Cuba: Crossroads of the Americas
Notre Dame student Armani Porter said a chance encounter with a native Cuban at a salsa dancing club opened his mind to the unique history of this island in confronting questions of race and freedom.
As an African American with Cuban ancestry, Porter was intrigued to hear that racial divisions are less sharp in this nation rebuilt on an ideology of equality. His acquaintance did acknowledge limits on Internet access, speech and travel, but claimed that Cubans have “everything that matters.” These statements pushed back against typical preconceptions of the communist country with which President Obama has recently re-opened diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of a U.S. policy of isolation.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been able to learn about my history, to go to a place and say ‘This is where I’m from,’” said Porter, a fluent Spanish speaker studying theology and neuroscience.
Read the storyOther Videos
A Community of Layers
A Tour Through Time
A Transformative Journey
Notre Dame Experiences Life at the Border
'Cultural maintenance'
Educating lawyers with a global perspective
Fighting for Freedom of Thought
Fighting for Lasting Peace
Fighting Mosquito-borne Diseases
Fighting to Protect the Innocent
Form and Function
Haiti: How salt can help fight a debilitating disease
Haiti: Notre Dame's Fight to End Lymphatic Filariasis
Haiti: Treating Lymphatic Philariasis
Implementing the Colombian Peace Agreement
Leading by Learning: Alejandra Pinto
Leading by Learning: Melina Torres
'London is its own classroom'
Notre Dame Delegation in Mexico
Notre Dame in China: Alma Mater on the Great Wall
Notre Dame in China: Chengdu
Notre Dame in China: Hong Kong
Notre Dame in China: Hong Kong and Academic Freedom
Notre Dame in Ireland
Notre Dame in Rome: Day 1
Notre Dame in Rome: Day 2
Notre Dame in South America
Notre Dame marks 50 years of the London Law Program
Pope Francis blesses cornerstones of Holy Cross schools in Bangladesh
Steps in Time
Strengthening ties in India
The Notre Dame Award: Brazilian judge Sergio Moro
The Professors
"The struggle is long": Mothers of Mexico's missing accept 2018 Notre Dame Award
Viaggi
Where We Belong
