Beyond the Embargo: A Firsthand Look at U.S.–Cuban Relations—23 Years Later

[Kirstin Menoff]

Twenty-three years after traveling across Cuba to produce a documentary on
U.S.–Cuban relations, Dr. John Locke looks back on the people he met, the
stories they shared, and how two decades of hindsight have reshaped his
understanding of the island and America's relationship with it. Drawing on
original documentary footage, firsthand experiences, and years of
reflection, this presentation explores not only the history of one of the
world's longest-running political conflicts, but also how our understanding
of Cuba evolves over time.

Americans have long debated two competing approaches to Cuba: increasing
pressure through economic sanctions or expanding engagement through
diplomacy and trade. This presentation considers a third possibility: What
if the United States simply stepped aside and allowed Cubans to determine
their own future? Through historical context, personal stories, and
documentary footage, participants are invited to reconsider one of the last
enduring legacies of the Cold War—not by seeking definitive answers, but by
asking better questions.

At its heart, however, this presentation asks not only how Cuba has
changed, but how *our* understanding of Cuba changes when we allow ordinary
Cubans to tell their own stories.

Join us September 29, 2026 in the Alumni Conference Room, in the ACC, from
3 - 4 P.M


[image: LAS event flyer - Fall 2026 - John Locke - U.S.-Cuba Relations.jpg]
*Kirstin Menoff*
ANT/GWS/LAS/AAS
Administrative Assistant 1
318 Beaumont Hall/102 Hawkins Hall
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(o) 518-564-3003
(f) 518-564-3010
plattsburgh.edu <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/>

[image: SUNY Plattsburgh Logo]
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