Saturday, May 16
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Indianapolis Liberation Center
Join us for a three-session installment of Reading with Comrades as we collectively study Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches of Fidel Castro. Published by 1804 Books in celebration of Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday anniversary and edited by Manolo De Los Santos and Vijay Prashad, the carefully-selected speeches provide an accessibly entry-point to examine the historical development of the Cuban Revolution, the struggle against U.S. imperialism, and the political conditions that transformed Cuba from a U.S.-dominated dictatorship into one of the world’s most enduring socialist projects
Trump recently unleashed new sanctions against the tiny island of Cuba even as the United Nations warns of “energy starvation.” This is not the policy of one president, however; it has been the consensus in the U.S. establishment since the proclamation of Cuba as a socialist state. The speeches, the ideas they communicated, and the style of the communication were and are integral to the ongoing persistence of the revolutionary state.
For decades, Cuba has faced economic warfare, invasion attempts, assassination plots, sanctions, and relentless political hostility from the U.S. state. Yet despite enormous pressure, the Cuban people have continued defending their revolution and sovereignty. This series will explore some of the reasons why the Cuban Revolution lives on today.
By grounding ourselves in the historical context surrounding Fidel’s speeches, we will discuss how the revolution was built, why socialism gained mass support in Cuba, and what has allowed the Cuban people to remain resilient in the face of blockade and imperialist aggression for more than half a century. Additionally, we’ll examine the form of the revolutionary speech itself as a political tool. Castro’s speeches were not simply addresses from a head of state.
Like all revolutionaries, Castro utilized his speeches as a form of mass political education to develop consciousness, unity, discipline, and international solidarity among ordinary people. As we read, we’ll come to our own conclusions about the use of political communication so important amongst revolutionaries.
As with all “Reading with comrades” events, no prior reading or political knowledge is necessary. Whether you are deeply familiar with the Cuban Revolution or engaging these ideas for the first time, this series is an opportunity to collectively study one of the most significant revolutionary movements of the last century and discuss what lessons it holds for people struggling against capitalism, imperialism, and oppression today.
Course schedule
- Meeting 1: Saturday, May 16 (pp. 65)
- Foreward/Introduction
- Can Ideas Be Killed?
- Turning Setbacks Into Victories
- When an Energetic and Potent People Cry, Injustice Trembles!
- Meeting 2: Saturday, May 23 (pp. 66-92)
- Even if the USSR Were to Disappear, We Would Continue to Resist
- Our Greatest Internationalist Mission is to Save Socialism in Cuba
- Meeting 3: Saturday, May 30 (pp. 93-136)
- Defeating Neoliberalism Will Allow for Hope in the Future
- Can a Revolutionary Process be Reversed?
This series, like all reading groups at the Indy Liberation Store, is free and open to the public. While pre-reading is encourage it is not required.
Featured image: Fidel Castro walking with founding PSL member Gloria La Riva. Credit: Liberation News.