FMP - Mark Wells on Afro-Cubans and protest against the imprisonment of Darsi Ferrer, part 1

See part two at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovzW4phLGMo

A group of prominent African Americans, traditionally sympathetic to the Cuban revolution, have for the first time condemned Cuba, demanding Havana stop its callous disregard for black Cubans and declaring that racism in Cuba must be confronted.

Among the 60 signers were Princeton professor Cornel West, actress Ruby Dee Davis, film director Melvin Van Peebles, former South Florida congresswoman Carrie Meek, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of President Barack Obamas church in Chicago, and Susan Taylor, former editor in chief of Essence magazine.

Another voice of protest was that Abdias do Nascimento, the 95 year old Afro-Brazilian civil rights activist who has been a leader of Brazil's anti-racist movement for more than 60 years. In an open letter to the governments of Cuba and Brazil, Nascimento protested what he characterized as an abuse of Ferrer's rights.

These declarations add powerful new voices to the chorus pushing for change on the island, where Afro-Cubans make up at least 62 percent of the 11.4 million people yet are only thinly represented in the top leadership, scientific, academic and other ranks.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• racismo
• Cuba
• Robert Williams
• Black Panthers
• African-Americans
• Acting on Our Conscience
• Susan Taylor
• Ollie Johnson
• Ruby Dee
• Mario Van Peebles
• Kathleen Cleaver
• Fidel Castro
• Assata Shakur
• Huey Newton
• Eldridge Cleaver
• Willie Lee Brent
• slavery
• Independent Party of Color
• massacre
• 1912
• racial inequality

[Bistol1]

@WestcoastMusicals Yeah thats true. Im cuban and they are a bunch of racists, think of themselves better, and its crap. Well whatever... Im glad Im not in that devil´s island anymore...

[WestcoastMusicals]

@Bistol1 I'm black and I approve of a tsunami hitting cuba

[jenja718]

@Bistol1 isnt that a bit harsh???

[JohnnyDesaint]

Racism between cubans that i seen growing up was not as much betwwen races but more between classes.i grew up in a neighborhood in cuba where there was just as much blacks as whites,some mullatos,and one chinese freind of mine.our house would open uo in the morning and ill play with all kids no matter color.and they would run threw my house and my parents would hug them and never remember them doin anything racist toward them.

[Bistol1]

Nobody is more racist than Cubans. Give them a chance and you will see for yourself. Habrán oido esa frase: ...este negrito si es buena gente, vamos a darle un chance... Pity the tsunami didn´t hit Cuba.

[gusanomarielito]

Cuban blacks and racism: Population: 51% mixed (mulato or semidark), 37% white, 11% non-mixed black, 1% chinese. Universities: only 17% blacks and mulatos. Jails: 80% blacks and mulatos. Wow! Hotels Front Desk: White workers only. Beach attendands/bartender: White workers only. High ranking government jobs: White workers only. High ranking militants: Whites only. Police ID and/or arrest blacks and mulatos if spotted in tourist areas. Cuba is the mecca for racism! STOP GLORIFYING CASTRO!

[THESTAFFIECHANNEL]

@gusanomarielito I dunno whats going on otside your window but in my country who gave birth to the right wing country you live in is changing. We WILL be a Republic and our Monarchy will be overthrown.And in America there will be Class war and race War..This is the Century of Socialism. You are even with socialism or chose to be left to the hungry dogs of capitalism.Either way there will be struggle and it wont be in Cuba or China.

[gusanomarielito]

@THESTAFFIECHANNEL Dude, you are an IMBECILE!

[THESTAFFIECHANNEL]

@gusanomarielito LOL man you are so far removed from reality and thats why america is a bubble. In Cuba there were loads of Russians visiting , wearing Che T shirts and absolutley loving it.I saw Guys with Poland football (you call it soccer) shirts, there were Italians canadians and everyone was there supporting the country. I wont give up nothing, the Capitalist world is going to crumblle and the third world are going to win the Third War...Prepare your children.

[gusanomarielito]

@THESTAFFIECHANNEL Dude, don't be naive. Why do you think the Soviet Union itself is no longer communist? They even made communism illegal in Russia. The communist party was dissolved and it is now illegal to be a communist political leader in Russia - the land where communism itself was rooted. Eastern Europeans also decide to get rid of that nasty piece of shit political, economic and social system that made no fucking sense. When are you going to learn and understand this. Give that shit up!