Sex relationships are various other such fascinating a portion of the guide, which should be read from the every feminists which believe that Cuban women, and you will black colored women in types of, is actually submissive and you will acquiescent. At the beginning of their relationships, Reyita are forced to accept Rubiera’s severe constraints on her behalf societal life and liberty, once the women with girls and boys are usually the essential economically and you may psychologically situated. She relates to the lady “awakening” (p. 84) whenever even after the woman husband’s disapproval she registered the widely used Socialist Group, for their battle to own equality. Others I thought i’d realize me” (p. 85). However, he failed to share Reyita’s hopes and dreams due to their people, and you can she started to make a lifestyle independent off your, to render this lady college students a degree and you can a decent job. As the Reyita claims, “Financial independence ‘s the best way to get 100 % free” (p. 142). Here we see the fresh main character of your own kid given that breadwinner, and that in the event the met, allowed people to withstand other styles of residential discipline. Though there isn’t any hint one Rubiera actually ever struck Reyita, much less kids, he had been really tight, particularly together with his girl, and you may stingy, objecting whenever Reyita purchased gowns for the kids otherwise circumstances 
into the household. On her own, Reyita been able to financing this lady daughters’ wedding parties in order to likewise have the woman house with electricity, and to purchase a wireless, fridge and television. Radio stations turned this lady life and you will broke “new culture away from submitting towards son of the property” (p. 145).
She always acknowledged her partner, because he sent to the family, and you will failed to drop money on take in or any other people
Reyita requires higher pride in her own members of the family, hence as guide closes, quantity 118 individuals, plus great-great- grandkids, give all over Cuba, no matter if notably nothing features emigrated towards U.S. Reyita reily’s beautiful! It looks like a beneficial rainbow: whites, blacks, mulaticos, jabatos. Long hair, short hair, curly and you can straight. Engineers, attorneys, instructors, aspects, workers; most of the organized and, first of all, free from racial prejudices” (p. 158).
Only one out-of her very own college students learnt at school, Daisy Rubiera Castillo, just who edited their mom’s biography (originally within the Language), that have a English interpretation from the Anne McLean. Regrettably, the fresh English kind of the publication consists of no information regarding this lady daughter, who is listed on the right back jacket due to the fact a president away from the latest Fernando Ortiz social Center inside Santiago.
For the fifty-couple of years regarding marriage, up to his death inside 1975, it never split up, and then he adored his children, and not frowned on it
There is an invaluable introduction into the publication because of the Elizabeth Dore, a western historian on School regarding Portsmouth, British, who may have written widely towards the progressive Latin american background and you may sex education. Dore provides to place Reyita’s life in historic context, worrying governmental incidents, such as the slaughter out-of 1912 or the socialist wave regarding 1959 that have been crucial that you Reyita. Yet not, I might provides popular even more focus on Reyita’s focus on their family members. It book contributes much to your comprehension of new intersection out-of competition, class and you will intercourse regarding the existence away from ordinary Cubans, as well as how so it nexus promotes their household formations, aspirations for their students, and federal and racial ideologies. It also helps me to comprehend the importance away from Cuban female, and you may black colored ladies in sort of, just who devoted its lifetime to help you furthering their family members’ interests. Once the Dore notes, Reyita are surprisingly hushed towards socialist trend (and in the Fidel), once the she credit socialism with providing many of the instructional and occupational options one to the woman large nearest and dearest today keeps. Equally important, within the Reyita’s sight, is the fact the lady children and grandkids knew just how to make use of them possibilities to improve on their own as well as contribute significantly more on the nation.