Engaging Contradictions in a “Forbidden Place”: Working-Class Students of Color Studying Abroad in Havana, Cuba

Since the Cuban revolution in 1959, the U.S. government has obstructed the U.S. population from a clear and nuanced understanding of Cuban society and their socialist experiment. This is due to travel restrictions that stem from U.S. sanctions on Cuba. This article examines the experiences of working-class students of color while studying abroad in Havana, Cuba. How does studying abroad in Cuba, a country labeled a “state sponsor of terrorism” and an “enemy to humanity” shape students’ perspectives on U.S. foreign policy in the country? Based on five short-term study abroad trips between 2018 and 2024 and in-depth qualitative interviews with 25 students, I analyze the context of students’ decision to study abroad in Cuba, their experiences in the country, and their thoughts upon returning to the United States. I argue students develop a critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy while also embracing international solidarity with the people of Cuba.