The year was 1980. Arnaldo Tamoyo Méndez, boarded the Soyuz 38 with Soviet cosmonaut Yury Romanenko for an eight-day mission into space to conduct scientific experiments and research studies.
Born in Guantánamo, Méndez was orphaned and adopted at the age of one. As a teen, Méndez joined groups protesting against Cuba’s president Fulgencio Batista and his regime. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, resulting in the overthrow of Batista and the installation of Fidel Castro as Cuba’s leader, Méndez joined the Cuban air force as a pilot. He went to the Soviet Union for fighter jet training and flew 20 reconnaissance missions during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. In March of 1978, Méndez was selected as a cosmonaut candidate for the Soviet Union’s Interkosmos program, which, thanks to the Warsaw Pact, allowed cosmonauts from other countries to participate in Soviet space missions.
When Méndez returned to Cuba after his eight-day journey, he was awarded the first title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba by its president, Fidel Castro. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin, the highest civilian award of the Soviet Union, and the Hero of the Soviet Union. He also became a member of the Cuban legislature, the National Assembly of People’s Power. In 1982, Méndez was “appointed chairman of the Military-Patriotic Educational Society (SEPMI), a military instruction program for Cuban youth. He remained SEPMI’s chairman until 1992. Tamayo Méndez eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general in the air force and served as the director of the Department of International Affairs for the Cuban armed forces and as the director of Cuba’s civil defense organization.”
Méndez is now retired and his suit is preserved at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana, Cuba.
Salute to the contributions and legacy of this Afro-Latino pioneer!
Swipe through below for more pictures of Arnaldo Tamoyo Méndez.
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About Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic* Heritage Month runs from September 15-October 15. This month is to pay tribute to the contributions of Hispanic Americans, similar to February for Black people. A little about Hispanic Heritage Month:
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period
For those confused about why a Black-positive website is honoring Latino Americans, take a gander at THIS. The African Diaspora extends far beyond North America.
*As a Black person, I feel awkward using ‘Hispanic’. Hispanic is defined as:
1 : of, relating to, or being a person of Latin American descent and especially of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin living in the U.S.
2: of or relating to the people, speech, or culture of Spain
‘Hispanic’ feels the same way ‘African American’ feels….like it was made up to make white people feel comfortable to refer to the ‘other’. It just reeks of colonization. But perhaps I am just projecting. I am very curious about how the Latino/Hispanic community feels about it. I am sure the opinions are not monolithic the same way ‘African American’ is not monolithic to Black people (can you tell I don’t like ‘African American?).