Castro's daughter on her dad, and why she left Cuba

Castro's daughter on her dad, and why she left Cuba
by Rachel Swick Press And Journal Staff : 10/14/2009

Alina Fernandez Revuelta was born in Cuba in 1956, three years before
Fidel Castro's movement took power.

A few years after Castro became the island country's leader, Fernandez
found out she was his daughter.

In a speech to more than 400 people at Penn State Harrisburg last
Tuesday night, Fernandez talked about her childhood memories of the men
with the beards, and how she fled Cuba in 1993 because she disagreed
with her father's movement.

"I was invited to speak here about my personal experiences of the
first three years of the revolutionary process," said Fernandez. "I now
live in Miami where I work as a radio host, lab tech and give commentary
on news."

But, her life has not been easy. She spoke of how her mother, Natalia
"Naty" Revuelta Crews, was the light of her life. Naty was born in
Havana in 1925 and married Orlando Fernandez, a doctor. The two had a
child. But, as 1959 approached, Naty became a supporter of Fidel
Castro's underground movement. She helped find Castro an apartment from
where he could operate. And when he was eventually captured and
imprisoned, Naty wrote him letters.

After Castro was freed, he and Naty became lovers and Alina was
conceived. Because of Naty's relationship with Castro, Orlando Fernandez
and the couple's daughter fled Cuba. Castro's wife also divorced him
because of the affair.
Fernandez said she kept Orlando's name because it became hard for her to
be associated with Castro. She remembers her mother as the "toast of
Havana, with blonde hair and a dancer's waist." And, she remembers
Castro "hating to lose."

"As a young child, I remember rebels coming through town in tanks,"
Fernandez said. "I remember I used to watch (cartoons) and one day they
were gone. Castro's first speech lasted eight hours."

Fernandez remembers watching a man in a white shirt on the television
and seeing red spots appear on his shirt. Years later she realized she
had witnessed one of the first executions, which were broadcast on
television during Castro's early years.

"I remember meeting Fidel for the first time as a child. My mother
carried me out of my crib and put me down in the middle of this circle.
There was a man with a beard and cigar smoke," Fernandez said. "That was
my father. He gave me a doll that was made to look like him. That was,
for me, the beginning of the endless revolution of Cuba."

As Fernandez grew up, it was known in her community that she was
Castro's daughter. People would often line up at her house with requests
to help their families. Because Fernandez did not have a close
relationship with Castro, she felt ashamed that she couldn't help any of
them. That feeling of helplessness and shame would follow her the rest
of her life. Even today, she speaks with sorrow when she speaks of
Castro's Cuba.

"Fidel seemed to know how to control everything," she said. "He
abolished farms and enterprises in the country. Whatever was grown
became the property of the state."

Beginning in 1960, Cubans had to survive on their ration booklets.

Hunger was a way Castro controlled the Cubans, Fernandez said.

"The society is now obligated to live on a black market basis … to steal
to survive," she said. "If you are thinking all day about how to put
food on the table at night, then you don't have time for much else."

Fernandez, who has been married several times, gave birth to a daughter
in 1977. When she decided to leave Cuba with her daughter, she disguised
herself as a Spanish tourist and used fake papers. In 1998 she wrote
"Castro's Daughter: An Exile's Memoir of Cuba."

A film based on her life is expected to go into production soon, by
Moresco Productions, she said.
Her mother remains loyal to Castro and continues to live in Cuba.

"How Fidel accomplished so much is still a mystery," said Fernandez.
"But he controlled people with fear. If he passes on, I can tell you, I
will not be the first person on the first plane back to Cuba."

Contact Rachel Swick at 944-4628 or rachelswick@pressandjournal.com.

Press and Journal (14 October 2009)
http://www.pressandjournal.com/articleDetail.aspx?id=2641