Pirates of the Caribbean tells the narrative of Reinaldo, a Cuban teenager who grew up listening to rock and roll and RandB on American radio stations. Reinaldo, seventeen, got caught up in the Cuban Revolution of 1959, which quickly turned socialist; and all expectations of keeping up with the latest American songs and trends vanished.As a result, Cuba's new leadership pledged a fervent relationship with the Soviet Union, and Reinaldo's most prized privileges began to plummet before his very eyes.Socialist propaganda flooded radio and television, as well as a curriculum that was filled with support for the state, support for economic structures, advocacy for the revolution, and patria o muerte (country or death).For those who did not sympathize with the new anticapitalist system and admired the American experiment, leaving Cuba was the only exit door.The exit, in this story, becomes a Caribbean Sea adventure of brave buccaneering piracy and danger zones, with Cuba's south coast serving as the setting for a clever plot to flee to the United States.There were a series of challenges, including clashes with Fidel Castro's supporters, a boat running aground, a catastrophic storm, a broken hull, and no food or water. For the twenty-three freedom seekers who participated in the trek, whatever sacrifice was required of them to gain freedom was worth it.

--Paul Nunez

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