A Tribute to Palabras a los Intelectuales
The publication La Muralla (The Wall) of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba is dedicated to remembering the meaning of the speech Palabras a los Intelectuales (Words to the intellectuals)
By: Rubén Ricardo Infante
The cultural publication La Muralla (The wall) of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC by its Spanish acronym) is devoted to honor the meaning of the speech Palabras a los Intelectuales, pronounced by Fidel Castro on June 30, 1961 in the National Library.
The speech was the closing of three meetings held with artists, writers and intellectuals and its relevance is known as the first guiding document of the cultural policy that would guide the work of the Ministry of Culture.
As part of the newly developed National Council of UNEAC, held on the same day and place of those meetings, this publication was presented, which includes a group of articles on the importance of Palabras a los Intelectuales.
In this issue of La muralla, the Convocation to the IX Congress of the UNEAC is published, scheduled for the end of June 2019, where it is emphasized that: “We are not oblivious to the effects of the dominant cultural industry and monopolies of information, which try to erode our identity values and demobilize the awareness. The culture in such means and practices, is often reduced to serve as a mere instrument to encourage consumerism and mediocrity.
Another of the texts included is signed by the writer Abel Prieto Jiménez, Minister of Culture, who says: “ Palabras a los Intelectuales, founded a unique cultural policy, unrelated to all kinds of sectarianism.” Also part of this issue are the evocations of Indira Fajardo, on the importance of returning words to the intellectuals, while the historian Elier Ramírez recapitulates the text.
Fernando Martínez Heredia made the most detailed analysis of the discourse and from its broad vision, he articulates the historical perspective and context in which these encounters take place. His assessment, entitled Sobre Palabras a los intelectuales (About Words to the Intellectuals), is one of the most complete of those I have read about a fact that constitutes the starting point for the foundation of the UNEAC.
In the publication fragments of a work presented by Ana Cairo on Fidel’s methods are exposed, highlighting the work deployed in function of the development of Cuban culture.
Finally, Antonio Rodríguez Salvador, recounts the main moments where Fidel displayed an invaluable work in order to conceive a cultural project that could favor the talent of our creators, and the culture´s role as a form of identity and values of their own.
La muralla is a publication that arrives free of charge to the members of the UNEAC
Translated by ESTI