Digital Division In An Offline Island
Located in the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana
So much rich history here where the origins of spirituality continue to spread its influence. In this narrow alley in Havana, you can find traces left behind of Cuban artist Salvador Gonzales Escalona whose art is influenced by Afro-Cuban culture and style. The artist began adorning this alley with his own art in 90s, which over time began to bring vibrant colors and sculptures. I met many of his long-time friends and family who allowed me to stroke a brush of paint on a mural wall.
Cubans have fought hard with the little they have. Humble, brave, and valiant. I met and learned from so many intellectual beings. I saw community come together. It's a place I will always remember.
Located in the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana
International Report:
While attending Hofstra University, Crystal had the opportunity to study abroad through the "Hofstra in Cuba" program to expand her journalistic skills. Her findings focused on the internet, and how it has acted as a public sphere for those in Cuba looking to create a community without restriction. As today’s population becomes more susceptible to the effects of social media and the influence it holds, the government faces a new digital threat. According to the Freedom House, Cuba scored 20/100 in the Internet Freedom Score. With the aid of the internet to the Cuban residents, the Freedom House found “the government imposed wide scale connectivity restrictions following the historic protests in November 2020, which were coordinated over social media after the government raided the headquarters of an artists’ collective, and blocked Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and WhatsApp.” With internet usage scarce, the government has leveraged and manipulated who is granted access to Wi-Fi and what users consume.