(Christian Science Monitor) 

In addition to the earnings from his foreign recordings, Ferrer receives a monthly paycheck of about $20 from a government cultural institution, which is a help, he says, "It covers the electric bill."

Instead of seeing himself as a victim of censorship, Ferrer's vision of the turns his career has taken is much more nuanced.

"It was a partial censorship, some of my songs were allowed while others were not," Ferrer says, sitting on the veranda of his home in a suburban Havana neighborhood. "I decided that I did not want to be told what I could or could not sing, so I intentionally removed myself from the official circuit."

The consequences of this split were not always easy for Ferrer: money was hard to come by for years, friends and colleagues turned their backs on him, musical institutions refused to sponsor his projects or his petitions to perform abroad, and he has been visited by officials from the state security agency.

Yet Ferrer has maintained two staunch positions in the face of such difficulties. His belief in freedom of speech is stronger than ever, evidenced by the commitment with which he carries on heated political and philosophical discussions on his front porch (which is perched on a well-traveled street corner). And his commitment to his own country has not waned. When asked if he has ever thought about leaving Cuba permanently, Ferrer's answer echoes that of other intellectuals. He says simply, "Why should I? It is my country."

While other outspoken critics of the government have faced harsher consequences, 75 journalists and other dissidents were arrested en masse in March 2003, Ferrer has been painstakingly careful with his words and actions to avoid trouble.

At the same time that he is openly critical of aspects of the government, he acknowledges Cuba's strengths, and it is clear that he is torn between hopes for the future of his country and the ideals of his Revolutionary upbringing.

Many of Ferrer's younger fans welcome this complexity, which goes beyond the often black-and-white ideology showcased on the nation's four state-run television channels. "Ferrer was almost erased from the Cuban consciousness because of his beliefs," says his fan, Gilberto Martínez. "Some people don't like his music, but I think that his criticism has been reasonable and constructive."

© 2005 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.

---

---

Back To Top