Race for Revolution

The social construction of race has long been apparent in Latin American civilizations, since the first encounters between European and Indigenous Peoples.  It has often shaped the course of history, many times as the source of social unrest and tension in various cultures.  In some cases, race stratified a distinction between the diverse mix of people now referred to as Latin Americans.  However, in one particular instance, the social construction of race was rebelled against, and arguably, overcome, giving way to a unique example in Latin American history: The Cuban Revolution.

            In the wake of the Cuban Revolution, Marxist and Leninist ideals saturated Cuban society, depicting capitalism and imperialism as the root of all problems; the solution, evidently, was revolution.  One of the revolution’s orchestrators was Che Guevara, a medical student from Argentina, who observed firsthand the poverty-ridden countries across the Andes, and determined his “internationalist” attitude could bring together victims of a failing system and inspire reform.  He was known as a Marxist revolutionary, believing the battle against capitalist imperialism was his, anywhere in the world.  After his brief participation in social reforms in Guatemala, Guevara fled to Mexico, where he met Fidel Castro, a law student and Cuban nationalist revolutionary from a wealthy family.  Castro felt strongly against imperialism, being involved in nationalist student movements in Cuba, as well as traveling to Bogota to protest U.S. imperialism. 

            Castro and Guevara, joined by Raul, Fidel’s brother, drove a force of guerrillas into Cuban cities, eventually arriving in Cuba to establish reforms immediately.  These reforms manifested as a result of anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist philosophies presented by Castro in public speeches.  Che Guevara also promoted socialism, believing that money should be replaced with ideals, and insisted in the diversification of an economy centered on sugar.  These were some of the first steps that truly defined Cuba’s history, which arguably began to level out racial hierarchies. 

            The previous inegalitarian model was particularly oppressive, especially for blacks, but with unemployment eliminated, there was no competition for jobs as there was before.  Also with education free, black Cubans were able to attend, further disseminating the old structure defined by race.  Cuba became an icon to other Latin American countries and others around the world, specifically for youth and young revolutionaries.  All of these contributed to the idea that race as an archaic model of social structure, and the Cuban Revolution became a movement that put aside racial differences.  Race no longer divided the Cuban people, and through the revolution, which fostered ideals of Marxism and socialism, Cuba became one of the most unique countries in world history.

http://srufaculty.sru.edu/m.matambanadzo/readings/race_toward_equality.pdf
http://www.counterfire.org/articles/a-marxist-history-of-the-world/16089-a-marxist-history-of-the-world-part-97-che-guevara-and-the-cuban-revolution