Our special spring issue is out soon. Get a discounted subscription to our print magazine today. Your support keeps us publishing!

When the Pencil Was the Sword

By: Lily Sanchez

When revolutionary Cuba asked its youth to eliminate illiteracy, 100,000 answered the call, reshaping their country and themselves in the process.

(STF / AFP / Getty Images)

In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Senator Bernie Sanders was grilled by the media about his “repeated” history of praising Cuba’s education system. When the subject of Cuba came up at a Charleston, South Carolina, primary debate, Sanders was booed by some in the crowd. “Really? Really?” Sanders asked the audience. “Literacy programs are bad?” Today […]

Sorry, but this article is available to subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber.

Small

In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Senator Bernie Sanders was grilled by the media about his “repeated” history of praising Cuba’s education system. When the subject of Cuba came up at a Charleston, South Carolina, primary debate, Sanders was booed by some in the crowd. “Really? Really?” Sanders asked the audience. “Literacy programs are bad?” Today […]

Medium

In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Senator Bernie Sanders was grilled by the media about his “repeated” history of praising Cuba’s education system. When the subject of Cuba came up at a Charleston, South Carolina, primary debate, Sanders was booed by some in the crowd. “Really? Really?” Sanders asked the audience. “Literacy programs are bad?” Today […]

Large

In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Senator Bernie Sanders was grilled by the media about his “repeated” history of praising Cuba’s education system. When the subject of Cuba came up at a Charleston, South Carolina, primary debate, Sanders was booed by some in the crowd. “Really? Really?” Sanders asked the audience. “Literacy programs are bad?” Today […]