My abuelos fled to Miami not long after The Cuban Revolution began, and they struggled to build a new life and home in America. Though I do not agree with my Cuban family about politics whatsoever, I have the utmost respect for my abuelos whom navigated the pain of displacement and established themselves in a foreign country. I grew up believing Castro was a vicious tyrant, and I still believe that is his legacy, PERIOD.

I am disappointed and frankly disgusted with the media’s idolization of dictator Fidel Castro. The past few days I have seen article after article glorifying Castro, and even fellow activists embracing him.

I will not mince words:

If you are fixating on the “complexities” of Fidel Castro instead of his human rights’ violations, you need to check your privilege.

If you are posting articles celebrating Castro written by anyone other than a Cuban/Cuban American, you are gaslighting.

If you are praising Castro’s Marxist revolutionary ideas, yet minimizing his authoritarian reign, you are compliant with brutality and the victimization of a country.

If you are telling Cubans/Cuban Americans that Castro’s accomplishments deserve to occupy the same space as our grief and joy, you are marginalizing us.

If you are justifying Castro’s persecution of LGBTQ Cubans with ANYTHING, you are not practicing true intersectionality.

If you are rectifying Cuba’s systematic racism and discrimination (ciudadno con caracteristicas or “citizens with characteristics”) by sharing stories of him with Malcolm X or Nelson Mandela, you are actively exacerbating the system of oppression.

If you are sugarcoating Fidel Castro’s violence by calling him a “problematic” figure, you are feeding into toxic masculinity.

If you are advocating on behalf of today’s refugees, yet diminishing Cuba’s history of exiled citizens, you are being hypocritical.

If you are using Fidel Castro’s death as an opportunity to critique the United States’ demonization of scorned figures, you need to stop and allow Cubans/Cuban Americans to have this moment.

If you are more concerned with Castro’s “good intentions” than his well-documented crimes, you are glorifying his dictatorship.

If you are trying to delude Castro’s tyrannical legacy by focusing on Cuba’s educational “success," you are ignoring the collective struggle of thousands.

Lastly, if you are feeling defensive after reading this article, that might be your cue to politely shut up, listen, and reflect.