The Left Chapter: Revolutionary Cuba 1975: Sixteen Years of Socialist Construction Part I -- Photographs and Chronology

Fidel Castro Speaks

This is the first of three parts looking at a remarkable English language book published in Havana in 1975 that celebrated 16 years of Communist rule. With 140 photographs of industry, education, rallies, farms, the military and construction, among other things, Cubans of all walks of life are shown. These photos are accompanied by text that chronicles and describes the history of the revolution and its accomplishments to that point.

These accomplishments are all the more impressive given the American embargo of the island.

This first part has 45 photos that range from May Day in Havana to cigar making to crab processing. Included also is the first part of the text which is a "chronology of the most important events" of these years. Among these are the start of the literacy campaign, the national vaccination campaign, the inauguration of worker's dining rooms, Cuba's hosting of the XIXth World Amateur Baseball Championship in 1971, and much more.

(Part two is now up at this link: Revolutionary Cuba 1975: Sixteen Years of Socialist Construction Part II -- Photographs and History)

(Click on images to enlarge)