The Fifth Column Cuba, Race, and the American Category Problem w/Ted Henken (Members Only #312)
Mar 31, 2026
Ted Henken, a sociologist and Cuba expert who has studied Cuban politics, journalism, and migration, joins to discuss why the U.S. stays fixated on Cuba. He recounts his personal ties to the island and the rise of internet access. He explains El Paquete, the offline media distribution system, and how authorities tolerate it under limits.
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El Yuma The Gringo Who Became Cuban
- Ted Henken describes himself as a longtime insider-outsider: a gringo who became "El Yuma" through deep ties, marriages, and academic work on Cuba.
- He taught a Cuba class, has a PhD in Latin American studies, and lived across the region before focusing on Cuba.
Why Cuba Still Matters To U.S. Policy
- Cuba matters less for resources or military threat and more because of influential Cuban Americans and recent massive emigration to the U.S.
- Ted Henken notes possibly 1–2 million left in five years, making migration and the Cuban-American vote core U.S. interests.
Human Rights And Realpolitik Collide Over Cuba
- U.S. interest in Cuba mixes genuine human-rights concerns with classic realpolitik focused on stability and access.
- Henken contrasts American values (press, assembly) with historical U.S. priority of tolerating friendly dictators for access.