Cuba was always like a forbidden fruit to me. America does its best to illustrate an island of disorder, communism, and poverty. Growing up in a household where we look up to those such as Che Guevara and Fidel Castro; Cuba always interested me. Finally, in June 2015, I had a chance to go there for myself. I traveled there as a missionary. On this trip I discovered that Cuba was nothing that I expected it to be. I immediately began to notice many things about the country that I loved.
Cuba is a beautiful paradise where arable land is plentiful. The people of Cuba embrace you as soon as you land. I felt such a warmth that I’d never felt before. The way they greet you feels as if you’re being welcomed into the gates of heaven. This was nothing like the country of disorder and communism portrayed. Poverty was evident however not as evident as landing in the United States of America. I traveled through four cities and throughout this travel I failed to see one homeless person lying on the side of a building.
While in Cuba, I turned the television to the only English channel in my hotel. This channel showed presidential candidate, Jeb Bush, giving a speech. In this speech Jeb says, “We don’t need a glorified tourist to go to Havana in support of a failed Cuba…”We need an American president to go to Havana in solidarity with a free Cuban people.” This comment did not coincide with the country that I was in at that moment. Yes the country is communist, however the parents of this country do not have to fear being racially profiled and killed by their own protectors. Fearing your young African American son will be killed or harassed based off racial profiling is not freedom. The government is in control of some things in the Cuban people’s lives, however they do not have the problems we have as Americans. There are no mass shootings and race wars in Cuba.
We as Americans need to sit back and really ask ourselves the question: Are we really free?
It has become very evident to me that what we refer to as freedom comes with a price. Cuban people receive free education, even at a college level, free health care, and live healthy lives. So, why is it that the people of Cuba are perceived to be in captivity or “not free?” Cuba is a strong country that has built its own cities without the help of others. The country has hotels that many may say are better than ones in America. This country did this for itself. The people have preserved their culture and their religion. Cuba, like few places, has not been “Americanized.” For this reason the country is a beautiful place, in contrast to the way it is portrayed. However, with the lifting of the embargo and building of a friendship with the United States…this may soon change.
I was only in Cuba for 8 days and many may claim that this is not enough time to speak on how the country is. However, America portrays so many countries in negative ways and we as Americans make our inferences before venturing out to the country.
Jakayla Rachel is a blossoming Georgia peach with a great future ahead of me due to a strong foundation. I’m a 16 year old future Spelman woman, aspiring writer, high school student.
