Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

HAITI ON HIS MIND: ANTONIO MACEO AND CARIBBEANNESS

2005; University of Puerto Rico; Volume: 33; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

1940-9095

Philippe Zacaïr,

Caribbean history, culture, and politics

The Afro-Cuban Antonio Maceo was one of the leading figures of Cuba's independence movement, but historians have mis understood his relationship with Haiti and vision of a united Caribbean people. Maceo's struggle against Spanish colonialism was closely associated to the ideal of Caribbeanness. His vision of Caribbeanness proceeded from the definition of his relation ship with the neighboring of Haiti. Maceo claimed Haitian history and heritage of liberty and resistance as his own, beside overwhelming depiction of the Republic by the defenders of colonialism as the antithesis of civilization. He called for the birth Caribbean political entity including Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, while opposing the concept of a Black republic as undemocratic. He established complex relationships, and more extensive than previously thought, with many protagonists of Haitian politics. He envisioned the union of Cuba and Haiti as the source and guarantee of freedom, social justice and independence.