The Color Purple Revolutionary

I posted a snarky entry on Alice Walker and her appearance at the Havana International Book fair a few days ago. The linked article in the original post states that it was her third time in Havana for the fair and this year she was debuting her new book.

From the outside it shines an light of openness in Cuba; an African-American novelists known for her works on the oppression of blacks and women in the United States traveling to a country that was once closed to all Americans. From the inside, it's a whole different story:

HAVANA, March 2 (Moisés Leonardo Rodríguez) - An official of the Association for the Promotion and Development of Literature barred independent journalist Adela Soto from a literary presentation at the Central Library in Pinar del Río February 22, telling her the event was "only for Revolutionaries."

Soto said she had just approached the glass doors of the library to greet an acquaintance and had no intention of participating in the event which was held in connection with the International Book Fair in the city.

Soto said she had not been surprised by the officials attitude, calling it "nothing new." She said whenever she or other dissidents submit work to be considered for prizes or other cultural events they are customarily disregarded.

In years past, when Soto worked for the government, she received several awards.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people fall for the charms of Fidel's revolutionary rhetoric. How can Ms. Walker, in good conscience, glorify a country with a human rights record like Cuba's? Why is it that some people will revere Castro and his revolution simply because it is anti-American?

Posted by Val Prieto at March 4, 2004 07:37 AM