VÍCTOR FOWLER: RACIAL MATTERS IN CUBA (2022), by J. Cordones-Cook

VÍCTOR FOWLER: RACIAL MATTERS IN CUBA (2022), testimonial documentary, ca 60 minutes. Direction and production by Juanamaria Cordones-Cook. A cultural critic and award-winning writer, Víctor Fowler discusses racial matters in Cuba and their significance in building the nation. He sees the Revolution as an extraordinary turning point that promoted possibilities in establishing unprecedented reforms in education and social welfare policies affecting a wider horizon of expectations to everyone including the most vulnerable sectors, particularly Blacks. He also discusses the Special Period, emigration, remittances, the new economic order of services essentially intended for tourism to which the most disadvantaged sectors did not have access. He identifies signs of racism or neo-racism leading to a path of re-emergence. Fowler describes the Cuban Revolution as a sum of contradictions. In addition to extraordinary social impacts the Revolution realized, it also experienced failures and mistakes. Fowler charges the system with concealment through silences, particularly on racial issues. He associates this silence with a violence that essentially brings a symbolic death. Furthermore, he raises a number of issues and acknowledges setbacks in many fronts. But, at the same time Fowler firmly maintains that the Revolution offers the only chance Blacks and Mulattoes can have in Cuba.