Cuba: An American History

by Ada Ferrer

The Spanish made them kneel in groups of six, their backs to the firing squad. When it was Crittenden’s turn, he allegedly refused and spoke words later reproduced all over the United States: “An American kneels only to his God and always faces his enemy.” López himself survived that first encounter, but with no prospects for reinforcements, the expedition’s future was bleak. Hiding in the hills, he ended up having to eat his own horse, roasted with corn and plantains. Authorities captured and then quickly tried and condemned him. Just before his execution, he shouted, “My death will not change the destiny of Cuba!” Then he was garroted to death before a crowd.

People of Cuba, rise up and move! People of Cuba, awaken! This is my last knock on the door!” Then he opened his briefcase, took out a gun, and shot himself on-air. But he spoke for too long, and just before the shot rang out, the program cut to a commercial for Café Pilón.