Ep 359.9 Pero…Hanguiando with author of “Property of the Revolution,” Ana Hebra-Flaster

·1 hr 13 min·5 clips

A Cuban teacher watches soldiers make her students pray to Fidel for ice cream in a stark propaganda lesson.

The episode features an interview with author Ana Hebra-Flaster about her memoir 'Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town.' The hosts, DJ and Ish, introduce Ana and highlight the unusual aspect of her family settling in New Hampshire instead of typical Cuban diaspora hubs like Miami or New Jersey. Ana explains her family's rapid 48-hour escape from Cuba in 1967. She describes her mother's initial pro-revolution activism, including clandestine work collecting medicine and bonds for rebels, and her eventual disillusionment. A key turning point was when soldiers staged an ice cream propaganda stunt in her mother's classroom, exploiting students to promote loyalty to Fidel Castro. Ana discusses the broader Cuban exile experience, noting how stories like these are often dismissed or ignored in American academic and media circles, particularly in liberal Northeast institutions where Cuba is romanticized. She shares her personal journey of recognizing her childhood displacement as trauma after a therapist's intervention, contrary to her family's 'we beat Castro' narrative. The conversation touches on cultural differences, such as family care for elders, illustrated by the story of bathing her grandmother with a kiddie pool. Ana also talks about the challenges of writing the book over 15 years, securing publication, and the emotional impact it has had on readers who see their own family experiences validated. The hosts and Ana reflect on Cuban identity, diaspora communities, and the importance of preserving stories as heirlooms when physical possessions are lost.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Pero Let Me Tell You