Fidel Castro and Malcolm X photographed by Carl Nesfield at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem on September 20, 1960.
Fidel Castro came to New York for the 15th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. He and his delegation were initially staying in Midtown. Soon, tabloids were reporting that these “uncouth primitives” had “killed, plucked, and cooked chickens in their rooms at the Shelbourne and extinguished cigars on expensive carpets.” The Cuban delegation found itself temporarily homeless when the manager asked them to deposit a $20,000 security fee in cash, in order to continue their stay. Insulted, they looked around for other lodgings, at one point threatening to pitch tents on the grounds in Central Park and the UN. Numerous hotels either refused accommodations or imposed costly deposits. Malcolm X reached out to Castro and arranged for his delegation to lodge at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem.
Castro moved into the Hotel Theresa past midnight on September 20, he met with Malcolm shortly after. Malcolm told Castro, “Downtown for you, it was ice, uptown it is warm.” Castro smiled appreciatively, “yes, we feel very warm here.” Malcolm added, “I think you will find the people in Harlem are not so addicted to the propaganda they put out downtown.” Castro responded, “I admire this. I have seen how it is possible for propaganda to make changes in people. Your people live here and are faced with this propaganda all the time and yet, they understand. This is very interesting.” “There are 20 million of us,” said Malcolm, “and we always understand.”
Malcolm told the press after their meeting that “Premier Castro has come out against lynching, which is more than [U.S. President] Eisenhower has done. Castro has also taken a more open stand for civil rights for Black Cubans. He [Eisenhower] wants to see Castro as a Muslim.”
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