Portraits of Cuba

Book excerpt: Scenes from Havana to Santiago Through an abundance of dynamic photographs, Portraits of Cuba depicts the experiences of Cubans of different ages and walks of life who are navigating the challenges and changes transforming the island today. From the vintage colonial architecture and potholed streets of Havana to the farms and winding highways of the countryside, images by documentary photographer Daniel Duncan capture daily life across the nation. Expert commentary by Marcela Vásquez-León and Dereka Rushbrook describes the history of el bloqueo, the economic embargo imposed by the U.S. government in 1960. The book also features selections from interviews with Cubans who highlight how the island residents continue to invent, adapt, and persevere in the face of this and other complicated circumstances. Duncan's photographs represent many aspects of the arts, religion, politics, public messaging, agriculture, and the economy in contemporary Cuba. Despite issues such as limited natural resources, dependence on imports, climate change and rising sea levels, and the departure of many of its young people, the island has emerged as an innovative player in addressing today's global problems. The authors note how the advances made by Cuba's sustainable farmers, scientists, medical teams, and literacy campaigns are models throughout the developing world. Portraits of Cuba celebrates the ingenuity, solidarity, and deep-rooted resilience of the Cuban people, illustrating how they are creating their own form of democracy in the long shadow of the 1959 Cuban Revolution and the 60-year blockade.