The Special Period in Cuba can best be described as a time of struggle. The dissatisfaction of many Cubans has led to their emigration to the United States by traveling in rafts to the coast of Florida. The Cuban people have different views regarding the trip to exile as well as the motivations to stay or leave Cuba. In Alejandro Hernandez Diaz’s book, The Cuba Mile, and in the movie “Guantanamera”, we see some of the different ways in which Cuban Culture views the Special Period, the trip to exile, and the motivations behind staying or leaving Cuba.
The year 1991 marked the beginning of the Special Period and hard times have existed in Cuba ever since. Many Cubans are tired of the hardships and shortages of the Special Period. To try and make ends meet many Cubans have adapted to the tough times by making money in the Black Market. In “Guantanamera”, both the cabdriver and Mariano use the Black Market to make extra money. As they travel across the island, they buy food to be resold at a higher price when they arrive in Havana. Many Cubans feel that the Revolution is no longer working and that it is time for a change.
In “Guantanamera”, symbolism of this idea is clearly demonstrated. In the movie, a story from the Santeria religion is told. The god of Olofin is represented in the movie, Olofin created life but not death. Therefore, everyone lived forever and the elderly people held control and influenced many aspects of society. Nothing ever changed much like the Cuban government which is old and unchanging. Then, one day Olofin made it rain for thirty days and thirty nights.
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The flood killed the old and only the young survived. The current revolution is old, and is not working as well as it did in the 1970’s. The movie is calling for the need of a natural process, like the rain to come and wash away the old revolution’s ideas so new and young ideas can survive in Cuba. However, many Cubans feel that the situation is not going to change and their desire to leave Cuba is so strong that they risk their lives by rafting across the Straits of Florida in order to gain freedom and opportunities in the United States. The hardships of the Special Period became so considerable many Cubans chose to take their chances with the ocean. Large quantities of Cubans began to construct rafts in order to escape to the United States.
They hoped to either survive the 90 mile trip or be discovered by the. S. coastguard and brought to the United States. “According to studies done at the University of Florida, the chances of rescue during the first six days are fifty percent. After that they drop five percent per day” (Diaz).
Life in Cuba is so hard that they feel it can only get better. This is demonstrated in the very beginning of The Cuban Mile, “When I think of my future, my stomach fails me and I get this goddamn diarrhea that wipes out any desire to build castles in the air” (Diaz).
America is viewed by Cubans as a chance for a new beginning and an opportunity to make something out of themselves. As Roso states in the beginning of their journey, “It’s like being born again! An excellent way to relieve us of any past guilt and reassure us that everything will better from here” (Diaz).
Many Cubans have exaggerated ideas about how life actually is in the United States. “The North became entwined with my fantasies of the Magi, the Three Kings who would bestow one the wonders of that country” (Diaz).
The fleeing Cubans feel that “the United States was the chaos of YES-YOU-CAN, while Cuba was personified by his opposite character, NO-YOU-CAN’T” (Diaz).
Even though to live in the United States seems so promising, there are those who choose to remain in Cuba. The Cubans who decide to stay in Cuba do so for a variety of reasons. Many Cubans who stay are patriotic revolutionaries, and do not feel any need to leave.
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Others do not have the courage to take on the risk of survival against the unpredictable and shark-infested ocean. Also, Cubans who leave face being persecuted by those loyal to the country. A comparison of this is made in The Cuban Mile while the men are eating fruit and Roso thinks to himself,” as if our domestic fruits were accomplices in Marxism and would poison those who had abandoned their fields” (Diaz).
Not only can the Cubans who flee be persecuted, but their family members can be as well.
In ” Guantanamera”, Adolfo has been moved from his job with the government to an undertaker position because his daughter associated with people who opposed the government and fled to the United States. In conclusion, the risk of leaving Cuba for a better life in the United States is a very difficult decision with many intricacies. The Cuban government remains stagnant a swell as the economic state of the country. The harsh times make life in the United States seem like paradise to the Cuban people, and those who leave, realize how they can benefit from living in the United States. However, they risk their lives in trying to make it across the ocean in a small raft.
They also leave behind family and friends to start a new life, sometimes, with nothing. The their lives in hopes for a better life in America. The desire to live an enjoyable life and have freedom is too great.
