Vol. 78/No. 23      June 16, 2014

Below is an excerpt from To Speak the Truth: Why Washington’s ‘Cold War’ Against Cuba Doesn’t End, one of Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for June. It contains speeches by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara before the United Nations. The excerpt, from the book’s appendix, describes the meeting between Castro and Malcolm X in Harlem on Sept. 19, 1960, at the Hotel Theresa, where they had moved after a Midtown hotel insulted the Cuban U.N. delegation by insisting on a $10,000 cash deposit. Thousands of Harlem residents poured into the streets to welcome them. Copyright © 1992 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permission.

One event that occurred during Castro’s 1960 visit to the United States was a meeting between two of the outstanding twentieth-century revolutionary leaders of the Americas — Fidel Castro and Malcolm X.

The discussion took place at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, shortly after the Cuban delegation’s arrival on the evening of September 19. As Castro stated thirty years later: “I will always recall my meeting with Malcolm X at the Hotel Theresa, because he was the one who made it possible and gave his support so that we could stay there. We had two alternatives [of places to stay]. One was the United Nations gardens. When I mentioned this to the secretary-general, he was horrified at the thought of a delegation in tents there. But then we received Malcolm X’s offer — he had spoken with one of our compañeros. And I said, ‘That is the place, the Hotel Theresa.’ And there we went.”

At the time Malcolm X was the leading spokesman of the Nation of Islam in New York. In March 1964, he broke with that organization. Less than a year later, in February 1965, he was assassinated.

Commenting on the meeting, Malcolm X told the press, “Premier Castro has come out against lynching, which is more than President Eisenhower has done. Castro has also taken a more open stand for civil rights for Black Cubans.”

Malcolm X met with Castro as a prominent member of a “welcoming committee” that had been set up in Harlem several weeks earlier. The purpose of this group, which included a wide range of Black community leaders, was to greet heads of state, particularly from African countries, who would be in New York to address the UN General Assembly. Sixteen African countries were admitted to membership in the UN at that session.

Malcolm X came under attack in the media for his initiative in welcoming the Cuban delegation and for taking responsibility for the organization of a defense guard at the Hotel Theresa to assure their safety. When prominent members of the Welcoming Committee refused to support Malcolm’s stand, he publicly resigned from that body. “During the time Dr. Castro was in Harlem, thanks to the Nationalists and the Muslims, there was no rioting or lawlessness in Harlem,” Malcolm X wrote. “The Muslims and the Black Nationalists in Harlem exerted every imaginable effort to see that Harlem remained ‘calm and orderly.’”

“Despite this,” he continued, “the daily press has unleashed a savage propaganda attack against us, purposely distorting facts, purposely telling bare-faced lies, labeling us as lawless terrorists, subversives, seditionists, etc.” In resigning from the Welcoming Committee, Malcolm pledged to “henceforth confine my activities and efforts with and among the little men in the street, whose honesty and integrity makes them fearless when time comes to take an uncompromising stand, without hesitation, on the side of right and truth.”

The article printed here is an account of the meeting between Castro and Malcolm X, written by Ralph D. Matthews, one of the journalists present. It was published in the September 24, 1960, New York Citizen-Call.

UP IN FIDEL’S ROOM
During the course of their conversation, Cuba’s Castro and Harlem’s Malcolm covered much political and philosophical ground. …

On racial discrimination: “We work for every oppressed person.” But he raised a cautioning hand. “I did not want to interfere in the inner policy of a country.”

And then in a slight voice of warning, still on the general theme of racial inequity, Dr. Castro said, “I will speak in the Hall (referring to the United Nations General Assembly).” …

On American Negroes:

“Castro is fighting against discrimination in Cuba, everywhere.”

“You lack rights and you want your rights.”

“Our people are changing. Now we’re one of the most free people in the world.”

“Negroes in the U.S. have more political conscience, more vision than anyone else.” …

Dr. Castro tapered the conversation off with an attempted quote of Lincoln. “You can fool some of the people some of the time, …” but his English faltered and he threw up his hands as if to say, ”You know what I mean.”

Malcolm, rising to leave, explained his Muslim group for a Cuban reporter who had just come in, “We are followers of Muhammad. He says we can sit and beg for 400 more years. But if we want our rights now, we will have to …” Here he paused and smiled enigmatically, “Well, …”

Castro smiled. He smiled again as Malcolm told him a parable. “No one knows the master better than his servants. We have been servants ever since we were brought here. We know all his little tricks. Understand? We know what he is going to do before he does.”

The Cuban leader listened to this being translated into Spanish, then threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Sí,” he said heartily. “Sí.”

We said our adios and then walked down the crowded hall, took the elevator to the street, where outside the crowds still milled around.

Some excited Harlemite then shouted into the night, “Viva Castro!”
 
 
Related articles:
Cuban 5: ‘our example of dignity and standing up to imperialism’
Actions in Puerto Rico demand: ‘Free Oscar López!’
Omaha Malcolm X center hosts Cuban 5 paintings
Who are the Cuban Five?
Exhibits of paintings by Antonio Guerrero
 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home