“Even in the United States, the enslavement of African descendants continued until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. That brutal form of slavery was abolished there hardly thirty years before it was abolished in Cuba.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“Even in the United States, the enslavement of African descendants continued until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. That brutal form of slavery was abolished there hardly thirty years before it was abolished in Cuba.”
Explanation
This quote draws a direct comparison between the timelines of slavery’s abolition in the United States and Cuba, highlighting that neither nation is far removed from the legacy of brutal oppression. By stating that slavery in the U.S. persisted “until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln,” Fidel Castro underscores a historical truth: the world’s most prominent democracy was also deeply complicit in human enslavement. He then adds that Cuba abolished slavery only “hardly thirty years” later, positioning Cuba not as uniquely backward but as part of a broader global pattern of delayed emancipation.
This reflection aligns with Castro’s frequent critique of U.S. policies and his effort to undermine American moral authority, especially when it came to issues of human rights and race. By pointing out the shared legacy of slavery, Castro reframes Cuba’s own history within a larger, transnational context, potentially to deflect singular blame and emphasize how systemic and widespread the injustices of slavery were. It is both a historical observation and a political argument.
In the modern context, the quote encourages a nuanced view of national histories, especially regarding race and inequality. It reminds us that the scars of slavery are not confined to one country, and that acknowledging and studying these timelines is essential to understanding present inequalities. Castro’s framing also serves as a caution against selective moral superiority in international discourse, pointing to the shared complicity and responsibility in humanity’s darker chapters.
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