FMP - Mark Wells on Afro-Cubans and protest against the imprisonment of Darsi Ferrer, part 2

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:

• For My People
• Project BAIT
• Mark Wells
• Darsi Ferrer
• Cuba
• racism
• race
• Abdias do Nascimento
• Brazil
• Acting on Our Conscience
• African-Americans
• Afro-Brazilians
• Afro-Cubans
• racial inequality
• Fidel Castro
• remittances
• Colored People's Societies
• Rodrigo Espina
• Pablo Rodriguez
• Esteban Morales Dominguez
• Carlos Moore
• Alejandro de La Fuente

[jadejene]

I hate fidel

[lamulatona06]

@Rayarena true!!!!

[Rayarena]

This man knows what he's talking about. Cuba is a totalitarian country that squelches all human rights. Racism, sexism and homophobia is widespread in Cuba.