In Memoriam: Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution
On November 25, 2016, the death of the former Cuban leader and revolutionary Fidel Castro was announced. Alongside his brother, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara, Fidel Castro overthrew the U.S. backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. Fidel Castro’s legacy may be marred by controversy, but his actions forever changed the course of Cuban history.
Without the Cuban Revolution, Cuba may have suffered the fate of many other Banana Republics, U.S. puppets stricken by poverty and inequality. Under Castro, Cuba developed advanced medical and education systems, and though the country suffered due to the embargo enacted by the United States, the resilient Cuban people were able to persevere. Due to his actions, Fidel Castro may best be described as a benevolent dictator. Despite never allowing the elections promised during the Cuban Revolution, Cuba emphasizes workplace democracy, with nearly all private sector employment being from workers cooperatives. Cuba has excellent medical services, an unemployment rate of 2.4% in 2014, and over 99% literacy.
Fidel Castro is remembered by the millions of Latin American children who learned to read thanks to Cuban efforts, the patients of the 325 thousand Cuban doctors who have participated in foreign aid missions since 1969, the people of Northern Ireland whose struggle for freedom was supported by Castro, and victims of Apartheid South Africa, the policies and reality of which Castro vehemently opposed. Indeed, Cuba was one of the only countries in the world to oppose Apartheid, leading to a friendship between Castro and Mandela. Cuba’s foreign policy under Castro can be summarized by this quote from Nelson Mandela: “What country has ever needed help from Cuba and has not received it? How many countries threatened by imperialism or fighting for their freedom have been able to count on the support of Cuba?”
Finally, Fidel is remembered by the people of Cuba, who mourn the passing of not just a leader, but of hope. With the passing of Fidel, Neoliberal Capitalism may return to Cuba, dragging many into poverty. Fidel’s steadfast resolve in the face of a global superpower earned him admiration. To them, and to all of us, Fidel symbolized the hope which lies in revolution, and he will be mourned all across the world, wherever there are people yearning to be free. We must be critical of the failures of the Cuban Revolution, but we must celebrate the successes, and never stop organizing towards a better world.
