Alina Fernandez, daughter of the Communist Cuban leader Fidel Castro, came to Oakland University Monday, Sept. 23 and spoke to students about her life in Cuba.

“She’s such an amazing woman and so humble, but she’s history,” Jean Ann Miller, director of the Center for Student Activities said. “It’s such an honor to be in her presence. She is a survivor, and so is her daughter, as well.”

 

Love affair

Her mother, Natalia “Naty” Revuelta Clews and Fidel Castro were born on opposite sides of Cuba.

Castro began The Movement, an illegal group that assembled together to overthrow the Cuban President, Fulgencio Batista.

One day a mysterious key was left for Castro to a house that could be used as a meeting place. This key came from Naty. After that, she became involved in Castro’s future plans.

Castro was thrown into jail, and according to Fernandez, that’s when their love blossomed through letters. Although, this was a love affair because Castro was married.

“Many of you know how powerful a letter can be,” Fernandez said. “The touch, smell and texture. I think that’s how their love began.”

After he was released from prison, he was also released from his marriage to.

In Jan. 1959, Fidel Castro came to power. His first speech was seven hours long. According to Fernandez, his longest speech lasted 12 hours.

Fernandez noted that she’d see Castro on her TV screen and at night he would show up in her living room.

“My mother lit up like a sprite when she saw him,” Fernandez said. “Only grandma called him the devil. At age 10, I was told he was my father —surprise.”

Although Castro was her father, Fernandez recalls he was never the type to help with homework.  

 

Living in Cuba

Fernandez recalled citizens of Cuba screaming “to the wall,” which signifies execution.

“I saw a blindfolded man get covered in red spots,” Fernandez said. “It took me nearly three years to realize I witnessed an execution.

During that time period, the Peter Pan Operation began. This was developed as a way to send children out of the country.

“Family, which is the base of American society, was destroyed in Cuba,” Fernandez said.

Family is ultimately what led her to make the escape from Cuba. Her daughter, became her motivation out of Cuba.

At age 37, Fernandez fled from Cuba disguised as a Spanish woman and came to the United States.

“At first everything was difficult,” Fernandez said. In Cuba, everything was decided for you. Here you need to learn how to function.”

Fernandez no longer has a relationship with Castro.

 

Fernandez today

Currently, Fernandez resides in Florida, where she has her own radio show called “Simplemente Alina” (Simple Alina) on WQBA in Miami.

She also wrote a biography called, “Castro’s daughter: An Exiles Memoir of Cuba,” and published it in 1998 by St. Martin’s Press.

A biographical movie is in her future. Sarah Siegel-Magness, most known for directing “Precious”, will be directing a biographical movie on Fernandez. 

According to Internet Movie Database (IMDB), the film is supposed to be released in Nov. 2015.