SONIDOS CUBANOS

About the Book

"Sonidos Cubanos" is a collection of poems, photographs, and paintings that chronicle the author's journey from a prominent wealthy family, to revolutionary activist, political pariah, struggling exiled mother, business builder, scholar and more. The subtitle, "Rimas De La Abuela" ("Grandmother's Rhymes") reveals the heart of this book in which the author unfolds before us the "rhyme and reason" of her life. the first section, "Imagenes Afro-cubanos" ("Afro-cuban Images) paints the backdrop: a traditional family in which black nannies were fiercely loved by white wards and their African tribal lore woven into nursery rhymes. the second, "Versos Juveniles" ("Youthful Verses") gives us the taste and feel of Cuba in the early fifties, as Caridad grows up surrounded by love and comfort. The tone changes dramatically in the third section, "Pasiones Revolucionarias" ("Revolutionary Passions"), reflecting Caridad's life changing encounter with Castro's rebel forces on her family lands, and her subsequent unconditional support of the revolution. these passions unavoidable turn to disillusionment as Castro's regime starts unfair political trials and sets out to persecute Caridad's family and loved ones. Her anguish is palpable and gut wrenching in "Camino al Destierro" ("Road to Exile"), and Caridad serves it up without dilution or apology. The following section, "Anoranzas" ("Longings") is a recollection of lost times and places, exquisitely distilled through the coils of absence. The last section in this remarkable book, "Sombra y Luz" ("Shadow and Light") reveals Caridad in a contemplative mood, ad peace with herself and ready to explore new directions, "without map or star to take me by the hand".

About the Author

Caridad Navarrete-Kindelán grew up in pre-Castro Cuba in a prominent family of industrialists and landowners with revolutionary traditions: her great grandfather Francisco Vicente Aguilera in Cuba and great uncle General Sucre in Venezuela. Her revolutionary roots, and beliefs in all social reforms and democracy echoed the ideals put forth at that time by the revolution. After witnessing the army kill an employee and wound another, Caridad, her husband Jorge de Moya Mascaró, and her brother, Javier Navarrete teamed up with the rebel forces. She offered them sanctuary on family lands, ran war supplies for the rebels, and personally nursed the wounded. And she did all of thie with her six children in tow. Then Castro reached power. Caridad watched her husband, brother, and other revolutionary friends jailed, their revolutionary ideals betrayed, and her family properties seized byt the state. Searching, in her own words, "for a place where I could educate my children and watch then grow," Caridad headed for the United States with her children between the ages of three and nine to begin the second part of an extraordinary journey. Along the way, Caridad Navarrete was a breadwinner for ten years, went to college, became a National Science Foundation and Fulbright Scholar, earned a PH.D. in Political Science at Yale University, and found happiness in a second marriage to respected Yale scholar Richard Ruggles.