Starting from a strange public exchange of letters between a US African-American group and several representatives of Cuban intellectual circles, the issue of Cuba’s “racial” problem suddenly acquired a prominent international profile in recent weeks.
Read MoreAs usual, I got home late, after my family had already gone to bed. But a couple of Saturdays ago I was taken by surprise when I opened the door. In the dark, sitting on the sofa with her head in her hands was my grandmother, who had waited up for me.
Read MoreToday their outfits are accessorized with Nike caps or designer shoes – even white, black or red headsets for their MP3s. They struggle to get on the bus squeezing their way within the crowd; or they can be found seated enjoying a movie at the cinema.
Read MoreAt eleven at night, it was raining outside, and the humidity was pretty high. We could hear a dog’s howl, which by its intensity you could tell it needed help.
Read MoreThe Copenhagen Summit is now knocking on our doors. However, due fundamentally to the irresponsibility of the major powers (those both imperial and emerging), who are the principal emitters of polluting gases, world leaders have not reached the necessary consensus prior to this conference.
Read MoreEvery day Havana gets a little older. Yet when I saw how this anniversary was highlighted in the newspaper, I couldn’t avoid a sense of repulsion.
Read MorePeople around here, and around the world, might think that my occupation of writing has only served to vent my frustrations; and in good measure they’re right. Writing is my way of exorcizing demons, although those I show you in Havana Times are, or may seem, quite docile.
Read MoreAt the beginning of this year, a construction brigade from the Ministry of Construction, along with the Housing Institute, decided to develop a piece of land behind my house. They intended to build new housing for people who have lived in shelters for some time.
Read MoreIn my neighborhood, at certain times of the year, it’s common to see people dressed completely in white. This is because “Iyaboraje” sanctification rites in Cuba were unbanned after the economic crisis of the 1990s. People no longer conceal these; instead, they openly display the attributes of the religion and the “Santo” (saint, also called Orisha or God) who consecrates them.
Read More“It’s incomparable!” comments a 40-year-old blond woman with green eyes and glowingly white skin. Leaning against the Malecon wall, she’s impressed by the city’s architecture as she takes photos of the area’s buildings. Her husband -with the hands behind him, wearing shorts and a cap- slowly ventures closer to a group of men working on the Malecon.
Read More