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South Africa Study Project: Analysis
JASON JOHNSON - So, I want to start with this. We`ve had conversations in pop culture in America over the last couple of years about the erasure of Afro Latino faces and voices. I want you to sort of tell our audiences, what are we not hearing about the faces of the people initiating these protests in Cuba right now? Who is really behind this, and what are they really asking for?
[19:55:01]
AMALIA DACHE, AFRO-CUBAN AMERICAN SCHOLAR: Yes, we`re not talking about is the Afro-Cuban -- the Afro-Cuban movements, or Afro-Cuban leaders that are leading the movements to free Cuba, Dennis Solis, and Luis Manuel Arturo Alcantara, Michael Sorvo these are leaders of the San Isidro Movement that started in 2018. So, we`re not hearing that, these uprisings.
The catalysts were Afro-Cubans and artists across the island that wanted to express their lack of freedom of expression, the repression of the state of their freedoms in Cuba, and so we`re not hearing from the voice of Afro- Cubans on this issue. We`re not talking to Afro-Cubans on this issue when it comes to issues of race and racism under the dictatorship, and we`re focusing on things like the external embargo, instead of focusing on things like the internal embargo, or what we call the internal blockade of food and medicine like COVID vaccines because Cuba is not allowing COVID vaccines to come in through the COVAX program that UNICEF offers for free. They`re blocking medicine and food.
JOHNSON: In the United States, I think all too often the discussion of Cuba is always sort of, it`s pretty much just in the hands of white Cubans. We hear from Marco Rubio, we hear from Ted Cruz.
Who are some activists and organizers perhaps in Florida who have been talking about the issues in Cuba for years that have been either marginalized or we haven`t heard their voices so much that may have initiated or enlightened us as to where this protest was going to come from.
DACHE: Well, in Cuba, not necessarily in the United States, afro-Cubans arguing about issues of race. For example, there are activists in Cuba who are speaking out about this issue. Again, the San Isidro movements, the Patria Y Vida movement. Patria Y Vida is the reggaeton artists that are in the United States and in Cuba, pushing the issue of repression and this is what they are rapping about. This is what the hip hop lyrics are about.
Patria Y Vida is homeland or life. It`s basically saying we want an end to communism, we want an end to the dictatorship. This is coming from reggaeton artist Gene de Zona and others from the island that I mentioned. So, that`s what we`re not associating the uprising to, these leaders, these leaders that in Cuba are risking their lives.
And just like we know in the United States, black leaders and black voices and especially black women`s voices in the civil rights movement, for example, and in the organizing that was taking place in 2014, 2015, they`re erased. We don`t have intersectional perspectives.
And what I call to the American people to do is have an intersectional perspective on Cuba, and place Afro-Cubans at the center of this debate.
JOHNSON: So, your family -- you are from Cuba. Your family came over on the boat lifts in the 1980s. One of the things that I think is interesting is that the way Cuba is discussed in the United States is usually -- it`s sort of a rallying cry for the far right or far left. On the far right, oh, it`s terrible, they`re evil, communists. And on the left, oh, Cuba is this amazing place where there`s free health care and racism doesn`t exist.
Tell us about what the real Cuba is right now for your average person when it`s not being used as a football for lack of a better word between the hard right and hard left in America.
DACHE: Well, just really, this is a quick history point that will address this issue. In Cuba in 1961 when this new regime came in, they said they eradicated racism, and you know what they did, they got rid of 200 black organizations across the island, so they outlawed black organizations, they outlawed associating or organization across racial lines because they said they eradicated racism. So, can you imagine the United States after the civil right movement, we got rid of all black organizations, we got rid of the black church because in Cuba you weren`t allowed to organize across religious lines either.
So, these are the issues we`re missing. These are the conversations we`re missing that Cuba, the rhetoric of Cuba being a black power aligned country is part of an old discourse, an old discourse that belongs in the 1960s, not in 2021. Because guess what? In Cuba, black history can`t be taught in schools.
So, the debates we are having in CRT in the United States, guess what? We can`t teach CRT in Cuba. It`s against the government.
JOHNSON: I`m pretty sure that Marco Rubio is screaming about critical race theory would be ashamed to find out that he`s actually aligning himself with the dictatorship in Cuba.
DACHE: Exactly.
JOHNSON: One of the last things I want to point out here is just very quickly, Black Lives Matter has asked for the embargo against Cuba to be stopped. There are many organizations in the United States that say we are part of the problem.
Is this really -- is the United States responsible for this uprising? Is this really some outside thing, quickly, or is this really an indigenous movement.
DACHE: Let me say two things, Jason, one, the United States is the number one exporter of meat to Cuba, all right? They spend $100 million in buying chicken.
Another thing, Black Lives Matter could not exist in Cuba. They`re outlawed.
JOHNSON: Right.
DACHE: Outlawed.
JOHNSON: So, yes, clearly a difference.
Thank you so much, Amalia Dache.
Analysis &
Editorials
Black Land Black First and the Economic Freedom Fighter [EFF]
on Leadership, and Sankarist
Principles in South Africa
Black Land Black First
on
A Sankarist Leadership Ethos
We pledge to build a revolutionary movement, that is Sankarist in belief and practice, following and honoring the revolutionary legacy of Thomas Sankara. We believe that for the movement to succeed it needs a servant leadership – an accountable, democratic, responsive leadership that puts black people first!
We invite you to come and build a revolutionary movement with us, so as to fight for the following ideals:
1. Land first! We will not buy back our stolen land!
2. Black First! The black majority must be centred and prioritized!
3. Mineral rights belong to the people! Let the people own and benefit directly!
4. Employment and a minimum wage! Quality Jobs Now! R12 500 minimum wage is non-negotiable! Employment protection, and sickness and vacation rights from the first day of employment. Equal pay to be legally enforced and realized! An end to labour brokerage!
5. Basic income for all Now! No one should go to bed on an empty stomach!
6. Housing is a right! End all squatter camps in five years!
7. Healthcare is a right! Build hospitals and train nurses and doctors!
8. Anti Racism. Declare racism a crime!
9. Anti sexism and anti homophobia. Fight to end women oppression and homophobia!
10. Socialism! Only fair distribution of wealth can bring about real economic freedom!
11. Pro-people Industrialization. Follow ecologically friendly industrialization!
12. African dignity and unity! Africa is one and her liberation paramount!
13. Mental liberation! The biggest disease killing Africa is ignorance and colonial mind-sets.
14. All elected members of parliamant and public servants must use public services!
15. The Thomas Sankara Oath and the People’s Manifesto are our eyes to guide us to total liberation for real.
16. Youth Advancement. The future belongs to the youth!
17. Education for all! Mass quality education responding to societal developmental challenges and building a socialist people’s first culture must be extended to all.
Julius Malema’s
Tailored Revolution
5.23.16
by Tyler McBrien
The color red, berets, and plain workers’ clothing have all become potent aesthetic symbols for South Africa's EFF. t the end of April this year, South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), launched its local government elections manifesto in front of 40,000 people in Johannesburg’s Orlando Stadium. Julius Malema, who serves as both the party’s political and sartorial “Commander in Chief,” led the proceedings, sporting his now iconic red beret and jumpsuit. This carefully constructed image is central to the EFF’s populist allure, one the party hopes will prove strong enough to overthrow the ANC in the upcoming local elections.
Afro-Cuban
music group’s
song is the
backdrop of
Cuba’s
unprecedented
protests
07.16.2021
Jason Johnson Interview with Afro-Cuban Scholar Amalia Dache on the Afro-Cuban inspired protests in Cuba
Has EFF Abandoned Sankarist Principles
08.23. 2016
Black Opinion
In the beginning the EFF described its seven cardinal pillars as “non negotiable”, but its leadership has over time amended these founding pillars to fall in line with the interests of white capital. Principally, the EFF has abandoned the cardinal pillar on land and has certainly liquidated the additional pillar on the “Thomas Sankara Oath”. The Thomas Sankara Oath has now been removed completely from the Founding Manifesto of the EFF. The Sankara Oath pillar was added into the EFF manifesto as a condition by the September National Imbizo (SNI) led by amongst others Andile Mngxitama. It is clear that the expulsion of Mngxitama and his group from the EFF has opened the door to the watering down of radical policies of the original EFF.
