Cuba: Beyond the Icons - Race, Gender & Social Change (Postponed)

Summary

Program postponed to Summer 2027 due to an unfolding humanitarian crisis in-country.

The Cuban Revolution has generated some of the most iconic symbols of the power of transformative social movements. Images of Che Guevarra and Fidel Castro with triumphant fists in the air loom large. Inspiring some and infuriating others, they continue to be a part of the progressive imagination. But what forces inspired the Cuban revolution and how do pro-revolutionary people transform a society not only from capitalism to socialism but from structural racism and rigid ideas of gender? Can the legacies of slavery and segregation be eradicated? How does the concept of “race” differ in Cuba than in the U.S? What will the role of women and the LGBTQ+ community be in this evolving nation committed to the ideals of equality?

This program offers an immersive study abroad examination of issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social change in Cuba. Students will critically examine the historical and contemporary experiences of Afro-Cubans, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and related grassroots movements and institutions within the context of historical forces, Cuban social structures, and current geopolitical realities. It offers a critical understanding of the processes of colonization, enslavement, racialization, nationalism, revolution, socialism, gender and sexuality, within the context of U.S. foreign policy and intervention both past and present.

Importantly, by engaging with local communities, scholars, artists, and organizers, students will gain a deeper understanding of Cuba’s social, cultural, and political dynamics and the ways in which resilience, creativity, and activism shape identity and social change.

Highlights include:

• Volunteering at local community centers that preserve the shared traditions between Cuba, Africa, and its diaspora.
• Private Cuban jazz performances at the homes of famous Cuban Jazz musicians.
• Day trips including day trip to Las Terrazas for ecological and cultural immersion including workshops on sustainable living and community-led environmental initiatives This area is part of the Sierra del Rosario, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1985.
   

Dates:

• June 30* – July 31, 2026

Dates are subject to change. *Note students are asked to arrive in Miami on June 30th, and will take a group flight to Cuba the next day.

Course:

• Ethnic Studies N180: Selected Topics in Comparative Ethnic Studies

Units: 6 units

Language of Instruction: English

Requirements Satisfied by this Program:

• L&S International Studies Breadth
• L&S Social Behavioral Studies Breadth
• Consult with your college/major advisor to see which degree requirements this course may fulfill.

Note: Requirements above must be satisfied through full participation (all courses must be completed with C-/P or better)

Eligibility:

• At least one year of college coursework completed by the start of the program
• 2.0 GPA or higher
• Must be in good academic standing, and not on academic notice
• Must be 18+ years old at the time of application

Housing:

• Students will live at a hotel located in Old Havana. This hotel is a beautifully adapted house from the early 20th century that has been restored, maintaining its original features such as tile floors, interior and exterior carpentry, glassworks and ironworks. 

• Students will have access to a rooftop terrace with hot tub and lounge space, garden patio, several areas for studying, reliable wifi, air conditioning and friendly staff.

• The property is located at a short walking distance of the main attractions from Old Havana including restaurants, museums, houses of culture and more.

• Please note that students on the program are only able to travel within Havana on Days off

Food:

• Breakfast is provided at the hotel every morning. Lunch is provided every day Monday through Friday and on any group weekend excursion days. A Welcome and Closing Dinner is also provided.

Application:

Application opens February 4, 2026

• Space is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
• Deadline to apply is March 5, 2026

Courses

Course Listing: ES N180

Course Title: Selected Topics in Comparative Ethnic Studies

Units: 6

Instructor: Siri Brown

Course description:

The Cuban Revolution has created one of the most iconic symbols of the power of transformative armed social movements. Images of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in military khakis with triumphant fists in the air loom large. Inspiring some and infuriating others, they continue to be a part of the progressive imagination. But what forces inspired the revolution and how do the pro-revolutionary people transform a society not only from capitalism to socialism but from structural racism and rigid ideas of gender? Can the legacies of slavery and segregation be eradicated? How does the concept of “race” differ in Cuba than in the U.S? What will the role of women and the LGBTQ+ community be in this evolving nation committed to the ideals of equality?

This course offers an immersive study abroad examination of issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social change in Cuba. Students will critically examine the historical and contemporary experiences of Afro-Cubans, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and related grassroots movements and institutions within the context of historical forces, Cuban social structures, U.S. aggression, and current geopolitical realities. It offers a critical understanding of the processes of colonization, enslavement, racialization, nationalism, revolution, socialism, gender and sexuality, within the context of U.S. foreign policy and intervention both past and present. Importantly, by engaging with local communities, scholars, artists, and organizers, students will gain a deeper understanding of Cuba’s social, cultural, and political dynamics and the ways in which resilience, creativity, and activism shape identity and social change.

Requirements Satisfied by this Program:

• L&S International Studies Breadth
• L&S Social Behavioral Studies Breadth
• Consult with your college/major advisor to see which degree requirements this course may fulfill.

Note: Requirements above must be satisfied through full participation (all courses must be completed with C-/P or better)

Costs

Tuition and Program Fee

The fees to participate in this program are broken down into 1) tuition and 2) program fees, which are applied to your student billing account as follows:

Fees are subject to change. All non-Berkeley  students must pay an additional Document Management Fee of $73.

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses

In addition to the fees outlined above, Berkeley Study Abroad has estimated costs for out-of-pocket expenses. These amounts are used to calculate financial aid packages for eligible students. Actual expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for Berkeley students who are enrolled in at least 6 units during the summer. Students can request a financial aid package estimate to understand what their individual financial aid package will look like. We recommend all financial aid eligible students request a financial aid estimate.

​​Requesting a financial aid package estimate: If you wish to receive a financial aid package estimate, please fill out this form (CalNet Authentication required). You will receive an email with your financial aid estimate (please allow a minimum of one week for response).

If you have a specific question about a study abroad financial aid issue you are encountering, please email TravelAid@berkeley.edu. Please do not email to request a financial aid estimate, these requests should be made using the form above. 

All other students should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for more information.

Explanation of Fees

Tuition is based on a per unit cost:

• The UC undergraduate student rate is $436 per unit
• The visiting student rate for all non-UC participants is $635 per unit

The program fee includes* the following items:

• Housing
• Breakfast Daily and Lunch M-F
• Roundtrip Flight from Miami to Cuba
• Field trips and excursions for the course

*The list of items included in the program fee is not all-inclusive and is subject to change.

The following items are excluded from the program fee and included in the Out of Pocket expenses estimate:

• Flight to Miami to check into program on program start date
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, routine medical expenses, toiletries, etc.)
• Course materials (textbooks and readers). Contact instructor for clarification.
• Other travel expenses (passport, visa, etc.)
• Additional Meals
• some on the ground transportation

Timeline

† Students should plan to fly to Miami and check into program housing on June 30, 2026. Students will then take a group flight the next day from Miami to Cuba. Students will take an early morning group flight from Cuba back to Miami on July 31, 2026 and can arrange to leave Miami airport after 3p.m. on July 31, 2026. Students can arrive early to Miami, or depart later from Miami but they are responsible for arranging their accommodations outside of the program check in and check out dates.

All dates are subject to change.

Instructors

Dr. Siri Brown

Professor of Ethnic Studies

As a passionate and committed educator, Dr. Brown served as a tenured African American Studies professor at Merritt College, and as a part-time faculty at UC Berkeley in Ethnic Studies for over 25 years. During 5 years of her academic career, she served in administration including over 4 years as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Success for the Peralta Community College District. She holds an M.A. in African American Studies and Ph.D. in U.S. History with an emphasis in Early American, African American, and U.S. Women’s history from The Ohio State University.  Her research centers on the racialized legal and social resistance to violence against women. She is a two-time Fulbright recipient of a research project on the African cultural heritage of Salvador Bahia, Brazil (2012) where she focused on the role of African spirituality in the history of resistance to slavery in that region, and South Africa (2019) where the focus of the project was on post-apartheid resistance and justice movements. Recently retired from Merritt College, her current focus is as founder and CEO of Global Academics, a non-profit organization that takes African American youth and organizations to explore the Black World.

At Merritt College, Dr. Brown served as Chair of Ethnic Studies and Social Sciences for 10 years.  As Chair, she developed an annual study abroad program for underserved African American students and has taken hundreds of students to Jamaica, Ghana, Cuba, and more to learn about the history and culture of the countries and globalize their understanding of the Black world.  To expand in-depth learning experiences, Dr. Brown also established two Africana Studies Centers at Merritt College and McClymonds High School which hold an original digital and interactive curriculum on African and African American History that is bilingual and exceeds district ADA requirements.