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🇨🇺 Cuba /Culture & Society

Raúl and Fidel: Bound by a Shared Star

From Granma · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Fidel and Raúl Castro shared a deep bond, influenced by their upbringing and shared ideals.
  • Raúl followed Fidel to Havana, where his political thought radicalized rapidly due to Cuba's oppressive environment.
  • Both brothers were key figures in the Cuban Revolution, participating in major events like the Moncada Barracks assault and the Granma landing.

The natural brotherhood between Fidel and Raúl Castro was forged by shared experiences and a common destiny. Raúl, five years younger, admired his elder brother Fidel and followed him to Havana. There, influenced by readings like Engels' "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State," Raúl's political thinking rapidly radicalized.

The first one who gave him to read was The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, by Engels, and then others in which it meant a transcendent influence on the young man, whose thinking radicalized almost at the speed of light.

— Katiuska BlancoJournalist Katiuska Blanco describes the early intellectual influences on Fidel Castro.

The hostile and abusive environment in Cuba at the time profoundly affected Raúl, dedicating his life to changing the oppressive reality. He became an activist against the oppressive power, with Fidel as his guiding political flame. Together, they shared dreams of justice and worked to alter Cuba's unfortunate course.

They marched together with young people from FEU to the Fragua Martiana to honor José Martí on his centenary. They were united in their revolutionary aspirations, shouting "Revolution!" together. Raúl actively participated in preparations for the Moncada Barracks assault, fulfilling his mission audaciously.

Now we have won the war.

— Fidel CastroFidel Castro's declaration to Raúl and a small group of men after reuniting at Cinco Palmas during the revolution.

Both brothers endured prison together after the Moncada events. In Mexico, Raúl, alongside Fidel and other revolutionaries, prepared for the Granma landing, returning to Cuba with them. They reunited at Cinco Palmas after anxious days, where Fidel famously declared, "Now we have won the war."

It is known that in our Party and in our Revolution there cannot be, nor will there ever be, nepotism; you know that!

— Fidel CastroFidel Castro addressing the First Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba regarding family ties in leadership.

These shared experiences highlight Raúl Castro's integrity. He was a trusted confidant of the Cuban Revolution's leader and a leader in his own right. His election as the Communist Party's Second Secretary in 1975, despite familial ties, was met with ovations, as Fidel emphasized that merit, not family or friendship, prevails in their party.

But in our Party, where merit must always prevail, neither friendship nor family are, nor ever will be, factors to consider.

— Fidel CastroFidel Castro emphasizing meritocracy within the Communist Party of Cuba.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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