Abstract
This paper is a personal discussion on Cuba from an anthropological which includes academic sources. It explores arts in Cuba, focusing on music and dance as cultural expressions also mentioned are Afro-Cuban rhythms. The paper also highlights music before and after the revolution. The author researches the Santeria religion.

From the Paper
"The new trend in anthropology today seems to be to conduct research in your own backyard. As a person with two backyards one in my homeland of the United States and the other in the Cuban homeland of my father's ancestors, I was fortunate to be able to take ..."

Tags:Cuba, Music, Dance, Revolution, Anthropology, Santeria, Afro-Cuban

Abstract
In this paper, the writer examines President John F. Kennedy's decision-making during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. The writer provides a background of the crisis. In the article, the writer discusses dealings between Kennedy and Soviet leader, Khrushchev. The writer also covers the outcome of the crisis.

From the Paper
"The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October when the Soviet Union under the leadership of Premier Nikita Khrushchev began placing offensive ballistic missiles in Cuba, just miles off the U. S. coast. Traditionally, historians have contended that Khrushchev began placing the missiles in Cuba from a position of strength, intended to defy a weak foe, President John F. Kennedy. They emphasized the apparent resolve Kennedy showed in dealing with Khrushchev, essentially portraying Kennedy as a man who finally became presidential during ... "

Tags:kennedy, cuban missile crisis, Khrushchev

Abstract
The paper discusses how during the Cuban Missile Crisis in late October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy's ability to balance issues of national interest against the imminent threat of global nuclear war was the most important aspect of his leadership. The paper notes that ironically, it was the dissension within the ranks of Kennedy's advisors that ultimately produced a viable solution that enabled the United States to compel Soviet removal of the missiles from Cuba without an invasion and subsequent escalation into nuclear war.

From the Paper
"During the Cuban Missile Crisis in late October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy's ability to balance issues of national interest against the imminent threat of global nuclear war was the most important aspect of his leadership. Ironically, it was the dissension within the ranks of Kennedy's advisors that ultimately produced a viable solution that enabled the United States to compel Soviet removal of the missiles from Cuba without an invasion and subsequent escalation into nuclear war."

Tags:cuban, missile, crisis

Abstract
A very brief overview of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

From the Paper
"The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most dangerous moments in the history of the human race. For sixteen days in October of 1962, the world watched in horror as the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a stare-down over nuclear weapons deployed by the Soviet Union in Cuba. Five months earlier in May of 1962, the premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, decided to deploy nuclear missiles to Cuba. This decision was seen as a way to counter the vast..."

Tags:cuban, missile, crisis, kennedy, kruschev, 1962

Abstract
The paper argues that the leadership of John F. Kennedy was tested during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The paper explains that the creation of the ExComm, together with JFK's own willingness to heed advice, take responsibility for decisions and explore all options, may well have spared the world from nuclear disaster.

From the Paper
"President John F. Kennedy is today celebrated as much for his steady leadership during tumultuous times as he is lauded for his eloquence and ability to inspire. At no time during his presidency and perhaps during his life would JFK be asked to handle an event more challenging-and more potentially combustible-than the Cuban Missile Crisis."

Tags:JFK, Kennedy, Cuban Missile Crisis, ExComm, Khrushchev

Abstract
This paper addresses the Afro-centric Social Work paradigm, giving the definition and meaning of "Afro-centricity" and further describing the values and concepts of Afro-centricity as a social science paradigm on which social work practice can be built. The article describes the origins and principles of the Afro-centric or African-centered paradigm, the relationship of Afro-centricity to social problems, and explains the reasons for the emergence of an Afro-centric social science perspective.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Afro-centricity - Definition and Meaning
Afro-centricity as an Emerging Paradigm in Social Work Practice
Effects on Male and Female Groups
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Peoples of African origin have a unique place within a multicultural society. The history of African Americans in the United States differs from those who came to US as immigrants. Despite African Americans' social and economic progress, they continue to lag behind White America in the areas of income, education, and health (McKinnon, 2003). While several models of social work practice that can assist colored people have emerged, the concept "Afro-centricity" better describes the cultural values of people of African descent and deployed for the social work practice. Social workers are encouraged to follow the Afro-centric paradigm because of its emphasis on eliminating oppression of the colored people."

Tags:value, system, sensitive, approach, social, science, traditional, culture, behavior

Abstract
This paper discusses Afro-Brazilian dance forms. It looks briefly at the history and origins of the dance form and discusses its importance in understanding the culture in Brazil. The paper then focuses on specific forms of Afro-Brazilian dance. It describes each dance form, the occasion in which the dance is used and how it is performed by the dancers.

Table of Contents:
Candomble
Samba
Capoeira

From the Paper
"The Candomble dancing is a ceremonial, religious dance, done during one of the numerous terreiros de candomble scattered throughout the city of Bahaia. Women wear long skirts, usually colored ones. They dance to be respectful to the orixas, or gods. "Each deity represents a given force or element in nature, and has a favourite colour and type of food. Yemanja, for example, is the goddess of the sea, who usually dresses in blue and white. The favourite colour of Oxun, the goddess of beauty, is yellow. In the religious ceremonies, practitioners dress in the colours of the orixas and place food at the altar before singing special songs and dancing precisely choreographed steps to the sacred drums. The anthropomorphic nature of the orixa allows an intimate contact between believer and deity, and the highlight of the Candomble ceremony is the epiphany, or possession, when the orixa takes over the believer's body" (Davis)"

Tags:candomble, samba, capoeira

Abstract
This paper explains that, in pop music, audience enjoyment and commercial success are more important than artistic concepts, such as complex musical form and aesthetics. All pop music, which is any contemporary music not categorized as jazz or classical, the author contends, evolves from another kind of music, such as hip hop that stems from folk, rhythm & blues, jazz, country and gospel music. The paper examines hip hop music, a term used interchangeably with rap music, and salsa, which actually is American music from New York with an Afro-Cuban origination. An annotated bibliography is included.

From the Paper
"Woody Guthrie popularized the style and he is known to be the innovator of it. More recently, Bob Dylan, who was strongly influenced by Guthrie, also utilized this style and brought life back to it in the 1960's. It came to be a trademark of country music (think of Willie Nelson), and can be considered an early predecessor of rap. As can be seen in comparison, hip hop grew out of this same tradition. Hip hop is known for stripping down the melody, emphasizing the rhythm, and incorporating verbalization along with vocal spontaneity and improvisation."

Tags:improvisation, electronic amplification, jamaican dancehall, griots immigration

Abstract
This paper discusses Santeria, an African religion passed on through Cuban slaves. It describes the history of the religion, its rituals, and the major deities of the religion. The paper then discusses membership among Santerian communities and the rituals and holidays that members are expected to observe. Finally, the paper discusses Palo, which is considered to be a sect of Santeria.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
History and Sources
Major Deities
Membership and Community
Rituals
Holidays
Palo
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Witchcraft, or brujeria, is not often employed among santeros. Palo means "branch" or "wooden stick" which is appropriate because their rituals often employ the use of wood and herbs. There are two main sects within Palo: Palo Monte and Palo Mayombe. Palo Mayombe is considered the "good" sect and Palo Monte is the "bad" sect. Palo Mayombe feel that a Catholic baptism in necessary to join the sect, and anyone who has not been baptized is evil. Palo Monte are not baptized and work for the devil. All Palos work with the spirits of the dead, but the Palo Monte group work exclusively with the spirits of suicides, criminals and evil witches. A practitioner of this sect can be identified by the razor cuts along their skin. Their source of power comes from their cauldrons, also called nganga, in which are kept items such as human skulls, bones, graveyard dust, crossroad dust, branches, herbs, insects, animal and bird carcasses and hot spices. Followers of the Palo sect are very secretive, especially in comparison to most Santerians. This is because their rituals involve human remains, a practice most people do not agree with. Chango is the god they worship most often because they believe he came from the Congo, not Nigeria, and most Palo worshipers are from the Congo."

Tags:Palo, membership, Afro-Cuban, brujeria, sect

Abstract
This paper examines the development of the Yoruba religion often known as Santeria. The paper explains that the Yoruba people were brought to the New World as slaves in the fifteenth century to work on the sugar and coffee plantations; they were forced to adhere to Catholicism, but were able to maintain the religion of their ancestry by sincretizing their native cultural beliefs with the saints and other aspects of Catholicism. The paper also takes a deep look into the Cuban religion from a micro perspective by underlining its fundamental principles and concepts and by taking a look into its five initiation processes, which include that of the guerreros, los ilekes, cofa o mano, kariocha and the ceremony when one becomes ifa, or priest. The paper concludes that Santeria is a religion of faith that endured several transcultural processes to become what it is today.

From the Paper
"One of the first initiations into the religion is the initiation of mano o cofa. This is when one receives the grace and protection of Orula, the orisha who possess the secrets of universe. During this process the initiate learns his or her destiny and their mission in life and is assigned their orisha. This is accomplished by the instrument the babalow uses called the okuele. This divination system consists of eight shells intersected by chains. The babalow throws them several times and interprets them depending on side the shells land. With this instrument, he is able to communicate directly with Orula. The ceremony of mano o cofa are the same, except cofa is for women and mano is for men. In this initiation, the initiate receives their green and yellow beads representing Orula, and it believed that they possess a special power of the orisha, known as "ache" (Gonzales-Wippler, 45-50; Canizares, 59)."

Tags:Lucumi, Regla, Ocha, Afro-Cuban, initiation