Babalublog.com editor Alberto De La Cruz on Cuba, exile politics, and activist blogging
Alberto De La Cruz is the managing editor at Babalú Blog, which for years has been among the more recognizable independent sources of news and commentary on Cuban-American life, Cuban exile politics, and human rights activism in Cuba. The site tends to feature conservative political views, but has also been a platform for everything from cultural content to recipes (especially from past Pan Con Podcast guest Marta Darby). These days, the content comes primarily from Alberto and Carlos Eire, a Yale professor and winner of a National Book Award for his memoir, Waiting for Snow in Havana.
Full disclosure: TLP host Nick Jiménez was a contributor and editor at Babalu in the aughts.
In this conversation, Alberto and Nick talk about the early days of blogging, dealing with the Cuban government’s Internet trolls, and the political divides that exist among Cuban Americans who approach opposition to the Cuban dictatorship from opposite ends the debate on U.S. policy on trade and travel.
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Nicolás Antonio Jiménez is the founder of DADE. He’s always working through his rotation of writer, podcast host, podcast producer, photographer and editor hats.
A Miami native and graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Nick’s background includes work in democracy promotion, human rights advocacy, content marketing and magazine journalism (most recently as senior editor of Cigar Snob).