He remained controversial in this world most of the time. Due to his determination and devotion, he could challenge the world powers. He believed that the ever more sophisticated weapons piling up in the arsenals of the wealthiest and the mightiest can kill the illiterate, the ill, the poor and the hungry, but they cannot kill ignorance, illness, poverty or hunger.
such a figure is Fidel Castro. He was born as Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz on August 13, 1926, near his father's farm, Biran, in southeast Cuba. Castro's father, Angel Castro, was an immigrant from Spain who had prospered in Cuba as a sugarcane farmer. Although Castro's father, Angel, was married to Maria Luisa Argota (not Castro's mother), who worked for him as a maid and cook. Years later, Angel and Lina did marry.
Fidel Castro spent his youngest years on his father's farm, but spent most of his youth in Catholic boarding schools, excelling at sports. In 1945, Castro began law school at the University of Havana and quickly became involved in politics. In 1947, Castro joined the Caribbean Legion, a group of political exiles from Caribbean countries who planned to rid the Caribbean of dictator-led governments. When Castro Joined, the Legion was planning to overthrow Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo of the Dominican Republic but the plan was later canceled because of international pressure.
In 1950, Castro graduated from law school and began practicing law. Retaining a strong interest in politics, Castro became a candidate for a seat in Cuba's House of Representatives during the election of June 1952. However, the fair election failed, Castro began to organize an under ground group of rebels.
Castro formed an armed rebellion group and fought against Batista government. On that course, he was sentenced to jail for many years. In 1955, he traveled to Mexico organizing the "26th of July Movement" with the intention of starting a revolution. Using guerrilla warfare tactics, Castro and his supporters attacked batista's forces, overtaking town after town. Batista quickly lost popular support and suffered numerous defeats. On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba.
After the fall of Batista, Castro was placed in charge of the military. However, by July 1959, Castro had effectively taken over as leader of Cuba,which he remained for the next four decades. During 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba, including nationalizing industry, collectivizing agriculture, and seizing American-owned businesses and farms. Also during these two years, Castro alienated the United States and established strong ties with the Soviet Union. Castro transformed Cuba into a communist country. The United States wanted Castro out of power. In one attempt to overthrow Sastro, the U.S. sponsored the failed incursion of Cuban-exiles into Cuba in April 1961. Over the years, the U.S. has made hundreds of attempts to assassinate Castro, all with no success.
Over the next four decades, Castro ruled Cuba as a dictator. While some Cubans benefited from Castro's educational and land reforms, others suffered from the food shortages and lack of personal freedoms. hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled to live in the united States. In July 2006, Castro announced that he was temporarily handing over power to his brother, Raul. Since in 1959, Fidel Castro took control of Cuba by force and remained its dictatorial leader for nearly five decades. As the leader of the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere, Castro has been the focus of international controversy. The socialist president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez is a grand admirer of Castro and Bolivian president Evo Morales called him the "Grandfather." In Harlem, Castro is seen as an icon.
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