On Wednesday, Black Lives Matter betrayed its supposed commitment to human rights and democratic accountability.
It did so by clearing the Cuban Communist regime of any responsibility for the suffering of Cuba’s people. In an Instagram post, Black Lives Matter instead declared that America is to blame for Cuba’s plight. The group says it “condemns the U.S. federal government’s inhumane treatment of Cubans.” The U.S. economic boycott of Cuba is wholly responsible for its malaise. Cubans are being “punished” by the U.S. government “because [Cuba] has maintained its commitment to sovereignty and self-determination.”
This is a rather creative interpretation of reality.
Contrary to Black Lives Matter’s claim that the U.S. trade embargo is “cutting off food, medicine, and supplies,” medical or humanitarian exports are not restricted by the embargo. The European Union has also established a growing trade and tourist relationship with Cuba in recent years, allowing the regime to gain access to high-value goods and foreign capital. Contrast this activity with the regime’s traditional imposition of import custom duties on medical goods. That action isn’t exactly indicative of a strong regard for its people.
Put simply, Cuba’s suffering is not a consequence of U.S. policy but rather of communist dysfunction.
Note also that, in terms of democracy, only Cuba’s regime decides who may run in and win elections. True oppositionists face two choices: Either be co-opted by the regime, or be imprisoned.
Over the past year, things have gotten far worse for Cubans. Facing an export market collapse, loss of European tourism due to COVID-19, and a decrepit healthcare system seriously deficient in medicines, advanced surgical provisions, and reliable electricity, Cuba’s dystopian reality has metastasized. Having failed to deal effectively with COVID-19, President Miguel Diaz-Canel has further restricted freedom of speech. His defining mix of illiberal governance and incompetence have propelled thousands of desperate Cubans onto the streets. They are protesting with the awareness that the price for their courage will likely be measured in months- or yearslong stays in Cuba’s gulag-like prisons.
Black Lives Matter ignores these marchers for freedom and justice. Indeed, it throws unapologetic disdain in their face.
Not once does the activist organization mention the failures of Cuba’s communist regime. Not once does it demand protection for the rights of those who have been detained. Not once does it abandon its fanatical belief that America is responsible for all the world’s ills.
But the most defining example of Black Lives Matter’s delusion on Cuba comes with its assertion that the communist regime has “historically demonstrated solidarity with oppressed peoples” and “Black liberation struggles.” This is patently false. What Cuba has done is to support communist regimes that favor its ideological agenda. If “black liberation” has been incidental to these efforts, fine. But the idea that black liberation was somehow ever a Castro priority is ridiculous. Evincing as much, black Cubans have access to far fewer opportunities and high-ranking positions than do other Cubans.
Black Lives Matter should read some more history.
