Cuban psychologist Raidel Martínez, now residing in Stockholm and author of the book "4x4: Un Compás a Contratiempo. Memorias del Movimiento Cubano de Hip Hop," posed a pivotal question that encapsulates decades of systemic exclusion: "Who will address this historical debt owed to Afro-Cuban descendants?" This question emerged during an interview with Tania Costa on CiberCuba, as he pondered the fate of racial inequalities in a potential democratic transition on the island.
Martínez candidly outlined the landscape of inequality in Cuba. "While poverty is a common plight in Cuba, excluding the governing elite, it predominantly bears a black face," he asserted.
Drawing from his direct experiences, Martínez highlighted the depth of the issue. While participating in population censuses in Cuba, he noticed that individuals who were visibly black or mixed-race often identified themselves as "non-black." He explained that this reflects a psychological factor, where blackness is historically associated with poverty, crime, and marginalization.
The origins of this problem, according to Martínez, can be traced back to slavery. Afro-descendants arrived in Cuba stripped of their native lands and, as he put it, "later lacked access to capital generation." Although the 1940 Cuban Constitution addressed racial discrimination in its articles 10 and 20, it failed to tackle the underlying historical issues.
The debate took a decisive turn with the Revolution. "When Fidel Castro took power in 1959, he declared racial discrimination a resolved issue by 1960, without providing a real solution," Martínez noted. Consequently, "this topic was swept under the rug, and racial discrimination was not discussed again in Cuba until the 1990s, when these disparities became evident."
The Role of Hip Hop in Racial Discourse
It was during the 1990s crisis that Cuban hip hop emerged as a platform for protest. "Hip hop became an outlet to denounce societal issues," Martínez explained, linking this legacy to the 2018 Decree 349—which expanded state control over independent art—and the rise of the Movimiento San Isidro, organized by artists and activists opposing the decree.
Maykel Osorbo, a rapper and co-author of the anthem "Patria y Vida," as well as a member of this movement, has been imprisoned since May 2021, sentenced to nine years. For Martínez, Osorbo's case exemplifies the regime's repression of those who use their platform to protest.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Racial Inequality in Cuba
Martínez's analysis extends beyond historical context, serving as a caution for the future. If Cuba progresses economically without addressing this structural inequality, the outcome is predictable. "Those with the greatest access to capital are predominantly white, which raises concerns about the perpetuation of social disparities," he warned. He concluded with a powerful metaphor: "Starting a race from the same point is not the same as starting 100 meters behind."
This gap is already quantifiable. According to a report from the Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos, 68% of the Afro-Cuban population struggled to secure basic goods, compared to 61% of the general population. Additionally, Cubalex reported that Afro-descendants make up 56% of the incarcerated population in Cuba and receive harsher sentences, on average, for sedition.
The Cuban regime presented its "Color Cubano" program to the United Nations, claiming to have met 35 of 38 recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. However, Martínez warns that the gap between this official narrative and the documented reality remains an unresolved issue, crucial for any transition.
Understanding Racial Inequality in Cuba
What historical events contributed to racial inequality in Cuba?
Racial inequality in Cuba has roots in slavery, where Afro-descendants arrived without their native lands and lacked access to capital generation, a situation that was never fully addressed by subsequent policies or the 1940 Constitution.
How did the Cuban Revolution impact racial discourse?
The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro, prematurely declared racial discrimination resolved without real solutions, effectively silencing the discourse until the 1990s when disparities became more visible.
What role has hip hop played in addressing social issues in Cuba?
Hip hop emerged as a medium for denouncing societal issues and racial inequalities in Cuba, particularly in the 1990s, providing a voice for marginalized communities and challenging government narratives.