Challenging the Raceless Nation: The Afro-Cuban Press and Racial Resistance in Mid-20th-Century Cuba

In mid-20th century Cuba, the Afro-Cuban press emerged as a critical counterpublic that challenged the myth of racial harmony promoted by political elites. Through publications such as Nuevos Rumbos, Somos, and Amanecer, Afro-Cuban journalists created spaces to critique systemic racial inequalities while also debating the best strategies for racial advancement. These journalists not only contested the opinions of white-dominated publications on race issues but also engaged in internal debates that reflected divergent ideologies and visions for their community’s future.

Figures like Gustavo E. Urrutia championed integrationist ideals, arguing for equality within existing societal structures, while others, such as Antolín Pujadas, advocated for racial autonomy and systemic transformation through socialist and independent platforms. This ideological richness, while vibrant, also fragmented the Afro-Cuban press and its resources. Competing priorities and visions hindered the establishment of a unified daily or weekly publication that could have amplified Afro-Cuban voices to a national audience. By contrast, Havana’s Chinese-language dailies and the robust Black press in the United States demonstrated how cohesion and pooled resources could sustain regular publications.In addition to its ideological diversity, the Afro-Cuban press addressed labor reform and economic justice, critiquing exploitative practices such as the use of Afro-Cuban boys as street vendors. These efforts connected labor rights to racial equity, bridging socioeconomic justice with the broader struggle for inclusion.

This paper highlights how the Afro-Cuban press, despite its fragmentation, served as a dynamic site for debate and resistance, revealing the complexities of race, media, and identity in mid-century Cuba. By emphasizing both its richness and limitations, this research underscores how Black journalists navigated systemic exclusion while reshaping narratives of citizenship and belonging.