In April 1980 several hundred Cubans, fed up witha bleak economy, stormed the Peruvian embassy in Havanna, demanding asylum. And over the next few days their numbers grew to over ten thousand. In response, Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel to anyone wishing to leave Cuba. And they could, as long as they could arrange to be picked up by boat. Family and friends in the United States quickly organized and sent hundreds of boats from Florida, in what became known as the Mariel boat lift. 120,000 people made it out of Cuba, among them a nine year-old boy named Edel Rodriguez. This 9 year-old boy went on to become one of the most celebrated illustrators in the United States
On this episode Debbie talks to Edel about his career and his celebrated illustrations of Donald Trump. “You don’t appease fascists. You really do confront it as strongly as possible. And that’s what I wanted to do with that cover.”
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