By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira
Melba Hernandez’s life is filled with many fascinating stories reflecting the courage, strength and resilience of Cuban women who made the overthrow of U.S.-puppet regime of Fulgencio Batista a reality. In the earlier days of the Cuban Revolution, Melba was a combatant and leader in the Rebel Army of the July 26 Movement. She fought gallantly alongside Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.
Melba was introduced to politics by her parents who partook in Cuba’s War for Independence of 1895, led by Jose Marti. In addition, as a young lawyer, she was empathetic with the plight of poor peasants and workers whom she represented.
attack on Moncada Barracks.
Melba Hernandez and Haydee Santamaria were the only two women that partook in the July 26, 1953, attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, Cuba. By the time the battle ended with the defeat of the insurrectionists many were both tortured and murdered. Some, like Fidel Castro Ruz managed to escape and go into hiding until their capture days later.
Hernandez and Santamaria were arrested, convicted and given shorter prison sentences in comparison to their male counterparts who were released two years later. During their incarceration, Hernandez and Santamaria experienced humiliating abuse by Batista’s prison officials.
After these heroines were released, they were determined to carry out the work of building a mass movement and clandestine network that would eventually topple the Batista government. Melba was instrumental in smuggling out the draft of Fidel Castro’s famous courtroom speech “History will Absolve Me”, one of the most important documents of the Cuban Revolution.
After the seizure of power on January 1, 1959, Hernandez was assigned to several important roles in the government. In 1960, she was placed in charge of women’s prisons in Cuba. For Hernandez, a top priority was to spearhead prison reform to align with the humane principles of the revolution.
During the late 1960s – 1970s, at the height of the vicious colonial war the U.S. was waging against the Vietnamese people, Hernandez risked danger to herself by traveling frequently to the war-torn country as head of the Cuban Committee in Solidarity with Vietnam. She also served as Secretary General of OSPAAAL, the Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In the 1980s, Hernandez earned Cuba’s Ambassadorship to Vietnam and Cambodia due to her diligent work of solidarity with the Vietnamese Revolution. This heroine also served the Cuban government as a Deputy in the country’s National Assembly.
Sadly, on March 9, 2014, Melba died of natural causes. Having lived her life as a diplomat and high-ranking official of a revolutionary government, her legacy shall inspire revolutionaries for generations to come, especially women who will be duty-bound to confront backward traditions that perpetuate women’s oppression.
Hernandez was among other iconic female figures who were decisive in that revolutionary experience, such as Vilma Espin, Celia Sanchez, Aleida March, Haydee Santamaria, and others. Their selflessness and loyalty to the revolution surmounted of of what many would have expected.
Thanks to the Cuban Revolution Melba Hernandez, dared to be amongst those to set standards for challenging the greatest tyrant in human history.
LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!
carlitoboricua 