It Could Happen Here - The Forgotten History of Cuban Anarchism, Part 1 ft. Andrew

Episode Date: May 21, 2024

Andrew talk with Gare about the history of anarchist labor organizing in Cuba.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and
Starting point is 00:00:38 expanding your horizons? Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. The 2025 iHeart Podcast Awards are coming. This is the chance to nominate your podcast for the industry's biggest award. Submit your podcast for nomination now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. But hurry, submissions close on December 8th. Hey, you've been doing all that talking.
Starting point is 00:01:26 It's time to get rewarded for it. Submit your podcast today at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. That's iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Welcome to Could Happen Here, the only show where things happen i'm andrew sage of the youtube channel andrewism and i'm joined by garrison say hello hello nice recently i've been researching and writing on education and anarchism honestly it's one of my favorite topics to look into and it's one of the topics I think I'm most passionate about. Yeah, that's definitely a hot topic within this political field.
Starting point is 00:02:10 There's a large, large variety of opinions, one might say. For sure. For sure. For sure. I mean, consciousness does form the basis of revolution. And there's a long history of anarchist struggle around education whether it be in terms of critiquing its role in social control and socialization or discussing youth liberation or talking about the inequalities of the current education system or the influence of statist
Starting point is 00:02:35 capitalist and religious ideologies or you know the whole discussion around sex education these are all things that anarchists have looked into, discussed, and sought to wrestle with. No, it's interesting because anarchists have, I believe, the largest number of people who are very militantly anti-school, but also have a really high number of people who become teachers. So it's always kind of interesting
Starting point is 00:03:02 when you're ever at an anarchist gathering, you have half the people are school teachers, the other half are like, destroy the schools! teachers so it's always kind of interesting when you're ever at like an anarchist gathering you have like half the people are like school teachers the other half are like destroy the schools which is always just a little bit amusing yeah for sure for sure so it's really i think people have to deal with that sort of tension anarchists find themselves in those sort of tensions but then they also find themselves put themselves in those positions in part because they see the potential of those positions wheel you know in sort of shape in the future but i don't mean to mislead anybody this episode is only tangentially related to education okay yeah so basically in my research on education i stumbled
Starting point is 00:03:43 upon this article called anarchism in education and in Early Republican Cuba from 1890 to 1925. And also I found some other work on anarchist Cuba in general. And this is all thanks to the scholarship of Kubin R. Schaffer. And I mean, for some time now, I've been meaning to dig deeper into the history of anarchism in Cuba. Dare I say, I think it's been forgotten. And so I took a dive into it. I first started with Stephen Jay Hirsch and Lucien Van der Waals' work in anarchism and syndicalism in the colonial and post-colonial world. In my research, I also found the work of Sam Dolkoff and Frank Fernandez, both of whom were apparently highly influential in the
Starting point is 00:04:27 scholarship, the historical research, and the present understanding of Cuban anarchism. It's thanks to their research that we know what we know, bringing all those different things together, all those different sources together. So here we go. Aquí vamos. Let's discuss the history of Cuban anarchism. And our story begins in the early 19th century. You know, the sun on colonial Cuba casting a long and heavy shadow across the vibrant streets of Havana. The gentle, salty breezes carried. I'm trying a new thing. I see a facial expression. I'm i like it i like it i'm trying to set the scene you know feel feel those salty breezes carrying the scent of tobacco and
Starting point is 00:05:12 coffee and sugar cane but let's not get too romantic you know this was a plantation society where african slaves remained in chains and toiled under the hot sun while many of their contemporaries gained their freedom and plantation owners navigated the web of politics and power. Cuba was among the last countries to abolish slavery and the Cuban aristocracy being uniquely loyal to the Spanish crown was primarily responsible for the persistence of that institution. You know They were dedicated to Spain long after much of Latin America had won their independence. And despite the aristocrats' loyalty, there were still whispers of liberation and revolution in corners of the city.
Starting point is 00:06:00 In 1857, just nearly two decades after the French radical, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon declared himself anarchist and a mutualist, the first Proudhonian mutualist society would be founded in Cuba, marking the early beginnings of the organized labor movement on the island. Lecturers or readings, places where political ideas would be read in cigar factories, became very widespread, considering the predominance of the tobacco industry. In the same year, the first strike threat would occur at a tobacco works in Havana, leading to successful negotiations for increased wages. In 1866, Havana-based artisans would establish the first evening school for workers, laying the foundation for worker-based education. Between 1868 and 1878, conflict would erupt into violence, as the Chica mill owner Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and his followers proclaimed independence, beginning the first of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain.
Starting point is 00:07:04 beginning the first of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain. The first uprising, led by wealthy planters, would be known as the Ten Years' War, and it would be followed by a second uprising, the Little War, from 1879 to 1880. And meanwhile, the Cuba's anarchist movement would look to establish another worker's school and a newspaper. These efforts were led by cigar makers Enrique Roig de San Martin and Enrique Meissonier in Havana. Roig San Martin founded the Centre for Instruction and Recreation. Its purpose was to defend worker organisations and distribute anarcho-collectivist literature from Spain. The doors of the Centre were open to all Cubans regardless of their social position, political leanings, or color differences.
Starting point is 00:07:47 Greg Santimantin also took the position of editor at the newspaper El Obrero, co-opted it from the Democratic Republicans and turned it into an explicitly anarchist newspaper. The anarchist and tobacco industry were pioneering the emerging labor struggle, bolstered by the transportation of anarchist periodicals from Spain to Cuba and the transmission of ideas by Spanish immigrant workers. The first regional centres, clinics, secular schools, mutual aid associations and free associations of tobacco workers, typographers, carpenters, day labourers and artisans were emerging thanks to the influence of Proudhon's ideas.
Starting point is 00:08:24 laborers and artisans were emerging thanks to the influence of Proudhon's ideas. While some in the labor movement were preaching reformism in collaboration with capitalist interests, the anarchists stood firm in their rejection of submission to defeat of capital. In 1885, the Junta Central de Artesanos was founded to unite Cuba's workers and federations. In the same year, Enrique Mezonier launched theírculo de Trabajadores, or Workers' Circle, which was focused on educational and cultural activities. The Workers' Circle became the largest labor organization in Cuba in the late 1880s. It hosted a secular school for 500 poor students to challenge Cuba's public and religious schools, for 500 poor students to challenge Cuba's public and religious schools, it held rallies for groups of workers, and it led anti-nationalist and anti-racist education efforts. Anarchists were
Starting point is 00:09:12 also challenging discrimination in labor and immigration policies. By 1886, Spain finally outlawed slavery, and the Cuban anarchists would attempt to welcome Afro-Cubans into the labour organisations. With mixed success, and we'll get to that soon. In 1887, Roderick San Martín launched El Productor, a weekly newspaper that would become a must-read for the working people of Cuba, and to coordinate its publication and the efforts of the various workers' groups, the workers founded the Alianza Obrera, or Workers' Alliance. With the founding of the various workers groups, the workers founded the Alianza Obrera or Workers' Alliance. With the founding of the alliance and the sponsorship of another organization, La Federación de Trabajadores de Cuba or FDC or Federation of Cuban Workers, the first Congreso Obrero de Cuba would be held in Havana. A majority of the members of the FDC were tobacco workers
Starting point is 00:10:02 but members of other trades also participated, like tailors and drivers and bakers and barrel makers and dock workers. So that's a lot of organizations in quick succession. So to summarize, we have the Center for Instruction and Recreation, the newspapers El Productor and El Obrero, the Junta Central de Artesanos, or Central Union of Artisans, el Circulo de Trabajadores, or Workers' Circle, la Alianza Obrera, or Workers' Alliance, and la Federación de Trabajadores de Cuba, or FDC, which held the first Congreso Obrero, or Workers' Congress, in Cuba. All these organized efforts would spark another strike.
Starting point is 00:10:44 Remember, the first threat, which did not lead to a strike, took place in 1865. But this time it was different. In July 1888, the tobacco workers called a strike at the Henry Clay Tobacco Factory in Havana. The Worker's Circle met and agreed to begin collecting donations to support the workers out in the streets and sent delegates to Key West in Florida to solicit aid from the tobacco workers there. The worker circle was very much involved in a lot of these things because they actually had a large headquarters that coordinated the offices of many workers associations in addition to the school I mentioned they founded. They had their fingers in a lot of the associations and solidarity efforts that were taking place. By 1889, they founded yet another school,
Starting point is 00:11:27 teaching over 100 men at night and 800 children during the day, and they began the establishment of new schools across the island. And also in 1889, those same tobacco workers in Key West called their own general strike, due to poor working conditions, low wages, and stark living conditions. And guess what? They stood in solidarity with the Cuban workers, and stark living conditions. And guess what? They stood in solidarity with the Cuban workers and the Cuban workers stood in solidarity with them. The Workers' Alliance also connected with workers' organizations in Florida and fostered the
Starting point is 00:11:55 solidarity between workers in Florida and Cuba. In addition to Key West, strikes would also break out in Tampa and Ybor City. Despite some violence and the expulsion of the strike leaders, the strike in Florida ended in early 1890 with a triumph for Florida's tobacco workers as the owners acceded to the demands for a pay increase. On May 1st, International Workers Day, over 3,000 workers marched through Havana and in in this time, the workers' circle was continuously expanding. But within this year also came tragedy, as in August, Enrique Roig San Martin died at the age of 46. And the last of the three conflicts against Spain would be the Cuban War of Independence, which raged from 1895 to 1898. Anarchists in Cuba, New York, and Spain debated support for Cuba's independence
Starting point is 00:12:47 struggle. But despite concerns, most anarchists did support independence, seeing it as an anti-colonial fight against Spanish imperialism and an opportunity to transform the island along anarchist principles. Figures like José García, Rafael Serra, and Adrian Del Valle promoted anarchist internationalism while also seeking Cuban national liberation. The final three months of that conflict escalated with U.S. involvement, becoming known as the Spanish-American War. And following Spain's defeat, the U.S. briefly occupied Cuba with the promise of greater autonomy in the future. Of course, we all know how that promise turned out. With repeated interventions came growing anarchist opposition. The US occupiers overhauled the Cuban
Starting point is 00:13:37 education system and introduced a new model influenced by American principles, emphasizing liberal arts, manual instruction, and civic education to republicanize the children of Cuba and promote democracy. In spite of some reforms, the Cuban education system still suffered corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and overcrowded classrooms. In 1899, just a year after independence, the Workers' Alliance organized a Mason's Strike, which extended into the construction trade and also led to several arrests and the overall repression of the anarchists. This is a persistent theme, of course. Yes, I mean, it's interesting how, like, in a lot of like the political stuff we learn about Cuba, it's more based on like the socialist and more communist struggles of the 20th century.
Starting point is 00:14:28 And I knew that there were like anarchists active before that and even during that time period as well. But there is a lot of this that seems to be not nearly as talked about or emphasized as the later, more socialist-leaning struggles that came. And you'll notice that, you know, in places where the Marxists won, basically any of the pre-Marxist victory history of anarchist involvement tends to be diminished or erased entirely you know yeah yeah like in literally every in every struggle all across the world where that's happened it's that does seem to be the case exactly exactly when i when i found this information my my mind was blown you know i had no idea all of this was going on. Yeah. The fact that from as early as Proudhon's lifetime,
Starting point is 00:15:26 there were anarchists in Cuba organizing associations. I mean, come on. Yeah, in like the 1850s. And it gets bigger. A lot more takes place. I haven't even really breached the 20th century yet. That's when things really kick off. Let's get to that after this message from our
Starting point is 00:15:45 sponsors. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins
Starting point is 00:16:22 you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, and we're kicking off our second season
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Starting point is 00:18:28 Don't miss out on the fun, el té caliente, and life stories. Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get into todo lo actual y viral. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, we are back. Let's return to Andrew's discussion of anarchism in Cuba. Yes. So also in 1899, some new anarchist projects dropped onto the scene. You know, you had the Liga General de Trabajadores, or General League of Workers,
Starting point is 00:19:14 which emerged with the backing of Messonnier and another anarchist, Ramón Rivero y Rivero. And you also had the publication Tierra, which was founded by anarchists Abelardo Saavedra and Francisco González Sola. And the publication El Nuevo Ideal was also founded, but it only lasted a couple years. Notably, it loudly opposed the U.S.'s plans for annexing Cuba and the introduction of the Platt Amendment to the Cuban Constitution, which would provide pretense for U.S. intervention in the future. The Platt Amendment was really that point in the Cuban Constitution that would justify U.S. invasion and involvement for years to come. Here's a little Easter egg, a little fun fact, a little cameo. In fact, you could call him a running cameo for the anarchists worldwide. A familiar face because he showed up in havana in this year and he also showed up in egypt during their anarchist struggle for those who'd remember
Starting point is 00:20:10 that episode any ideas who trying to try to think of this time period who at this point at this point you could call him mr worldwide the anarchist mr worldwide yeah i I don't think so. I think I would only make a fool of myself. Yeah, the one and only Errico Malatesta arrives in Cuba. Oh, okay. That makes sense. That makes sense, actually. Yeah, Mr. Will White.
Starting point is 00:20:38 Of course, it didn't take long before he was barred from speaking in public and he very quickly had to leave Cuba. But he was there, he did show up. And then we reach the turn of the century. Just after the turn of the century, on May 20th, 1902, the First Republic of Cuba was inaugurated with the recognition of the US. But despite the severe opposition, the US retained influence over Cuba with that Platt Amendment. With independence, many Cubans aspired to build a more egalitarian nation. The Cuban anarchists continued to struggle even as they were becoming disillusioned by the continued prioritization of individual profits over society well-being, the repression of labor, and the terrible educational systems. the repression of labor, and the terrible educational systems.
Starting point is 00:21:30 They had their first truly general strike in 1902, known as the Apprentice Strike, but it was suppressed and failed. And with its failure, leading figures in the Liga General de Trabajadores, like Mezonier and Rivero y Rivero, retired from the labor struggle. A year later, in 1903, Anarchists organized in the sugar industry, which was met with a violent response from the owners, including the murder of two prominent anarchist figures, Casanas and Montero. The year before the U.S. recognition of Cuban independence in 1901, just across the pond in Spain, Francisco Ferrer had founded his first modern school. Ferrer is an icon in the sphere of anarchist education for his pioneering efforts.
Starting point is 00:22:11 As anarchists in Cuba were condemning public schools for their condition, pedagogy, patriotic indoctrination, and lack of critical thinking, they were inspired by the alternative education rooted in rationalism and free inquiry that was introduced by Ferrer. by the alternative education rooted in rationalism and free inquiry that was introduced by Ferrer. At this point, is there like a decent bit of communication between the anarchists in Spain and the anarchists in Cuba? Because all the stuff you've been mentioning sounds very reminiscent of some of the anarcho-syndicalist models that would grow to more prominence in Spain in the coming decades. Oh yeah, for sure. And this feels very very similar there was a very large spanish immigrant community in cuba at the time of spanish workers and that would actually end up biting the anarchist movement in the butt later on and you know you'll see how okay yeah there was a lot of there was a lot of
Starting point is 00:22:59 cross-pollination between the spanish anarchists and the cub anarchists. That makes sense. In many cases, they were both Spanish and Cuban. Sure. And so when Ferrer pops out with this school in Barcelona and in other places in Spain, I mean, the Cuban anarchists had already been organized in education before, as their program had always sought to raise consciousness and prepare for social revolution. But Ferrer offered that extra dose of inspiration.
Starting point is 00:23:24 You know, his modern schools introduced things like free play and individual liberty and really inspired the founding of educational experiments across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 1905 Jovino Villar opened Verdad, a co-educational primary and secondary school in Havana following Ferrer's principles of free inquiry and individual liberty. In 1906, the CES school was established in Regla, embracing the advanced pedagogical methods of the Spanish anarchist schools. And that very same year, 1906,
Starting point is 00:23:56 the U.S. intervened in Cuba again. You know, they couldn't even let a decade go by of independence before they say, nah, we're stepping in. You know, so of course, in response nah we're stepping in you know so of course in response strikes break out in havana sego de avila and santiago de cuba anyway so that's going on and anarchists are also organizing speaking tours in 1908 anarchists formed the group education del porvenir or education of the future inla, which sought to establish modern schools across
Starting point is 00:24:25 the island. The Liga General de Trabajadores also got involved in the group's efforts. Unfortunately, internal conflicts and financial difficulties undermined the initial wave of schools in this time. Meanwhile, private school options, particularly of the religious variety, particularly of the religious variety were proliferating across Cuba. Eventually in 1909 Ferrer was arrested and executed by Spanish authorities which actually triggered a protest in Cuba and also triggered resistance elsewhere in the world that would simultaneously seek to advocate his ideas further and of course to honor his memory. Turning now into the 1910s, it was a very eventful period, let's just say. You know, the Mexican Revolution was occurring, which inspired Cuba's workers and peasants. The Mexican Revolution was occurring, and that inspired Cuba's workers and peasants.
Starting point is 00:25:19 There was actually, just as there was cross-pollination between Spanish anarchists and Cuban anarchists, there was cross-pollination between Spanish anarchists and Cuban anarchists, there was cross-pollination between Cuban anarchists and Mexican anarchists. You know, anarchist Ricardo Flores Magón, a titanic figure in the Mexican revolution, actually had a stand in the relationship with the Cuban paper Tierra, as the paper was critical of the Mexican dictator at the time, Porfirio Diaz. So while the guns of the revolutionary Emiliano Zapata were firing in Mexico, tobacco workers, teamsters, and bakers were striking in Cuba. In 1912, a congress was formed in Cruces with the aim to create an island-wide labor federation. But another significant event occurred in 1912.
Starting point is 00:26:05 All this time, Afro-Cubans were playing significant roles in the island's labor movements, particularly through strikes such as the 1899 Mason Strike and the sugar workers' struggles. Despite this, they were dealing with a lot of political and cultural persecution and faced high illiteracy rates, job discrimination, and disenfranchisement due to literacy and property requirements for voting. Naturally, Afro-Cubans wanted to fight against this, so they formed their own political party, the Independent Party of Colour, or PIC, and the government quickly outlawed it, which triggered several violent attacks on PIC supporter meetings
Starting point is 00:26:45 throughout 1912. It was essentially a race riot, and it killed as many as 6,000 Afro-Cubans, and resulted in another 900 thrown in jail and charged with rebellion. And in this time, the anarchist response was weaker than it could have been. Writers like Adrian Del Valle and Eugenio Leante pressed the importance of education and the good upbringing of children to root out the racist attitudes that led to the massacre. Writers like Adrian Del Valle and Eugenio Leante pressed the importance of education and the importance of a good upbringing of children to root out the racial attitudes, the racist attitudes that led to the massacre, as those attitudes were still present a mere generation after abolition. The anarchists were, as would be consistent with their principles, critical of the PIC's political approach of bourgeois elections, but they did admire Afro-Cuban culture and recognize their contributions to workers' liberation movements. But as far as I can tell, they didn't do much else beyond education to combat racist attitudes, likely feeling powerless to prevent the violence of 1912 due to their own repression by the state and of course it isn't a binary of afro-cubans and anarchists as there were afro-cubans in the
Starting point is 00:28:12 anarchist movement including prominent figures like rafael serra who remained active into the 1940s the printer pablo guerra and margarito igias, who was the Black anarchist leader of the Manufacturers' Union in the 1920s. Still, despite this overlap, the anarchists still couldn't shake their perception as whites and foreigners. Which is still a dynamic at play today with anarchists, as people often frame anarchists all as like white teenagers i guess and will often discount the presence of black anarchists and other anarchists or people of color yeah i'm a bit at a loss as to what i could say like from this armchair position that they could have done differently in 1912 sure they definitely could have stepped up and tried worked more to defend uh those communities and to stand with those
Starting point is 00:29:11 communities in solidarity but at the same time you know i wasn't there in 1912 so i'm not sure what how things played out but i do think that while their heart is in the right place with education to root out racist attitudes you know consciousness raising is one thing but you really do have to you know put yourself on the line when it comes to defending marginalized groups especially if you're coming from a position of relative privilege being white or being Spanish in recently post-colonial Cuba, barely even post-colonial Cuba.
Starting point is 00:29:52 Yeah, I mean I'm in the same position as you here or even further possessing an inability to try to critique from the 21st century. But do you know what I do feel comfortable in calling? Is this next ad break.
Starting point is 00:30:14 Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you
Starting point is 00:30:45 feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hola mi gente, it's Honey German, and I'm bringing you Gracias, Come Again, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of Latin culture, musica, peliculas, and entertainment with some of the biggest names in the game. If you love hearing real conversations
Starting point is 00:31:27 with your favorite Latin celebrities, artists, and culture shifters, this is the podcast for you. We're talking real conversations with our Latin stars, from actors and artists to musicians and creators sharing their stories, struggles, and successes. You know it's going to be filled with chisme laughs and all the vibes that you love.
Starting point is 00:31:44 Each week, we'll explore everything from music and pop culture to deeper topics like identity, community, and breaking down barriers in all sorts of industries. Don't miss out on the fun, el té caliente, and life stories. Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German,
Starting point is 00:32:00 where we get into todo lo actual y viral. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. ground for billionaires. From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, better offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech from an industry veteran with nothing to lose. This season, I'm going to be joined by everyone from Nobel winning economists to leading journalists in the field. And I'll be digging into why the products you love keep getting worse and naming and shaming those responsible. Don't get me wrong, though. I love technology. I just hate the people in charge and want them to get back to building things that
Starting point is 00:32:49 actually do things to help real people. I swear to God things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make things better. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com. Alright, we are back. Let's return to our discussion of anarchism in Cuba in the 1910s. So in 1913, as we're speaking of the repression of the anarchist movement, the third president of Cuba would step up.
Starting point is 00:33:29 That is General Mario Garcia Menocal. And during his reign, the government would ramp up the repression of the anarchists with the passing of anti-anarchist laws and the closure of anarchist organizations. of anti-anarchist laws and the closure of anarchist organizations. There were crackdowns against the radical activities from 1914 on and the suspension of the Tierra publication and the deportation of many anarchists. Of course, in spite of the repression, the anarchist movement began to recover by 1917, with the Centro Obrero or Worker's Center being established in Havana, leading to a resurgence of anarchist education and organized activity. Between 1918 and 1919, four general strikes would break out in Havana, and the US sent a flotilla in response to the
Starting point is 00:34:17 disorder. The government suspended constitutional guarantees, deported even more anarchists, and closed the Centro Obrero. Around this time, you also had the anarcho-naturists, which I really didn't know where to fit into all of this, so I'll just put them here to give you a reprieve from the repression. Anarcho-naturists. Yeah, yeah. So take this as like a breath of fresh air from all of the repression against anarchists by the state. You had the anarcho-naturists.
Starting point is 00:34:45 That's what I haven't heard before. Are these like old-timey green anarchists i guess no okay i'll actually be the judge of that i'll actually be the judge of that it's like actual like naturist philosophy yes ah oh weird yes the naturist movement was developed in europe and north america during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And it focused on alternative personal health and lifestyle practices, such as adopting vegetarianism, exercise, nudism, and small village life to combat the effects of industrial mass society. Okay. So there is like little tidbits of like anarcho of like what would become anarcho-primitivism in here but it's definitely not like a one-to-one overlap yeah
Starting point is 00:35:32 yeah especially not in cuba you know in cuba the anarchists aimed to shift the naturist movement's focus away from primarily individual health concerns to an emphasis on social emancipatory themes. So by 1910 you had lectures on the Turismo and although it didn't have the broader emancipatory dimensions initially later in the decade the movement would gain some momentum and the naturist association would expand to establish branches across Cuba and even Tampa, Florida. Huh, okay. Now, anarcho-naturism in Cuba wasn't too big on the nudism aspect of the naturism, but they did emphasize the vegetarian self-sufficiency against the reliance on capitalism
Starting point is 00:36:19 and sought to learn and teach alternative medicine to help people deal with the health problems brought about by factory and field work and toxic living conditions. I know the Anacronatris actually lasted well into the 1950s, so good for them. But let's get back into the timeline. If you know anything about history, you know what significant event takes place in Russia in 1917. The Russian Revolution would reverberate across the landscape of workers' struggles for decades to come. In the next episode, we'll see how the Bolsheviks' rise would shape the anarchist movement in Cuba leading up to the rise of Castro, as well as how anarchists have endured since then. Until then, I'm It Could Happen Here, and this is Andrew Issam.
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