Latin American History professor to discuss improved relations between the United States and Cuba

WHAT: The World Affairs Council of Central Illinois and the University of Illinois Springfield Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series will examine “U.S.–Cuba Relations: Will This Thaw Continue?” The discussion will be led by Frank Argote-Freyre, a noted author, activist, journalist and professor of Latin American History at Kean University.

WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library

DETAILS: Was the historic meeting on April 11, 2014 between Raul Castro and Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas a harbinger of a normalized relationship between the U.S. and Cuba? Will the U.S. soon end its trade embargo? Will the Cuban government protect human rights? Will all travel restrictions be eliminated? How far will this thaw in the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. go? What will the new relationship between Havana and Washington look like? What are the obstacles and challenges to forging a new relationship? These questions and others will be addressed at this presentation by Frank Argote-Freyre.

As an author, Argote-Freyre wrote Fulgencio Batista: From Revolutionary to Strongman. His work was named Outstanding Book of the Year in 2007 by Choice Magazine. He also co-authored, with Danilo Figueredo, A Brief History of the Caribbean. Argote-Freyre is the president of the Latino Action Network. As a journalist, he has written numerous articles on topics ranging from nuclear power to corruption in the mental health system of New Jersey. At Kean University and at Rutgers, he has taught courses on the History of Cuba, History of Mexico, Colonial Latin America, and Modern Latin America.

The event is co-sponsored by the UIS Diversity Center and Organization of Latin American Students. For a list of other upcoming ECCE Speaker Series events and more information, visit www.uis.edu/speakerseries/. All events are free and open to the public.