Poet launches Cuba writing project

zainab quadri

June 9, 2015 1:46 PM

Poet Richard Blanco is launching a writing project to lift what he calls Cuba's "emotional embargo."

Poet Richard Blanco speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington during the inauguration for President Barack Obama, left, and Vice President Joe Biden right.

Blanco and writer Ruth Behar, both Cuban-Americans, told The Associated Press they are launching "Bridges to/from Cuba" as a forum for Cubans on and off the island to share their hopes for the future as the U.S. and Cuba move closer to normalizing relations.

"For it is not simply a political and economic embargo that needs to be lifted," they write on the website, launched Tuesday. "But also the weight of an emotional embargo that has kept Cubans collectively holding their breath for over 50 years."

Blanco and Behar came up with the idea as a response to what they feel is a distorted image of Cuba that has emerged in the wake of the historic detente announced by presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro in December.

"Bridges to/from Cuba" will feature stories, poems, photo essays and other writings from poets, scholars, celebrities and others spanning across generations, races and geography. The project's advisory board includes Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Nilo Cruz, MacArthur Foundation genius grant recipient Edwidge Danticat, and several other noted writers, including Sandra Cisneros, author of "The House on Mango Street."

he writers have culled together a list of people they hope will contribute, everyone from Cuban scholars to Pitbull. Pieces will be published in English and Spanish. They also plan to follow up the launch with a visit to Cuba this month.

The website's first entry features a piece written by Blanco and Behar in poetry and prose titled, "The Island Within, for Ruth Behar (by Richard Blanco) and The Island We Share, for Richard Blanco (by Ruth Behar)." In it, they discuss trying to fill in the blanks of being Cuban

zainab quadri