The Cuban Revolution was supposed to be for the people. That’s the promise Castro made to win the hearts of those so desperate for relief from the leadership of Fulgencio Batista. It would be a fight against injustice, a path to a better future, a future free from dictatorship. At least, that’s what Castro promised.

In the premier episode for Season 2 of The Freedom Records, Rosa Garcia outlines her first-hand experience of witnessing Castro’s rise to power, and the eventual fall of her beloved homeland, Cuba. She, like many of her neighbors, put a sign on her door that said, “This is your home, Fidel.”

But the moment Castro took power, everything changed.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, bank accounts were frozen, home ownership was transferred to the government, businesses were seized - even her father’s taxi was confiscated.

“Nothing is yours” became the new reality.

Over time, communist indoctrination was everywhere. It seeped into the lifeblood of the entire country.

Neighbor turned against neighbor. Grocery store shelves were empty. Religion was outlawed.

This is the reality of communism. Not a utopia, but a system of oppression that strips people of their freedom, their dignity, and their future.