Cuban Literature After the Revolution

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A Communist Nightmare

“What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, freedom is to the soul of man” (Brainy Quotes). Light is essential to the eyes, love is what makes the heart beat, and freedom is the hope of man kind; all of which are essential to the happiness of humanity. Having to live without these rights is a difficult way of living. For example, Cubans have suffered time after time in pursuit of their freedom, but sadly they never accomplish their goal. They live in fear of their broken government, but never stop fighting for freedom. In the early 20th century, Cuba was a democracy. From 1940 to 1944 Fulgencio Batista, a Cuban politician, was Cuba’s president. In 1952 he decided to run again, but when it was apparent he’d lose, Batista seized power before the election took place. The citizens were outraged causing them to turn against their flawed democracy that was brought upon by the election. As a result, Fidel Castro, a communist revolutionary political man, began to plot Batista’s downfall. The Cuban Revolution, also known as Castro’s Revolution, began on July 26, 1952, and ended January, 1, 1959. After Batista, Cuba’s former president, fled the country, Castro took complete control and turned Cuba into a communist country. The Revolution brought upon: many deaths, censored news and publicity, and no freedom of speech. Throughout the years Castro stayed in power, but due to health issues originating on July 31, 2006, he had to step down. After Castro returned, he took control of Cuba up until February 19, 2008. He then abdicated his place as dictator and handed down his position to his brother, Raul Castro.

The experience that the Cubans had throughout the harsh revolutio...

... middle of paper ...

...ee-life would then be... Perfection.

Works Cited

Atkins, Jeannine. “Fleeing Cuba, Finding Faith” Biography in Context. Web. 18 March 2014.

Brainy Quote. 2014. Web. 14 February 2014.

Desmond, Joan. “Talking with Margarita Engle: Newbery Honor” Literature Reaserch Center. Web. 18 March 2014.

Eire, Carlos. Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2003. Print.

Engle, Margarita. “The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom.” New York: Square Fish, Inc., 2008. Print.

--- “Lieutenant Death.” 14.

--- “Silvia.” 158.

"Margarita Engle." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 83. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Biography in Context. Web. 29 May 2014.

Perez, Henry. “Book Review: Waiting for Snow in Havana Confessions of a Cuban boy” Biography in Context. 2005. Web. 27 March 2014.

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