10 Years After Obama’s Opening
In 2014, Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced a breakthrough in relations between Cuba and the United States. To mark the ten-year anniversary, this series of videos looks at the impact that this historic opening had on people in Cuba, and how their lives have changed since the reversal of U.S. policy under both Trump and Biden.
Meet Cuba’s Very Own Celebrity Chef: Luis Ramón Batlle
Journey inside the kitchen of celebrity chef Luis Ramón Batlle, an ambassador for Cuban cuisine. While U.S. sanctions impact the availability and cost of food, Chef Batlle says there is a silver lining: forcing creativity. “You become a magician, an inventor,” he says.
Pablo Menendez: Bringing Cuba and the U.S. closer through music
Pablo Menendez was born in the U.S., but has lived in Cuba most of his life. For decades, he has tried to find ways for music to be a bridge between the two countries. Obama’s detente with Cuba brought Pablo closer to his goal, but the economic warfare unleashed by Trump and Biden has further separated Cuba and the U.S.
What do Cubans think Trump’s second term will mean for Cuba?
Ten years after Obama’s historic opening with Cuba, we ask Cubans what they think about Obama, Trump and Biden.
Beyond Roots: thriving business promoting Afro-Cuban culture
Beyond Roots was born as an Airbnb experience during Obama’s normalization of relations with Cuba. It is now Cuba’s first Afro-style store and a thriving business that includes a café, a hair salon and a cultural center promoting Afro-Cuban culture.
The U.S. is “trying to destroy” Cuba’s scientific community | 10 Years after Obama’s Opening
Dr. Mitchell Valdes-Sosa was born in the U.S., but he’s one of Cuba’s top scientists. As the director of the Cuban Center for Neuroscience, he was involved in talks to further scientific collaboration between Cuba and the U.S. during Obama’s historic opening with Cuba. But this collaboration died with Trump and Biden’s change of policy toward Cuba.
U.S. Sanctions Worsen Food Insecurity in Cuba
As Chair of the United States Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, Paul Johnson has been trying to encourage Cuba-U.S. agricultural trade for years. But U.S. sanctions have stood in the way. During Obama’s historic opening, the two countries began talking about new ways to collaborate. But the rollback of Obama’s policy under Trump and Biden has made any progress difficult.
“The golden years of Cuba’s tourism”
David (Che) Sarzo has been a tourism worker since 2010, driving or guiding tourists in classic American cars. He benefited from Obama’s opening with Cuba, which brought about a boom in the industry.
“Those were the golden years for Cuba’s tourism,” said Sarzo. “The whole city benefited. The country’s economy grew.”
But when Trump and Biden’s reversed Obama’s policies and increased sanctions, it became hard for Sarzo to get a fare. He is expecting things to get even worse.
“Right now, all of Cuba is in fear of Trump’s return to office,” he said.