Analyzing the ideology and rhetoric around race in Cuba and south Florida during the early years of the Cuban revolution; Devyn Spence Benson argues that ideas; stereotypes; and discriminatory practices relating to racial difference persisted despite major efforts by the Cuban state to generate social equality. Drawing on Cuban and U.S. archival materials and face-to-face interviews; Benson examines 1960s government programs and campaigns against discrimination; showing how such programs frequently negated their efforts by reproducing racist images and idioms in revolutionary propaganda; cartoons; and school materials. Building on nineteenth-century discourses that imagined Cuba as a raceless space; revolutionary leaders embraced a narrow definition of blackness; often seeming to suggest that Afro-Cubans had to discard their blackness to join the revolution. This was and remains a false dichotomy for many Cubans of color; Benson demonstrates. While some Afro-Cubans agreed with the revolution's sentiments about racial transcendence--"not blacks; not whites; only Cubans--others found ways to use state rhetoric to demand additional reforms. Still others; finding a revolution that disavowed blackness unsettling and paternalistic; fought to insert black history and African culture into revolutionary nationalisms. Despite such efforts by Afro-Cubans and radical government-sponsored integration programs; racism has persisted throughout the revolution in subtle but lasting ways.
#1251390 in Books Christian Mcwhirter 2014-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.19 x .86 x 6.37l; 1.07 #File Name: 1469613670336 pagesBattle Hymns The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War Civil War America
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Battle Hymns: a Must Read!By Kevin WindhamWell done! I laughed out loud in places; hummed along as I read lyrics; and searched online for other songs to complete my experience of Battle Hymns. You do not have to be a "buff" or have a detailed understanding of the Civil War to enjoy this work; it is for the historian; the music lover; and all of us who have been touched by the war and its effects. Well written and expertly researched; this was an enjoyable read and it deserves its place on bookshelves across America. As an aside: knowing Christian as a friend; it was easy for me to hear his voice in the passages; however; thankfully...not in the lyrics. Again; well done; well done!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A very welcome findBy allpurposeguruIn this Civil War sesquicentennial period; it's great to find this book on its music. I have enjoyed reading it immensely and will find it very helpful in my own research and writing on the subject. The documentation and bibliography are impressive. I wish the links to the endnotes worked better; but at least I can bookmark stuff I have to find frequently.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Virginia Chamber Orchestra is planning a major concert in ...By Ann SicaThe Virginia Chamber Orchestra is planning a major concert in April; 2015 : "Music in the Life of President LIncoln." This book has been--and continues to be--extremely helpful with its thorough and interesting approach to the subject.
