Castro from a Different Perspective

        The first word that pops to my mind when "Castro" comes up is "dictator." Roberto Salas, a Cuban photographer, knew him in a different way. He knew him personally and became one of few trusted common people to be included in Castro's circle. Salas grew up in New Jersey with his two Cuban parents. He shared his father's interest in photography. The two were asked to do a photography project with many world leaders such as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara of Cuba. Castro was in his twenties at the time and Salas was 18. This was the beginning of the life time relationship of the photographer, Roberto Salas, and Fidel Castro.
         I had the opportunity to meet Salas and hear his stories that his photographs tell. One of my favorites was the photo to the left which shows Castro in a Cuban baseball uniform on the pitcher's mound. Castro loved baseball but clearly didn't have much time to devote to sports. As the story goes, after working one night, he and his brother Raul decided to go out to play some ball. He was pitching while Raul was at bat. Roberto Salas was off to the side taking the pictures. Now having two powerful leaders in play, the umpire figured he was in a bad position either way; after all, any call he made one of them would be against it. And this was all taking place while the rest of the people of Cuba were sleeping at 3:30 in the morning!
         I like this picture because it shows a side of Castro that many do not see or know. Who would have thought a story like this would be behind the person most of us know as the dictator of Cuba?! It is important to remember that people have many sides to them in order to fully appreciate who they are. As Americans, we may see Fidel as a monster, but Salas' pictures show a very human side to him. It appeared to me that the only side of Castro's personality that most Cubans know is the Castro that left them without freedom of choice, religion, and speech. Cubans that we met were scared to voice their own opinions, fearing harsh punishments for speaking against the government.  However, love him or hate him, most Cubans can't conceive of life without Castro.
       To read more about Roberto and his father check out this New York Times article or Roberto Salas's photograph book, Fidel's Cuba: A Revolution in Pictures.