The Cuban essence through Fernando Ortiz

July 18, 2018

# The Development of Socialism in Cuba

The development of socialism in Cuba has faced great challenges along the path undertaken 60 years ago. Its capacity to seek formulas and self-generate when rectifying the errors inherent to each human process is notable. In the improvement of the model for directing and administering the country, and in the defense of achievements, it has been necessary to draw from ideas, not only those emanating from the people and current leaders, but from its main intellectuals, among whom is Fernando Ortiz, Cuban ethnologist, anthropologist, jurist, archaeologist and journalist who made remarkable contributions through his research on Cuban culture.

Don Fernando is considered the third discoverer of Cuba, a legitimate reason why his studies are reflected in the ideology of the nation. The depth of his writings helps us understand the characteristics of a society that, despite being separated by more than a century from his time, continues to be reflected, like realistic painting, in his writings.

One of his most enduring positions is based on anti-imperialism: "[...] If not as grave as economic imperialism, which sucks the blood of the Cuban people, ideological imperialism that follows is also corrosive. The former breaks its economic independence; the latter destroys its moral life. One takes away its support; the other its soul".

These political concerns, reflected in his work in the twentieth century, are in perfect synchrony with why Cuba, in the twenty-first century, continues to cling to its social model, contrary to what the U.S. wishes to impose in any country where its interests are moved.

Today the existence of a coup-prone right in Latin America and a lurking, interventionist and classist imperialism is evident. From another era, but in the same context, Ortiz speaks of the need to "try, then, to know ourselves and to distill our essences, to keep pure those of substantive and lasting value and to set apart those that [...] bring to our life a lethal poison". In short, no one likes a stranger to come and set order in their house.

## AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The work of Cuban anthropologist and researcher constitutes a strong denunciation of the treatment given to blacks during the slavery period in Cuba. Currently, it can be said with pride that through organizations such as the Fernando Ortiz Foundation, the Cuban Commission of Unesco and the National Council of Cultural Heritage, the country joined the Slave Route project, whose primary objective is to show the world the phenomenon of the slave trade, study its causes, modes of execution, development and consequences, as well as assess its impact and promote the safeguarding of some elements that testify to the African footprint in these lands.

The actions promoted by this project not only remind us of the mistreatment suffered by slaves brought on Spanish ships—an aspect widely analyzed in Fernando Ortiz's work—but the need to prevent that there are still victims of illegal human trafficking.

Recently, at the 39th ordinary meeting of the Caricom Governors Board Conference, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez ratified his support for the Caribbean's legitimate demand for compensation for the horrors of slavery and the slave trade, and the rejection of the inclusion of Caricom member states in unilateral lists of alleged non-cooperative jurisdictions drawn up by the centers of international financial capital."

## TRANSCULTURATION

Los Negros Brujos, the first book by young lawyer Fernando Ortiz, was published in Madrid in 1906. In this work he brought to light the abomination of racism in Cuba. Once again, he came to the defense of the unprotected: "Without the black man Cuba would not be Cuba [...] the study of the black man was a very laborious task, prone to ridicule and brought no money. [...] of the black man as a human being, of his spirit, of his history, of his ancestors, of his languages, of his arts, of his positive values and of his social possibilities... nothing".

These were the first steps of what would be Fernando Ortiz's great contribution to the Social Sciences: the concept of transculturation (in 1940, when he published his work Contrapunteo cubano del tabaco y el azúcar).

The inclusion of all people in society, regardless of the color of their skin, and giving African culture the value it deserved became a commitment: "From Africa musical instruments were imported, ornaments and clothing fashions [...] a large part of our folklore, festivities such as the parades of the historic Day of Kings and other carnival celebrations, wakes, certain birds such as the guinea fowl [...] a notable contribution to popular slang".

What we see today as a natural evolution of Cuban social thought, at that time meant a leap in the development of society. Let us keep in mind that the term acculturation prevailed, by which was meant the process of transition from one culture to another, without taking into account peaceful coexistence amid differences.

## CUBA: AN EXAMPLE OF RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

Currently, much remains to be done in Cuba in terms of respect for diversity, because this is a slow process in which the deep roots of homophobia, machismo and patriarchal structures must be changed.

The State and Government, for their part, promote a series of measures that defend the inclusion of human beings without any kind of discrimination. The greatest demonstration of this effort was the composition of the Council of State, which this year reflected 42% renewal. Female representation was 48.4% and that of blacks and mixed-race individuals reached 45.2%.

In 2011, at an ordinary meeting of the Education, Culture, Science and Technology Commission of the National Assembly of People's Power, in a room at the Palace of Conventions, Mariela Castro, director of Cenesex and member of the Aponte Commission, explained: "Racism, like all forms of discrimination, has a socioeconomic origin in the relations of domination imposed by power groups in class societies".

Later, at the 5th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), in Bávaro, Dominican Republic, Raúl advocated for respect, taking into account differences: "It has never been more necessary to effectively march along the path of unity, recognizing that we have numerous interests in common. Working for 'unity in diversity' is an inescapable necessity".

These days the Preliminary Draft of constitutional reform in Cuba is being drawn up which will undoubtedly take these matters into account when translating into laws the rights of Cuban citizens. That legislation will safeguard the essence that Ortiz himself spoke of in 1940: "(…) few countries like Cuba, where in such a small space, in such a brief time and in immigration concurrences so constant and abundant, more disparate races have crossed and where their loving embraces have been more frequent, more complex, more tolerated and more prophetic of a universal peace of the bloods, not of a so-called 'cosmic race,' which is pure paradox, but of a possible, desirable and future deracialization of humanity"..

Source: Cubahora