Alexander von Humbolt and Cuba

Alberto Gutierrez writes: "Alexander von Humboldt is considered Cuba's second discoverer. His scientific work there was extraordinary.I strongly recomend the reading of his excellent "Ensayo Politico sobre la Isla de Cuba" to understand my homeland during the early days of the XIX century. Humboldt spoke Spanish fluently and considered himself "medio americano". Humboldt also was a free thinker, and all indicates that his ideas influenced Simon Bolivar. His opposition to slavery was noteworthy. He said: "While I support mankind, I also reject the unpleasant pretension of superior and inferior races. Having reached a higher level of culture, some races are more capable than others, but no race is more noble than other". In spite of the support of Cuban intellectuals and scientists, the Spanish colonial government in Havana prohibited the Ensayo because it felt threatened by Humbolt's principles. I once strolled along Unter den Linden, in East Berlin, and found the marble statue Cubans had placed in honor of Humboldt many years ago outside the university bearing his name".

RH:
While we are grateful to Alberto for this information, Humboldt is associated primarily with Mexico and the Andes. Some articles on him do not even mention Cuba. Humboldt and Aime Bonpland sailed from Venezuela to Cuba in November, 1800 and returned to Venezuela after spending a few months in Cuba. Hia Essai politique sur l'”le de Cuba was included in the unfinished Relation Historique (1814-1825). The University of Berlin was founded in 1810 by the classicist Wilhelm von Humboldt, the brother of Alexander, who set up the science departments. It was named the Friedrich Wilhelm University, It was closed during World War II and reopened in 1949 with the name Humboldt, honoring the two famous brothers. I know nothing about the statue Alberto speaks of, and I am puzzled why Cubans should have erected it. What were the circumstances? Did it have anything to do with Fidel Castro's visit to East Berlin?

I visited the university during the Communist regime, hoping to speak with colleagues. However, everyone avoided me, frightened of being reported for speaking to a Westerner. At a seminar in Romania I had met an old intellectual who clearly did not feel constrained by the Communist regime. He was a member of the Academy, and he invited me to call on him there when I was in East Berlin. I went to the Academy, and at the reception desk asked to see him. The receptionist looked upset and disappeared to talk with her boss. After about five minutes she reappeared and simply said "There is no such person". I hope he was not reported for my attempt to see him. Stanford's motto is the old German saying "Die Luft der Freiheit weht"--the wind of freedom blows. It certainly did not blow in East Germany.