Cuban Stories on The Green Plantain

Today, I would like you to imagine you were born in Venezuela, and you are a first-generation Cuban-Venezuelan. Growing up, you hear your grandfather tell stories of his Cuba, an island in the Caribbean in turmoil, and you think, “It will never happen here, this is Venezuela. Our land is rich and vast. There is room for everyone. Simon Bolivar fought for our liberty, and we hold it, dear. We are a...

Episode 9 of The Green Plantain is featuring a multi-generational story titled Across the Atlantic. It's the story of Marta Nadal and one of her granddaughters, Ioanna Nelson. Today's story is how Marta and her granddaughter Ioanna, who lives in Tbilisi, Georgia, with her parents and siblings, found a way to keep their Cuban roots alive, pulling me in as part of their story. Ioanna is only eight y...

In Episode 6 of The Green Plantain you met the author of Perico - The Fabulous Burro, Arnaldo Artiles Quintana who makes his home in Cuba. In this episode we share an excerpt of the book told in Perico's voice. I hope you have a listen to rekindle a memory or to learn about Perico; a folkloric memory of Cuba. RIP Perico. A toston anyone? En el Episodio 6 les presente al autor, Arnaldo Artiles Quin...

Venezuela, the country where I was conceived and later became home, on and off. At first it was our country of exile after Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution, then it was a refuge from life's ups and downs. ⁠This episode is about that in-between time when I was just surviving and becoming a woman.⁠ ⁠ This story is included in the book, Like Finding Water in the Desert.⁠ ⁠ Venezuela, el país don...

Today I’m featuring the story of a man and a donkey who became Sta. Clara’s legend. Arnaldo y Perico, a story of admiration and love. Last year when I met Arnaldo in Cuba, he told me over una tacita de café about Perico, Sta. Clara’s famous burro. Adding, he had written a book about Perico. Immediately, I fell in love with Perico and the idea of bringing these cuentos - stories, to people living i...

This year marks the sixty-second anniversary of the Battle of Santa (Sta.) Clara, Cuba. Coffee Grounds are the memories of living through this battle at the early age of four. The Battle of Sta. Clara was a series of events in late December 1958 that led to the capture of my hometown by revolutionaries under the command of Ché Guevara - known as El Ché. The battle was a decisive victory for the re...

Today's piece is about a family of winemakers. While I can't give away their secret ingredients, I can give you a flavor (no pun intended) of what their life is like. You will be amazed at their creativity and will to survive on the island. This copyrighted story is included in English and Spanish within this episode - I hope you enjoy it!

This episode is about my maternal grandparents, as told to me by my mother, Martina. A story about love, struggle, and spies during the Cuban War of Independence in the late 1890s. It includes aspects of the friendship between my grandfather Manuel, and El General Machado, who later was elected President of the Republic of Cuba. And touches on General Valeriano Weyler's reconcentration camps in th...

Episode 1 - The Green Plantain - The Cuban Stories Project Introduction