Interview with Tiberio Castellanos

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Tiberio Castellano
Miami, FL, June 2, 2016
Interview asm0344000020
Interviewed by Julio Estorino
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Reymond Sanchez
Length: 00:46:25
Interview with Tiberio Castellano, Dominican journalist, radio and TV host, poet, and cultural and political activist. From a youthful opposition activist against Rafael Leonidas Trujillo´s dictatorship, to exile in Cuba in the 1950s, to broadcaster with La Voz de la O.E.A and many other radio stations, to being part of the Dominican National Library, Don Tiberio has been one of the big names in the Dominican political and cultural scene, both in Dominican Republic and abroad, for over seven decades. He moved to Miami in 1984.
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
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INTERVIEW OUTLINE
- 00:00:13: Introduction
- 00:00:26: Where and when were you born?
- 00:00:45: How was your family growing up?
- 00:01:52: Tell me about your childhood in that town
- 00:02:23: How was the Dominican Republic when you were younger?
- 00:03:05: Was there a lot of poverty?
- 00:04:02: How did you get involved in politics, specifically against the regime of Trujillo?
- 00:06:05: Is there any part of your childhood that you remember the most?
- 00:07:21: When did you leave to go to Cuba and how was that transition for you?
- 00:08:13: There are people that study Caribbean countries that say that many of the countries are very similar in customs. Do you agree with that?
- 00:10:00: When did you start getting into the artistic side of your vocation and how was that?
- 00:12:02: What happened after the death of Trujillo?
- 00:13:05: Tell me about your experience when Bautista came to power and when the revolution started
- 00:14:44: Did you have difficulty leaving Cuba?
- 00:15:09: When Trujillo died a lot of things changed in the Dominican Republic. How did you participate in the events that happened after his death? 3
- 00:19:08: Did your experiences in Cuba help shape your political views?
- 00:19:35: Did you feel comfortable working in radio?
- 00:20:04: When you went back do the DR in a1963 you stayed there till 1984. How were those 21 years like?
- 00:21:05: Did you feel bad when you moved in 1984?
- 00:21:30: How was your life here when you moved in 1984 and what did you do once you got to the United States.
- 00:22:50: What did you like about Juan Bosch?
- 00:24:12: Did you think that Joaquin Balaguer was the person who best knew Dominicans?
- 00:24:45: Do you think that Balaguer left the DR in a good place?
- 00:27:00: What do you think of Antonio Guzman and why do you think he committed suicide?
- 00:27:23: What do you think about Jorge Blanco?
- 00:27:52: What about Elias Wessin?
- 00:28:24: What about Imbert Barrera who played a large role in the death of Trujillo?
- 00:29:10: What about Hipolito Mejia?
- 00:29:45: What about Leonel Fernandez?
- 00:30:36: What about Pena Gomez?
- 00:31:00: Do you think the racial tensions in the DR are what caused Pena Gomez to not win the presidency?
- 00:31:38: What about Danilo Medina?
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- 00:31:55: With all these politicians in the DR on the rise, people have been saying that politics in the country have started to become consolidated? Do you think this is an exaggeration?
- 00:32:49: With everything that you have seen in your life how do you see the future of the Dominican Republic?
- 00:35:33: What do you think is going to happen to Cuba politically, especially now that U.S. relations with them are back on track as of recently?
- 00:37:02: How do you see the Dominican community here in Miami?
- 00:38:22: Do you think that is the reason that politically speaking, there are not many Dominicans involved here down south?
- 00:39:24: Another aspect in your life was radio which has changed a lot. How do you see the press right now in the U.S. and what are your thoughts on the press?
- 00:41:25: With all the political distress happening in Latin America, do you think that they can ever recover politically?
- 00:42:44: A lot of your political involvement deals usually with the idea of social justice? How did that come to be?
- 00:43:30: At 90 years, are you happy with your life and do you have any recommendations as you are in very good health?
- 00:44:30: What would be your recommendation to the youth of today and especially to the Dominican youth?
- 00:46:25: END OF INTERVIEW