Reinaldo Arenas, acknowledged as one of the great twentieth century Cuba writers, committed suicide in New York when he was losing his battle with AIDS. Having been persecuted, mistreated and imprisoned in Cuba, he left in the Mariel exodus of 1980. A movie based on his autobiography (Before Night Falls) has received extensive critical praise. Reinaldo sent the letter below to major newspapers around the world.
New York, December 7, 1990
Dear friends:
Due to my delicate state of health and to the terrible emotional depression it causes me not to be able to continue writing an struggling for the freedom of Cuba, I am ending my life. During the past few years even though I felt very ill, I have been able to finish my literary work, to which I have devoted almost thirty years. You are the heirs of all my terrors, but also of my hope that Cuba will soon be free. I am satisfied to have contributed, though in a very small way, to the triumph of this freedom. I end my life voluntarily because I cannot continue working. Persons near me are in no way responsible for my decision. There is only one person I hold accountable: Fidel Castro. The sufferings of exile, the pain of being banished from my country, the loneliness, and the diseases contracted in exile would probably never have happened if I had been able to enjoy freedom in my country.
I want to encourage the Cuban people out of the country as well as on the island to continue fighting for freedom. I do not want to convey to you a message of defeat but of continued struggle and of hope.
Cuba will be free. I already am
(signed) Reinaldo Arenas