The Cuban Revolution inaugurates the centennial of Fidel’s birthday

On Aug. 13, friends of Cuba were invited by the Cuban embassy to celebrate the 99th birthday of Fidel Castro.

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on Aug. 13, 1926. His 100th birthday will be next year, so the Cuban Revolution will celebrate him for the entire year ahead.

A packed hall greeted the Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera. The ambassador gave remarks on the legacy of Fidel: “It is one that endures through generations and beyond borders.” 

The original plan for the day’s event was to present a new book by author Arnold August called “Fidel Castro: la visión de un canadiense” or “Fidel Castro: a Canadian’s vision.” However, scholar and historian James Counts Early informed the audience that August was stopped at the Canadian border and not allowed to enter the United States because of his journalism on Palestine. 

Arnold August instead sent a video message, in which he informed the audience that he was detained and interrogated for six hours. James Early said, “It’s not a sign of times ahead. It’s a sign of right now.” 

James Early remarked on the global impact of the Cuban revolution. He recounted a story told to him by Danny Glover: the unforgettable day that Danny and his coworkers at a post office in Oakland gathered around a tiny black and white TV to watch Fidel march into Havana. 

Next was an unveiling of two oil paintings by artist Ian Matchett, depicting two different Fidels. Ian’s approach was to show the Fidel we usually imagine — the comandante, at the podium, recognizing you in the crowd — as well as Fidel the compañero, struggling through moment to moment like any of us. (His work can be found at matchettian.com or @matchettian on social media.) 

Second Secretary of the Cuban Embassy David Ramírez Álvarez surprised the audience with a special appearance of Black Cuban hip-hop artist Jonathan Mackenzie, who presented an original poem honoring Fidel, and a freestyle rap. 

The Struggle for Socialism Party will honor Fidel’s centenary by continuing to build the revolutionary movement here in the belly of the imperialist beast, and to bring down the vicious blockade of Cuba.