Article Title
Review / Harlem Hospitality and Political History: Malcolm X and Fidel Castro at the Hotel Theresa
Abstract
The very brief but historic meeting between Malcolm X and Fidel Castro occurred on September 24, 1960 at the instigation of the U.S. State Department (much to its chagrin), which had pressured the Shelburne Hotel to cancel its contract for accommodations to the Cuban Delegation, headed by Fidel Castro. Having just successfully waged a revolution for independence within the U.S. "sphere of influence," the Cubans found their delegation, which was scheduled to participate in international meetings at the United Nations, harassed by the U.S. government. However, at the suggestions of Harlem activists, the disruptions in securing accommodations were transformed into a momentous opportunity for cultural-political expressions of solidarity and anti-racism. When the Cuban delegation accepted the warm welcome of the Hotel Theresa's owner Love B. Woods, ideological and political ties between progressive African Americans and Cuban revolutionaries were cultivated.
Recommended Citation
James, Joy
(1994)
"Review / Harlem Hospitality and Political History: Malcolm X and Fidel Castro at the Hotel Theresa,"
Contributions in Black Studies: Vol. 12, Article 12.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cibs/vol12/iss1/12