Haydeé Santamaría

Haydeé Santamaría was a Cuban revolutionary and a key figure in the Cuban cultural scene. As a member of the 26th of July Movement, she played a vital role in the overthrow of the Batista regime. After the revolution, she became president of the Casa de las Américas, a cultural institution that promoted Latin American literature and arts. Santamaría was known for her strong support of Fidel Castro's government, which later put her at odds with writers like Mario Vargas Llosa who criticized the regime.