Breaking the Cycle of History: The Inherent Benefits of Improving U.S. Relations with Cuba

Abstract

In January of 2016, my airplane touched-down at Jose Marti International Airport—just outside of Havana, Cuba. As I exited the aircraft and walked across the tarmac, I was struck with the realization that I had entered an environment of which I had no understanding. Throughout my six days on the island, through my interactions with artists, academics and everyday Cubans, this sentiment was reinforced and amplified. I was captivated. I had never been to a place that so stimulated and challenged my perceptions of the world. Of course, as a citizen of the United States, a significant aspect of my experience revolved around Cuba’s relationship with my own country and the intimate history the two have shared over the years. It is a history full of complexity and contradiction, and I struggled to comprehend its many nuances.