If a (likely white) Cuban-American angrily argues “Why are they removing historical statues? Why are they renaming all these federal buildings. This is part of history!”

Try to repackage those concerns in a way that would help them understand why these things are happening (1/?)

Ask them how they would feel if every time they jogged through their local park, they were met with a statue honoring Fidel Castro.

How would they feel going into a government building named after Ché Guevara, with his name largely displayed as they walked in. (2/?)

Just as those individuals whose statues are being removed/locations are being renamed were seen as revolutionaries, many people praise Castro and Guevara in the same regard. We’ve all seen the shirts, posters, halloween costumes & tattoos symbolizing and idolizing them. (3/?)

I can guarantee you that many Cuban-Americans would be uncontrollably FURIOUS if those men were publicly displayed like that

Some opposition coming from people that weren’t even directly exposed to Fidel’s regime; much of their anger coming from their grand/parents stories (4/?)

Fidel’s power lasted about 5 decades, though still obviously effecting Cuba today. Cubans constantly recall the pain and hurt all those years caused.

And by no means am I here to discredit their suffering. They definitely have gone through an incredibly difficult struggle. (5/?)

But now try to imagine the absolute horror and trauma that came/comes from slavery in the US that lasted HUNDREDS of years.

Not to mention what black people still had/have to endure after being “freed”, through segregation and institutionalized racism.(6/?)

To have statues, monuments, plaques, libraries and airports honoring people who provenly had views in favor of the oppression of black people is completely insensitive and wildly inappropriate.

So what do you do? REMOVE THEM. RENAME THEM. REPLACE THEM. (7/?)

I’m just dumbfounded that some of my own people are so offended. Why can’t they at least sympathize with this restructure?

Just because these people are a part of history doesn’t justify any monuments.

Are there public statues of Hitler? Wasn’t he a part of history? (8/?)

And I’m not here to argue or start shit. Look at things from another angle and one might learn or feel something new. This is not political, this is morality.

Honestly, this entire thread can easily be used with the perspective of other cultures, not just Cuban-American. (9/?)

Plenty of immoral things have happened to countries and communities that can be used as a way to generate genuine understanding.

Sometimes you just have to deliver a situation in a personal way for people be more receptive. (10/?)

Simply having conversations will lead to knowledge and growth. I’m in no way an expert of anything I mentioned in this thread, but I’m doing my best in trying to learn more.

I’ll keep arguing and fighting the good fight through education and re-education. (11/?)

Anyway, that’s my little thread. I could go on but I think this is enough for now.

#BlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter #BLM #JusticeForBreonna #JusticeForElijah #JusticeForToyin #JusticeForFloyd #JusticeForCarolyn

Also if you made it this far, wear a fucking mask when you go out. I’m not trying to live the rest of my life in my house.