Cuba La Perla de las Antillas The Antilles

Cuba La Perla de las Antillas The Antilles Pearl This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Difference -- however we might define that -- is good. It makes us who we are and makes the world wonderful. All people must understand that, and strive for a more inclusive world that extinguishes oppressive forces like racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and beyond. These picks -- which highlight our world's vast diversity and promote equity -- will open people’s minds, get them to reflect on their own privileges, and help them better understand other people, perspectives, and cultures. Some of these picks will also cultivate people’s empathy and integrity, putting everybody on the path to social change and activism.

La Perla de las Antillas The Antilles’ Pearl Cuba was called the Antilles’ Pearl since was the key to the market being at the center of international marketing routes. Before de Cuban dictator Castro, Cuba was a very prosperous island, Castro destroyed all resources as well as all people’s hope for happiness and prosperity.

Balseros For this reason, 20 years ago, 35000 Cubans fled Castro’s island on anything that could float, they were called balseros, or rafters. They were looking for freedom and opportunities to live decently. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Cuban food Mixed cultures Cuban cuisine, however, drastically changed after the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Fidel Castro overthrew the government. Cubans who opposed him began to flee the island, including Spanish and African cultures joined chefs and restaurant owners. As a result, food together to create several popular shortages became frequent, and food that was dishes, including arroz congri (rice still available was of poor quality. As of 2001, and beans, often known as Moors Castro was still in power and because of and Christians) and tostones (pieces political disagreements with other countries, of lightly fried fruit, similar to the trade restrictions imposed on Cuba remain, so banana). living conditions and shortages of food have improved little. Spanish and African cultures formed the foundation of Cuban cuisine.

Congri

Arroz con pollo y tostones This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Flan y pastelitos

Cafecito y tostadas for breakfast This Photo by by Unknown Author is is licensed under CC CC BY-ND BY-SA

Cuban Culture Cuba is known for its cultural diversity, built from Spanish, African, French and Asian influences. Whether in literature or fine art, film, ballet, modern dance or theatre - the island has produced numerous famous artists in many different disciplines. Cuba's vibrant culture is most typified by their music. Perhaps in no other field have Cubans excelled more than music. They love to dance and play music ranging from tropical to jazz. Most of Cuba’s rich musical heritage comes from its black population. Afro-Cuban is a mixture of Spanish and African music. The rumba, son, salsa, guajira, mambo, chacha-cha and conga are all songs and dances native to Cuba. All have enjoyed international popularity at one time or another. There are even special instruments of Cuban origin invented to play this Afro. Cuban music, such as the maracas. Cubans are generally gregarious, happy, hospitable, very affective, they are very loud, like foreigners, outgoing, vivacious and have a great sense of humor. You can be hugged or kissing in your cheaks if you have Cuban friends. If you are lucky enough to understand Spanish you can really enjoy listening to Cubans interact with each other. Cubans in general are fun-loving despite the economic hardships they have had to endure in recent times.

Popular Cuban artists The music of Cuba is world famous , and with good reason. . While salsa is perhaps the most famous form of musical expression when wondering what is Cuba known for , but let's not forget rumba and bolero. Charanga Habanera Celia Cruz – The Salsa Queen The music of Cuba is very fashionable all over the world, nowadays it is heard in all the stations of the country. It is danced in all places because it is very sticky. Gente de Zona Cubans love to party and dancing is an integral part of most Cuban’s lives. Sensual music and dance are their preferred pleasures. Music seems to fill the air wherever you are in Cuba and it seems someone is always playing music or dancing. Almost every celebration, private or public, includes some type of dancing. People can be seen dancing at carnivals, fiestas and in local dance halls. Señorita Dayana Jacob Forever El Chacal Pitbull

Jacob Forever This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Gente de Zona This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Social Issue in Cuba What happened to Cuba? Cubans miss Cuba when they are away. They enjoy each other despite the fact that they have little money to spend. According to Cubanet. com, “In the black market, Cuban mothers find school uniforms for the children. The government only makes available for purchase two suits during the primary school years; one at age 5 and another at age 10. Theft from the workplace is usual. ‘Everybody steals, from the manager to the butcher. People have to live, ’ said Roberto, a History student at the University of Havana, who goes door to door renting video tapes. ” Every government enterprise has an “internal market” that the workers themselves create according to demand. If you want to get a quality filling on a tooth, you only have to find the “link” to connect to someone at the dental clinic. The same goes with X-rays or doctors, who, depending on the specialty, can take months to see. It’s a response to salaries averaging the equivalent in pesos of 15 dollars a month. ” Cuba, under the dictator Batista, had some of the highest wages in the world and the highest standard of living in Latin America, and attracted more immigrants from Europe than the U. S. ! Castro dismantled the business enterprises as “inconsistent with Socialism. ” Human Rights Watch states that “Cubans are systematically denied basic rights to free expression, association, assembly, privacy, movement and due process of law. ” According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Cuba has the second largest prison in the world for journalists. The right to use the Internet is granted only to select people who are monitored. According to the U. S. Department of State’s website, “The law does not allow Cuban workers to join unions of their choice and punishes unauthorized assembly of more than three people. According to human rights organizations, as many as 5, 000 have been detained and sanctioned for ‘dangerousness. ’ The government keeps prisons off limits to international human rights organizations. ” The U. S. has punished Castro with a trade embargo, refusing to buy from or sell to Cuba for many years. What is the problem? Is it Communism? Is it the trade embargo? Is it Castro’s style of dictatorship? Can people be happy even if they have no money?

Cuban people Cuba's nearly 12 million people are mostly Spanish and Africans who came to the island over the past 500 years. About 65 percent of Cubans consider themselves as white or descendants of Spanish colonial settlers and other immigrants. Around 10 percent of the population is black, 20 percent mulatto (a mixture of European and African) and 1 percent Chinese who were brought in as laborers in the mid-1800 s as the slave trade from Africa disappeared. Most of the country's Chinese population lives in Havana's Chinatown. One thing that sets Cubans apart from other Caribbean peoples is their work ethic. Of all Latin American people Cubans are by far the hardest working and are known for their business acumen and entrepreneurial skills. However, the Cuban people are unique in that they combine a strong work ethic with the ability to enjoy themselves like other Latins. As in most Latin American countries the family is the center of most Cuban’s lives. Family ties are strong and much time is spent with one's family. Since the revolution women have made great strides. Despite the hardships of the U. S. embargo Cubans are relatively well-off when compared people at the lower end of the economic spectrum in other Latin American countries. Because of this Cubans are considered to be "The richest poor people in the world. “