Waiting in Havana (21 images)

The streets of Havana appear to have changed little since Castro's 1959 revolution. A fact that hides the quiet conflict between the socialist ideology of the revolution, and the rapidly growing capitalism of the booming tourist industry. After decades of trying to make the islands sugar cane crop profitable, it is now tourist dollars that fund Castro's Cuba. It is this irony that threatens to destroy the integrity of the Castro's rule. As Cubans watch their comrades and government get rich...
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The streets of Havana appear to have changed little since Castro's 1959 revolution. A fact that hides the quiet conflict between the socialist ideology of the revolution, and the rapidly growing capitalism of the booming tourist industry. After decades of trying to make the islands sugar cane crop profitable, it is now tourist dollars that fund Castro's Cuba. It is this irony that threatens to destroy the integrity of the Castro's rule. As Cubans watch their comrades and government get rich off of tourism without seeing any gain for themselves social tension is inevitable, and change likely. Today symptoms of this change abound, petty theft is on the rise as youth desperately try to take part in the material culture they see on TV and in Havana's fancy hotels. Racism is a growing problem as Black Cubans find their fairer skinned comrades get jobs in tourism easier. Cubans not working in tourism desperately attempt to hustle their way into this economy through informal prostitution and cigar selling. To protect tourists from this growing economic and social tension Police patrol the streets constantly checking IDs. There is no doubt that Cubans support Castro and the incredible and positive change he brought to the country, and a unified counter revolution is unlikely. However if Castro or his brother Raul are unable to bring the increasingly disaffected youth into the growing economy, increased strife and divisions are inevitable. And Cuba without unity, without people willing to make sacrifices for their comrades, can not last. Change is inevitable in Cuba, the question is whether this change will be dictated by the people, or whether Castro will once again be able to reform his economy and politics to dispel this tension. For now, Cubans wait, watching the tourists, their fancy hotels, their cameras, and their convertible pesos, wondering why this shouldn't be theirs.
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