![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/uJv1nziNtpFQW_3pL_iqWZLmSnnbg_1Wx_wHWgivKE8/w:400/h:400/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:82/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL3Bob3RvXzUyNjAuanBn.jpg)
Achy Obejas, a Havana-born member of the In These Times Board of Editors, is the author of Ruins (Akashic 2009, akashicbooks.com) and Aguas & Otros Cuentos (Editorial Letras Cubanas, 2009). A former staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, she is also the translator, into Spanish, of Junot Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Riverhead 2008). She is currently the Distinguished Visiting Writer at Mills College, Oakland, Calif.
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/nMoFCsuOIrJbg8hLMDkiJthMxkjUQCkrFPA76UgUVFM/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc19HZXR0eUltYWdlcy01MTY3Mzk4MDh3LmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Obama’s Cuba Visit Reflects Shift of Cuban-Americans Away From the GOP
Younger Cuban Americans are radically departing from the political views of their elders
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/PAffEzqByALfRSzjZjdqQVRr2DcB42F2P5DFJ6Hzgu8/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09iZWphc19DdWJhX09iYW1hX1Jlc3RvcmVkX1JlbGF0aW9ucy5qcGc.jpg)
Viewpoint
Why Cuba, Why Now?
The 5 likeliest reasons behind Obama's surprise move to reverse a 53-year-old policy.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Hf1vMx10a7X3lWdqjc2iuXed6AmEwxVm9-F49PKa1gQ/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09iZWphc180NTQ5NzA4NzRfMTAtd2ViLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Obama’s Delay on Immigration: Shameful, But Savvy
Latinos won't tip the midterms. Anti-immigrant right-wingers might.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/6AHr2bLfv1tQYx0Wy9HmWR-0MBErLgGsOYrvr1Yv2bk/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc180ODY3MTYxMTkud2ViLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Venezuela Tries the Talking Cure
Amidst turmoil, President Maduro meets with opposition leaders. But will it help?
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/B9MRnaIsqxjY-RuUCZslzi9Q7pf_9fWU80pHmCJ7uIw/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09iZWphc19XRUIxODEwMTgyNzhfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Feature
Cuban Players, Caught in a Pickle
U.S. law pushes Cuban baseball players into exile if they wish to go pro.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/NZWTEeTGyUTGHdlCJTcCVxh0lZHQyrpi_0q_3jcKXfo/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc180NzY4NjU2ODEud2ViLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Ending the Pain in Venezuela
A call for civility between Venezuela's warring factions.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/2yCjh4BtYw3mi5KPujxdu51uOrF4xhzaDRxt9y7CytU/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc180NTM4MjMxMTFfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
Citizens of Nowhere
Thousands of Haitian-Dominicans were stripped of Dominican citizenship. Where's the U.S. outrage?
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Rv1S7c1_ZXFyI1slK5_ZtimvRPT8Uq6WUalLjdzJUQ4/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc180NTMwNDE5NzlfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
Obamacare After Obama
The Affordable Care Act's issues will be far from resolved by 2016.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/OVl_rgX5ILIp80hqoQs6kk1RZOC7LqIG0pR5L5NWOUI/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09iZWphc18xODIwMjEwNDVfMTAyLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
How Cuba’s Bitter Sons Shut Down the U.S. Government
In Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, the Tea Party found the perfect pawns.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/hmluxdQgjm2ordRvGwAUwW5apcDYr1lbYyqsHsSXL9g/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09CRUpBU18xNDE3MzQ0NzVfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
Which Box Would Zimmerman Check?
How Trayvon Martin's killing challenged our assumptions about Latinos.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/ywFptVW3RRoAufpp3NYGovMUIDtnqYgRpOkOtlRgfsw/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc19jcHMxLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Robbing Peter to Pay DePaul
As Rahm Emanuel decimates public schools, he's gifting a private college $55 million in public funds.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/zPwKjRDb157PHftfYjwinQxqPR6zV8sccFKr3jXrklM/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc18xNjI3ODQxODBfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
Our Iron Curtain
The 'border security' provisions of the new immigration bill solve a problem that isn't.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Tcwhb4fRxD8BYq8aw7s9pf1S-GdO6FBruAAGcaULk4Y/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL21pZ3VlbF9ndWV2YXJhLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
The Next Chavez?
A narrow victory bought Nicolás Maduro immense power.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/5uG-MB1zY9of0J6PG50O82DhLOGmJV5Ab5GiJHlm7ZQ/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc18xNjQ3MTc4ODRfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
The Gay Old Party
Republicans are waving a white flag in their battle against marriage equality--or is that a rainbow flag?
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/DZuj1oBFUmVn-oemJeM5zDvai7OAJrY4UFwInBlJan4/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc18xNjE3MDA1MDJfMTAuanBn.jpg)
Viewpoint
The GOP’s Cuban Conundrum
As they begin to lose their Cuban-American base, Republicans start seeing faults in a Cold War-era immigration policy.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/dO-2nmdY3S-grmXHi3mSqZc4XdX4w8flLihA5Ke2FKE/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL09iZWphc19IdWdvX0NoYXZlel9TaWNrX1Bob3Rvc19TdWNjZXNzaW9uLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
How Long Can Hugo Chavez Call In Sick?
Venezuela's ailing president has kept the wolves at bay for 69 days, but restlessness is brewing.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/IeHGCXzF8KAz_5AEp21zHHSTKFpvmrbyY1jV7xYp9lc/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzLzM3LjJfT0JFSkFTLUdPUF9FZGl0aW9uMi5qcGc.jpg)
Viewpoint
Extreme Makeover: GOP Edition
Fearful of being outflanked by far-right extremists, the GOP is pushing for moderation in its ranks.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/1761hSeQocIEVHZXCtWTotbiQ25h8W2K7x0ugUQ918A/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL29iZWphc19ib3JuLWNoaWxkLWhvbW9waG9iaWEtaG9tb3Bob2JpYy1xdW90ZS1GYXZpbS5qcGc.jpg)
Viewpoint
Who’s Afraid of Homophobia?
The Associated Press's decision to favor 'anti-gay' over 'homophobic' isn't as bad as some say.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/4-va9koPIQQHbp61a_bu6hBUgKCZZPwKuEPL7HKWEEo/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL3ZpZXdzX09iZWphc18xNTQ1MjA3NzdfMTAxLmpwZw.jpg)
Viewpoint
Castro’s Greatly Exaggerated Demise
Rumors of Fidel's failing health are likely overplayed yet again.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/Ut7ABKiLmc4sLAaJr8kchcmcRDwdhYm1-4_X8YEAn2A/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9pdHQtaW1hZ2VzL3ZpZXdfb2JlamFzXzE1MTUwNzk4NV8xMC5qcGc.jpg)
Viewpoint
Voting for Obama with No Illusions
Four reasons to keep Obama in the White House and Romney out.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/HAWxe2ZW5cNhadud04N8ueKy1-PnOW6zn2r_kKM--k4/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zNS8wMi9mZWF0X29iZWphcy5qcGc.jpg)
Feature
Cuba Goes Both Ways on Gay Rights
United Nations vote opens room for dissent
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/ZpgmhpEtw09ltEWQMaYqq5g9lvHv2Rpf8rlMLOSex5Y/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMy8xMi9jdWJhX29iZWphcy5qcGc.jpg)
Feature
INSIDE CUBA: Voices From the Island
Welcome to Cuba.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/QoEDHqUQcvADqYXW30Cb7CiaseAnGzagMz27R4LtlOE/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMy8wMy9jdWx0X29iZWphcy5qcGc.jpg)
Culture
The Big Other
A giant stalks the literary landscape.
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/XzI8Yp6QN9N-JdPfsFtXiw2bvYuer8m1blf4shR_tCY/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMi8wMi9jdnIuanBn.jpg)
Culture
Portrait of the Awkward Artist
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/1KlAZz8bK0z0i8VJIxS1m-bVt-QQJ5HWAkPkT7VIB2Y/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMS8xMi9jaGVuZXkuanBn.jpg)
Culture
Prairie Style Romance
Though Nancy Horan takes great liberty in imagining intimate scenes between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney--of which there is no evidence--Loving Frank ultimately rests on historical record
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/pLpegTT0CROSYdRRR2jinxzIeOl5bM-Ane7LbEr7m8s/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMS8xMS93b2x2ZXJpbmUuanBn.jpg)
Culture
Survival of the Adapted
The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory takes the theory of evolution--"survival of the fittest," a phrase that appeared only in a later printing of Charles Darwin's classic text--and, in alternating chapters, juxtaposes the relationship between Darwin and fellow biologist Alfred Russel Wallace with Fries' curiosity about his own adaptations to a world unprepared for his body and his means of motion
Achy Obejas
![](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/VL2VQ9OriOAfIUFD6W4ZPCRukEBpi8lyNXsVdNSbVIQ/w:256/h:171/rt:fill/g:sm/q:70/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbnRoZXNldGltZXMuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8zMS8xMC9rb3JlYW4uanBn.jpg)
Culture
No Happy Endings
Escape from North Korea, the world's most repressive regime
Achy Obejas