Abraham Jiménez Enoa, a 33-year-old writer and journalist, recently visited MiamiS vibrant Cuban community, a place that evokes a complex mix of familiarity and stark contrast for teh exiled writer. Standing amidst the bustling Palacio de los Jugos de Hialeah, Enoa is transported back to the markets of his native Cuba. The arrangement of mangoes, the lilting accents, and the lively atmosphere stir memories of home.
However, the image is quickly shattered by the imposing Ford Rangers parked outside, a stark reminder that this is not Havana, but Miami. “Leaving Cuba is a reality check with the world,” Enoa tells BBC Mundo during his visit to the Miami book Fair, where he presented his latest book, “Land in the World” (Ed. KO Books).
This marks Enoa’s first visit to Miami, the primary destination for Cuban exiles in the United States. As the co-founder of the self-reliant media outlet “The Sneeze” and recipient of the Michael Jacobs scholarship from the Gabo Foundation, Enoa has lived in Spain since leaving Cuba. For him,Miami represents ”the Cuba of the future,” but a future marred by “atrocious capitalism.”
Enoa, a vocal critic of Fidel Castro’s legacy while also identifying as “anti-capitalist,” offers a nuanced perspective on Cuba, avoiding simplistic narratives. “Everything that the revolution once achieved in Cuba was lost. It no longer exists, only the ashes remain,” he says after presenting his documentary “Family Island” in New York. The film provides an intimate and poignant portrayal of his emotional departure from Havana.
The Departure from Cuba
Table of Contents
Enoa’s journey from Cuba to Miami is a story of exile, adaptation, and a search for identity. His experiences highlight the complexities of Cuban-American relations and the enduring impact of the island’s history on its diaspora.
In late 2021, Cuban journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa received a chilling phone call. “Passport, you’re leaving, passport, family, passport, jail, ASAP, consequences, passport, family, passport, jail,” the voice on the other end repeated urgently. “It was an ultimatum,” Enoa recalls, “they wanted me off the island.”
Enoa believes the call originated from Cuba’s State security agents,a shadowy organization known as the island’s “political police.” According to official Cuban media, State Security was established in 1959 to “confront and penetrate counterrevolutionary organizations.”
The final words before the caller hung up were a chilling taunt: ”Aren’t you going to say thank you?” Enoa was left feeling bewildered and trapped. His passport had been confiscated by the Ministry of the Interior over five years prior,leaving him in legal limbo. Leaving Cuba wasn’t a choice; it was a command.
“I didn’t choose to leave. I had to leave. It was prison or exile,” Enoa says, reflecting on a period when he felt “suffocated” and “absolutely broken” after enduring repeated police intimidation for his journalistic work.
enoa’s story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by journalists and dissidents in Cuba,where freedom of expression remains severely restricted. His forced exile serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which the Cuban goverment will go to silence dissenting voices.
Cuban journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa fled his homeland in early 2022, seeking refuge from a suffocating surroundings of repression and fear. His decision to leave came after a harrowing experience with Cuban authorities that pushed him to the brink.
During his final interrogation,five unidentified security agents,wearing black plastic gloves,took him to a desolate room. They ordered him to undress, handcuffed him facing the wall, and subjected him to a humiliating physical examination. “I thought they were going to rape me. It was the greatest humiliation of my life,” he recalls, his voice heavy with the memory.
After the invasive search, they forced him into a car, disorienting him with a dizzying series of turns. He was then taken to Villa Marisa, the notorious headquarters of State Security, where he endured 11 hours of relentless questioning.
This ordeal was not his first encounter with Cuban authorities.In 2017, plainclothes police had subjected him to relentless harassment and threats, attempting to coerce him into silence. “They told me that I was a United States government agent,” he remembers, adding that they pressured him to sign a document renouncing his writing for international publications.
In response to this intimidation, Jiménez Enoa penned a powerful article for The Washington Post, titled “If this is my last column here it is because I have been detained in Cuba.” Published the following day, it served as a chilling testament to the oppressive climate he faced.
The relentless pressure and psychological toll took their toll. “I no longer functioned there. I was broke. My mental health was destroyed and I couldn’t continue doing journalism. I had to go,” he said, reflecting on his decision to leave.
Falling into the World
Upon arriving in Spain with his wife Claudia and son Theo, Jiménez Enoa was overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of choices and stimuli. The diversity of products, the constant barrage of commercial messages, and the visual overload were a stark contrast to the controlled environment he had left behind.
His story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices journalists make in the pursuit of truth and the lengths to which authoritarian regimes will go to silence dissenting voices.
For Cuban writer Abraham, leaving his homeland was akin to stepping onto another planet. In his new book, ”Landing in the World,” he chronicles the stark contrast between life in Cuba and the realities he encountered abroad.
Abraham’s initial shock upon arriving in Barcelona was profound. “At that time, he discovered that even the smallest market in Barcelona had a better commercial offer than the largest in Havana and that the only advertising he knew was that of the Revolution,” he writes. This jarring experience,he believes,is often downplayed by Cubans due to a sense of “shame” about their country’s relative isolation.
Three years later, the initial surprise has faded, but the realization of Cuba’s unique position in the world remains. “Leaving Cuba is often compared to leaving nicaragua or Venezuela, but they are not the same. Leaving Cuba is falling into the world. The reality check is very different. Cuba is like living in another galaxy,” Abraham explains.
abraham, however, resists romanticizing his experience abroad. When asked about the feeling of “living in freedom,” he responds with a wry smile, “When I hear those types of expressions I feel the same as if Fidel Castro were talking to me. In ‘freedom’ not a day goes by that doesn’t have an incident of racism.”
His book,”Landing in the World,” offers a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of emigration from cuba,challenging simplistic narratives and inviting readers to confront the realities of life beyond the island.
“Landing in the World” was published in March 2024 by The KO Books.
Abraham, a Cuban journalist, has spent years navigating the complexities of his identity, both within Cuba and abroad. His journey has been marked by a gradual awakening to the realities of the Cuban Revolution, a process that began with the romanticized narratives of his childhood and culminated in a more nuanced understanding thru his work as a journalist.
Growing up in a household steeped in revolutionary fervor, Abraham was surrounded by images of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. His paternal grandfather,a former bodyguard to both leaders,instilled in him a sense of pride in the revolution. “Revolutionary. Afterwards, whatever he wants,” his grandfather declared when young Abraham was asked about his aspirations.
Though, Abraham’s perspective began to shift as he delved deeper into journalism. “I discovered who Castro was and what this entelechy called the Cuban Revolution was much later.It was a process. I opened my eyes little by little,” he reflects in his book.
Abraham’s experiences abroad have further elaborate his understanding of cuba’s place in the world. While he has found relief from some of the island’s challenges, such as authoritarianism and hunger, he has also encountered new forms of prejudice, including xenophobia and racism. “In Barcelona it is not unusual to hear a Catalan insult a Cuban in a bar, while in Havana a soldier may return his criticism of Castroism with racism,” he observes.
“What would have happened to you and your people (the blacks) without the revolution?” one Cuban Interior Ministry authority even challenged him.
“But how many blacks have you seen in the front row of the revolution?” Abraham counters, highlighting the contradictions within the revolution’s narrative.
Own Look
Abraham’s journey is a testament to the complexities of identity and the ongoing struggle to reconcile personal experiences with larger historical narratives. His story offers a unique perspective on cuba, its revolution, and the enduring legacy of its leaders.
Abraham, a Cuban writer and the grandson of a prominent revolutionary figure, has found himself navigating a complex and often isolating path. Despite his family’s legacy,Abraham’s outspoken criticism of the Castro regime has branded him a “black sheep” within his own circle.
“He became a kind of ‘political stinker’ within your closest circle,” a source close to the family revealed. This dissent has led to a painful rift,with many relatives distancing themselves. “It was like a civil death,” Abraham lamented.
For Abraham, and many other Cuban intellectuals, artists, and thinkers, navigating this space between left-wing ideals and criticism of the Cuban government is a delicate balancing act. “It’s okay to be uncomfortable because if I bother both sides it’s because I’m in the right place,” he asserts.
“Anyway, it makes me sad, because anger is nothing more than a sign of intolerance,” he adds, reflecting on the emotional toll of his position.
Abraham’s story highlights the complexities faced by those who dare to question authority, even within families deeply intertwined with a nation’s history. His experience underscores the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression and the personal sacrifices often demanded in the pursuit of truth.
Abraham Jiménez Enoa, a Cuban journalist who fled his homeland in 2021, reflects on the stark contrast between the promises of the Cuban Revolution and the reality he witnessed firsthand. “For me,everything that the revolution achieved was lost over time,” he says,lamenting the lack of teachers in schools,doctors in hospitals,and the exodus of the nation’s best athletes.
Jiménez Enoa, now residing in Miami, believes the revolution has strayed far from its original ideals. “It was a revolution that went wrong along the way. It no longer exists, only the ashes remain,” he asserts, cautioning leftist movements in Latin America and Europe against “continuing to romanticize something that no longer exists.”
Observing his young son enjoying the abundance of toys in Miami, Jiménez Enoa reflects on the stark contrast with the ”Cuban famine” he left behind. “It is indeed difficult for us Cubans who left the Cuban famine not to jump into the pool of unbridled consumption,” he admits.
However, the most profound sorrow for Jiménez Enoa lies in the silencing of dissenting voices in Cuba, particularly after the 2021 protests. “We are all in exile. And those who are not are in prison,” he declares, highlighting the dire situation for those who dare to speak out against the regime.
Jiménez Enoa’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of revolutions and the enduring struggle for freedom and expression. His experience underscores the importance of vigilance in safeguarding democratic values and the right to dissent.
The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where ongoing conflict has displaced millions and pushed the nation to the brink of catastrophe.
“The situation in Sudan is spiraling out of control,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “We are facing a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.”
Since fighting erupted in mid-April between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, over 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge within Sudan or crossing borders into neighboring countries. The conflict has crippled essential services,leaving millions without access to food,water,healthcare,and other basic necessities.
“the scale of the displacement is staggering,” Griffiths added. “We are seeing entire communities uprooted, families torn apart, and lives shattered by violence.”
The UN is calling for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those in desperate need. the organization has appealed for $2.6 billion to support its humanitarian response in Sudan, but funding remains critically short.
“The international community must act now to prevent a full-blown famine and avert further suffering,” Griffiths urged. “The people of Sudan deserve our support and solidarity in this time of crisis.”
This appears to be an excerpt from a longer article or book review about a memoir called “Landing in teh World” by Abraham Jiménez Enoa. Here’s a breakdown of the key points and themes:
**About the Book and Author:**
* **”Landing in the World”:** A memoir published in March 2024 by The KO Books.
* **Abraham Jiménez Enoa:**
* A Cuban journalist who fled Cuba in 2021.
* Grandson of a former bodyguard to Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
* Experienced a complex and isolating journey due to his criticism of the Cuban government.
**Key Themes Explored:**
* **Complexity of Cuban Identity:** The memoir delves into the multifaceted nature of being Cuban,particularly for someone whose family history is intertwined with the Cuban Revolution.
* **Evolution of Outlook:** Abraham’s understanding of the Cuban Revolution shifted over time, moving from romanticized narratives in his childhood to a more critical perspective shaped by his journalistic work.
* **Dissent and Personal Cost:** Abraham’s outspoken criticism of the Castro regime led to a rift within his family, highlighting the price of dissent in Cuba.
* **Contradictions of the Revolution:** The memoir challenges the idealized image of the Cuban Revolution, exposing contradictions and the stark realities faced by ordinary Cubans.
* **The ”Black Sheep” Experience:** Abraham’s criticism of the regime isolated him within his own family circle, leaving him feeling like an outsider.
**Looking Beyond Cuba:**
* The memoir also explores Abraham’s experiences abroad, particularly in Barcelona, where he encountered new forms of prejudice despite finding relief from some of Cuba’s challenges.
**Overall Tone:** The excerpt suggests a powerful and insightful memoir that offers a nuanced perspective on Cuba, its history, and the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression.
**What’s Missing**
Without reading the full memoir, it’s impractical to fully evaluate its arguments and conclusions.
The excerpt focuses heavily on Abraham’s personal experiences and his critical perspective on the Cuban Revolution. It would be engaging to learn more about the solutions or hopes he presents in “Landing in the World” for Cuba’s future.
