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Resilient Threads: Palestinian Solidarity and Diasporic Memory in Cuba's Arab Community
Abstract
This paper explores the resilience of Palestinian solidarity within the Cuban Arab diaspora, contextualized within the panel theme of "Reclaiming Identity and Indigeneity: Forms of Resistance in Post-Genocidal Contexts." Founded in 1979 by individuals of Palestinian descent, the Cuban Arab Union (UAC) stands as a pivotal institution for Cuba's Arab community. Through a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing interviews with UAC founders, analysis of the Union's website and magazine "The Arab" (El Árabe) from the 1990s during Cuba’s “special period,” and interpretation of posters featuring Palestine by the Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa, and Latin America (OSPAAL), this study illuminates how solidarity functions as a conduit for memory and resistance in overseas migration and diaspora contexts. By examining Cuba's steadfast rejection of the 1947 partition of Palestine on anti-colonial grounds, this paper underscores solidarity as a strategic tool for preserving cultural identity and advocating for territorial integrity, especially during periods of duress. Through this lens, it unravels the complex interplay of identity, solidarity, and belonging within the Cuban Arab community, shedding light on its enduring commitment to the Palestinian cause amidst evolving socio-political landscapes threatening both the host and origin countries. This inquiry contributes to broader discussions on reclaiming identity and indigeneity in post-genocidal contexts, highlighting the transformative power of solidarity as a form of resistance and remembrance across oceans and generations.
Discipline
History
Geographic Area
Central Asia
Palestine
Sub Area
None