
reckoned with as soon as possible. END THE EMBARGO AGAINST THE CUBAN PEOPLE. The
Helms-Burton Act must be rescinded.
***
Article is from the Cuban Fact Finding Mission - July 29 - August 2, 2000 .
Harry C. Alford is the president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC),
based in Washington, D.C.
For more on Harry Alford, travel to the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)
National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)
The Black House, 1600 Cyberspace Ave., with host Dr. James Overton