The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-25

tailed: Placido went TO his death
hurting rhymes Of defiance n those
who might kill . man but could not
kill . people.
.Twenty-four years later-in 1855
the sons OF the men who had lis
tened to Placido and Manzano
Joined hands with white Cubans
in the bitter Ten Years War, fought
under the slogans. freedom for
the Slaves" and Equal political
rights for all men: white and black
native and foreign. born" II Is said
that the people of Cuba were in
splred to revolt because newly
freed black men and progressive
white men had set up the demo-
-ratic governments OF the Recon
struction period in the Southern
part Of the United States.
The Ten Years War ended with
the abolition Of chattel slavery, In
Cuba. but economic discrimination
still robbed the Negro of a living
educational opportunities for his
children continued to be legally
limited although two of the islands
ioneer educators. Menendez and
'ntonio Medina. had been colored
ven.
The 'sSs Revolt
So In 1895. black cubans again
'"ok up arms und,. the Leadership
v that Negro military genius, An
f,nio Maceo White '.,ibans who hac
their own grievances agaIns, SPANS
colonial governors Joined hands
with their black countrymen in
what was tc be the final struggle OF
that long fight for liberation which
had begun with the first rebellion Of
Negro slaves back In 1888.
The revolt begun n 1898 con-
tinued until 1893 when the United
States stepped in to help out the
rebel Cubans in the victorious
Spanish-American war. But Cuba
10 . free republic not only because
OF American arms but because of
two Negroes: the soldier, Antonio
Maceo; the author and crusadins
newspaperman. Juan Gualberto
Gomez.
II you ever 90 to Howard uni
versity in Washington. you will see
the impressive bust OF General
Maeeo. done by Cuba's leading
modern sculptor. the Negro and
former policeman. Ramos Blanco
There - q monument to Maceo's
mother. ehiselled BY the same sculp-
tor: In the Mariana Crajalss Park
IN Havana. And wherever you 10
m Cubs. you Win hear the name OF
Mscso - We hear the name Of Lin
coin.
Juaa 0ualbsrSe 0soss
Nor win you have 70 ask my On.
ban about Juan Gualberto Gomez
He win start telling you about Go.
mex the moment that he becomes
convinced that you respect his
country and Its TRADITION Of respect
for the achievements Of any man
whatever his color.
Born in 1884, Conner died q sena.
tor OF the republic in 1898 He be-
came a revolutionist at the age OF
a, and died q rebel against the mis-.
use and misrule OF his countrx bv
the Ams:ican-owned Wall Street
sugar trust.
In the Academy Of History NJ
Havana, he Librarians show you the
ye''owed nles OF Fraternity" the
newspaper which Gomez founded
to show Cubans OF both colors the
way to freedom. Other Cubans tell
you how he was thrown in Jail time
after tin, by the Spanish counter.
part OF the Nazi Gestapo. how he
ne!ped guide the destinies OF the
revolutionary assembly which pro-
claimed Cuba's independence while
Maceo was fighting for IL. He lived
to see another man with Negro
blood and bearing the same sur
name, Jose Miguel Gomez, elected
president OF the republic.
Cubss Democracy
Cuban, today. seems destined 70
give the same sort OF democratic
guidance 70 the subject black peo-
pies Of all the West Indies tina,
China is giving TO the subject brown
and yellow peoples of all Asia
although China spr1ws over q
great part Of the earth and Cuba
is just about the size OF Pennsyl.
vania Negro workers throughout
the West Indies are organizing into
democratic trade unions because OF
the example set by Cuba's union.
which. like the clio organizations in
our own country. draws no lines Of
color. race or creed.
The Cuban labor unions are
among the most militant and power
fully organized groups Of their kind
in the whole Western Hemisphere
They are doing much 10 iron out
any lingering antagonisms between
Negro and white Cubans: between
Spanish-speaking native Negroes.
French-spesking Negroes imported
as laborers from Haiti. and English
speaking Negroes brought over by
the sugar planters from the British
West Indies.
Most OF us know Cuba only
through the conga and the thumbs
dances whose very names show
their African origin Blu, IL we ever
know the history Of the Negro In
this hemisphere. we'll have "a
study what has been done by the
unconQuerable Negro OF Cuba.