Huber Matos: His Life and Legacy
| Start: | |
|---|---|
| End: | |
| Venue: | FIU Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Green Library 220 |
Huber Matos Benítez (1918–2014) was a Cuban political activist and writer. Born in Yara (Oriente province), Cuba, he became a rural school teacher and rice farmer. In 1952, he opposed the coup d'état by Fulgencio Batista. In 1956, he joined Fidel Castro's guerrilla movement and became one of the leaders of the 26th of July Movement, which overthrew Batista's dictatorship.
Matos grew increasingly critical of the movement's shift toward Marxism and closer ties with Communist leaders. He resigned his post as Military Governor of Camagüey in October 1959. Convicted of "treason and sedition" by the Castro regime, he spent 20 years in prison (1959–1979). Once in exile, Matos founded the anti-Castro organization Cuba Independiente y Democrática (Independent and Democratic Cuba). In 2002, he published his memoirs Cómo llegó la noche (How the Night Came), which earned the Comillas Prize for Biography, Autobiography, and Memoirs.
This panel discussion will examine the life of Huber Matos and assess his legacy for Cuban history. Confirmed participants include:
- Dr. Lillian Guerra, Department of History, University of Florida
- Dr. Luis Martínez-Fernández, History Department, University of Central Florida
- Mr. Angel De Fana, former Cuban political prisoner
The event, to be conducted in Spanish, is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, call (305) 348–1991 or write cri@fiu.edu.
