About the Book
A Promising Reality: Reflections on Race, Gender, and Culture in Cuba is a compilation of the reflections of a group of chief diversity officers, faculty, and educators from the United States about Cuba. As part of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education delegation to Cuba in July, 2015, A Promising Reality represents a collection of voices, experiences, and perspectives about issues of race, gender, cultural identity, and the African experience in Cuba. Key themes explored include Cuban culture, the Cuban Revolution, politics, economics, education, equity, and social change. Utilizing narrative inquiry, some of the reflections are comparative with the United States, and some reflections focus exclusively on Cuba. The book takes readers on a journey of thought-provoking stories that reflect the excitement, uncertainty, complexity, and promising possibilities on the cusp of changing diplomatic, political, economic, and social relationships between the United States and Cuba. A Promising Reality seeks to broaden the perspectives of its readers regarding US-Cuban relations. This book is ideal for courses on international relations, international studies, international affairs, comparative cultures, political science, education, politics, sociology, history, race, gender, and social justice. It is a must-read for anyone traveling to Cuba as part of study-abroad, professional development, or personal adventure.
Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations – Benjamin D. Reese, Jr.: Foreword – Venessa Ann Brown/Menah Pratt-Clarke: Acknowledgments – Venessa Ann Brown/Menah Pratt-Clarke: Introduction – Venessa Ann Brown/Sarah Walker-Leard: An Overview of Race, Class, and Culture in Cuba – Archie W. Ervin: International Cultural Exchanges as Professional Development Opportunities for Diversity Professionals – Venessa Ann Brown: Cuba and Connections to Childhood – Menah Pratt-Clarke: Transformation, Empowerment, and the Cuban Revolution: Reflections on Gender, Race, and Culture – Howard J. Ross: Two Sides to Every Story: Lessons in Life from Cuba – Diana Ariza: Two Wings of the Same Bird: Reflections of a Puerto Rican in Cuba – Na’im Madyun: Finding Home in Cuba – Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh: Missing in Plain Sight: The Complicated Story of Race in Cuba Today – Yvette M. Alex-Assensoh: Missing in Plain Sight: The Complicated Story of Race in Cuba Today – Christine Clark: Dear Ché – Sadie Burton-Goss: The New Cuba: Factors Supporting the Cultivation of Resilience – Menah Pratt-Clarke/Venessa Ann Brown: A Promising Reality – Jorge-Felix Morfa: Postscript: A Story of Resilience (How I Came to the USA) – Contributors.
About the Author :
Venessa A. Brown received her PhD from Clark Atlanta University. She is Associate Chancellor for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion; Chief Diversity Officer; and Professor of Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Menah Pratt-Clarke received her PhD and her JD from Vanderbilt University. She is Vice President for Strategic Affairs; Vice Provost for Inclusion and Diversity; and Professor of Education at Virginia Tech.
Review :
"This book is an exciting and thought provoking set of reflections on Cuba, stimulated by a visit by US higher education chief diversity officers and faculty. Crisp analyses and deeply moving personal reflections make this a must-read and an important addition to personal and university libraries. A first of its kind on the current state of the island of Cuba, its complex relationship with the United States, and what we might expect in the coming years, as US-Cuban relations continue to shift."--Benjamin D. Reese, Jr., Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Duke University/Duke University Health System
"This book summarizes the reflections of a group of university chief diversity officers and other educators on current issues in Cuba. Issues of race, gender, cultural identity, and the African experience in Cuba are explored and discussed from a number of interesting perspectives. Given the rapidly changing economic, political, and social relationships between the United States and Cuba, this book is highly recommended for college and university courses on international studies, international affairs, political science and sociology. Faculty and administrators seeking to develop educational programs with Cuba, or partnerships with Cuban universities or organizations, will find this book to be a valuable resource."--Julie Furst-Bowe, Former Chancellor, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; Vice President of Instruction, Chippewa Valley Technical College
