The defining moments of the Cuban Revolution
- Text by Alex King
- Photography by Burt Glinn / Magnum Photos
You don’t get a second chance to photograph a revolution. There are no re-runs of the storming of the presidential palace and corrupt dictators only flee the once.
Young Magnum photographer Burt Glinn was celebrating New Years Eve at a black tie party in New York in 1958 when he heard whispers that Cuba’s US-sponsored dictator was making preparations to escape Havana, as Fidel Castro’s revolutionary army advanced on the city.
Seizing his opportunity, Glinn borrowed $400 from Magnum president Cornell Capa, picked up his camera gear and raced to NY’s La Guardia airport just in time to make the last flight to Miami.
Onlookers watch the battle between rebels and Batista’s men unfold
Young student women and supporters of Castro
When Glinn arrived in Havana early the next morning, he had already missed Batista’s hurried exit. Nobody was in charge and no-one knew what would happen next, or where Fidel Castro was. But over the subsequent ten days, Glinn documented the defining moments of the Cuban Revolution.
“At 11pm on December 31, 1958, I decided to fly to Cuba,” Glinn recalls. “At daybreak, I was sharing the streets of Havana with hundreds of delirious Cubans. Within four days, I had found Fidel, and by January 10 this project was completed.”
Glinn’s images have become one the defining photographic records of the victory of the Cuban Revolution. But the chaos and uncertainty that met him when he arrived in Havana meant that documenting the momentous events was no easy task. As Glinn said, “you just can’t hail a taxi and ask the cabbie to take you to the revolution.”
Castro Sympathisers take to the streets with small arms
Fidel Castro’s arrival into Havana
Glenn captured the triumphant scenes as Castro and his supporters swept into the city and the jubilation of ordinary Cubans at their liberation. But revolutions aren’t all fun and games and Glinn photographed Castro supporters emerging from hiding, gunshots being fired, panic on the streets and the rounding up of the Batista Secret Police.
Cuba 1959 is the product of the first ever unrestricted access to Burt Glinn’s incredible archive and his up-close and personal record of the Cuban Revolution plays out like a thriller.
Cuba 1959 by Burt Glinn is published by Reel Art Press.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Director Steve McQueen explores life under occupation
Steven McQueen provides a haunting examination of Amsterdam under Nazi occupation in contrast to its present in his documentary adapted from Bianca Stigter's book of the same name.
Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind
Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.
Written by: Emma Garland
Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”
Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.
Written by: Angela Hui
Meet the hair-raised radicals of Berlin’s noise punk scene
Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy of the German capital’s bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The rebellious roots of Cornwall’s surfing scene
100 years of waveriding — Despite past attempts to ban the sport from beaches, surfers have remained as integral, conservationist presences in England’s southwestern tip. A new exhibition in Falmouth traces its long history in the area.
Written by: Ella Glossop
We are all Mia Khalifa
How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.
Written by: Alya Mooro
