Carolina Barrero, an exiled Cuban art historian and activist, has once again stirred public debate by sharply criticizing troubadour Silvio Rodríguez following his latest concert. In a social media message, Barrero questioned the singer-songwriter's choice of foreign symbols on stage instead of the national flag, especially when, as she highlighted, individuals in Cuba have been imprisoned for displaying their country's banner.
"Why not display the Cuban flag? There are people in Cuba, like Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and the Mambisa Agramontina, who are imprisoned for using our flag," she wrote. Barrero argued that Rodríguez's gesture is not a genuine act of solidarity with the Palestinians but rather "a blatantly evident political exploitation of tragedy."
The activist, known for her outspoken criticism of the Cuban regime and her prominent role in the exile community, paired her reproach with a grim assessment of the national situation. She asserted that the human and social crisis in Cuba "surpasses nearly every country in the hemisphere," characterized by hunger, scarcity, illness, neglect, and relentless repression. In her view, this is not an inevitable fate or an external issue, but rather the "extractive nature of the elite with which Silvio associates and protects."
In this context, Barrero directly called out GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls much of Cuba's economy, arguing that their coffers are sufficiently full to solve the energy crisis and alleviate hunger for millions of Cubans, yet are used for enrichment and political control instead.
Continued Criticism of the Cuban Regime
Barrero's critique of Silvio Rodríguez is part of a consistent narrative she has maintained in recent months. She recently accused the military group GAESA of managing approximately eighteen billion dollars not allocated to health or electricity, urging the European Union to impose direct sanctions against the Communist Party's leadership to curb the regime's impunity.
For Barrero, the contrast between official symbols and daily hardships is crucial: flags, poetry, or artistic discourse hold no value if not matched by a real commitment to the people. She emphasized that the debate is not about whether artists can remain neutral. To her, such neutrality is a fallacy.
"Some say Silvio doesn't need to take a political stance as an artist. There is no greater fallacy than this idea. His political stance is crystal clear, and he stands with the tyranny," she declared. With these words, Barrero pointed to what she sees as Rodríguez's calculated ambiguity, a balancing act that ultimately aligns him with those upholding the system.
Silvio Rodríguez's Complex Stance
Barrero's remarks challenge the complex figure of Silvio Rodríguez, who in recent years has made unusual criticisms of the Cuban government. Rodríguez himself has acknowledged the material and spiritual wear of the nation, the need for more dialogue and sincerity, and has even criticized the ostentation of the elites amid widespread poverty.
Nevertheless, he has never renounced his identification with the so-called "Cuban revolution," and has repeatedly insisted that socialism still seems to him a more humane alternative than capitalism. It's this tension between loyalty to ideals and criticism of the present that fuels debates like the one Barrero is currently stirring.
The activist, who has turned her exile into a platform for denouncing the regime, insists that the time for ambiguity has ended. For her, Cuban artists cannot uphold foreign symbols while their own country sinks into scarcity and fear.
She stated that poetry "is returned like a mirror to the troubadour to show him his own deformity." In that reflection, Barrero sees a Silvio who continues to choose the side of power, even as he sings uncomfortable truths.
Her reproach uncovers a deeper demand: the need for coherence between public voice and the reality experienced by millions of Cubans. In this arena, Barrero makes no concessions. International solidarity, she asserts, only makes sense when it does not become a pretext to avert attention from hunger, repression, and the lack of freedoms within Cuba.
Key Questions About Barrero's Critique and Cuban Issues
Why does Carolina Barrero criticize Silvio Rodríguez?
Carolina Barrero criticizes Silvio Rodríguez for using foreign symbols on stage instead of the Cuban flag, arguing that it demonstrates political exploitation and aligns him with the oppressive regime.
What is Barrero's stance on the Cuban regime?
Barrero is a vocal critic of the Cuban regime, highlighting issues such as hunger, scarcity, and repression, and calling for international sanctions against the leadership for their impunity.
How does Barrero view the role of artists in Cuba?
Barrero believes that artists cannot remain neutral and must show a real commitment to the Cuban people, as neutrality is a fallacy that ultimately supports the regime.