American foreign policy in action
Chris Nieratko let me know about Viva Skate, his 2009 excursion to Cuba, organized to provide children with skateboards. The endless U.S. embargo does more than cripple the island’s economy; it also punishes generations who have nothing whatsoever to do with the politics of their fathers and their grandfathers. These punitive measures are more than financial; they are a kind of psychological warfare that reveals the true intent of our foreign policy. And to that end, we are fortunate that there are Americans like Nieratko who take a stand against the ridiculous injustice that continues to be a plague to so many.
In the video, you state that you are not political, but from my perspective, what you did was taking a stand against two governments in the name of bettering the lives of children. What was the inspiration to this trip? What was the role you played, and how easy—or difficult—was it to make this happen ?
Chris Nieratko: My friends that own and operate the Skatepark of Tampa started a program called Boards For Bros to give skateboards away to underprivileged kids in the Tampa Area. They’ve been doing it for years and I’ve always loved the idea. Skateboarding has saved many lives. When I was young it wasn’t looked at as lucrative career it was generally escapism for kids from broken homes.
Two years ago my friend Augie from Aculpulco Gold Clothing sent me a documentary called The Cuban Skate Crisis which showed how bad the skaters in Havana, Cuba have it in general but also specifically in terms of getting skateboard products. One kid in the video cried when his board broke because he didn’t know when he’d get another. He tried to staple, nail and glue the board back together.
After seeing that video I hit up my friends at Skatepark of Tampa and said we needed to get the band back together, that we were taking the Board For Bros program on the road.
Overall I think the entire thing was rather easy but that was because we had a good friend, filmmaker Tomas Crowder, learn us what we were up against and how to navigate past it. The hardest part was waiting for a good man to take the presidential office again here in America. We hadn’t seen one in so long that we all almost forgot what they look and sound like. And i was too afraid the last regime would put us in jail for doing a good deed.
I was really struck by the way in which the Cuban people persevere. Despite having the world turn it’s back on them, and having their own government monitor their moves, they have adapted to such adversity with spirit and heart. How do you think this compares to the world where we live and have everything at our disposal? How much do we take for granted, and what is our responsibility to give back?
CN: My life is forever changed by this trip. After returning to the States I began emptying out my garage, my attic, my life of anything unnecessary. I learned from the Cubans that material things isn’t what makes you happy. They have very little there and yet they are much happier than most people I know in America. And they are very quick to help their fellow man and share what little they have. Here citizens don’t want to even consider giving our poor health care or means to eat for fear of what the cost to ourselves would be. It’s really sad how little people in America regard their the next man. The world shakes in Haiti and for two weeks the country postures like it gives a shit and then it is quickly forgotten. What about all the people that are F’d in the United States every day of every year? Should we wait for a Hurricane or earthquake before helping them?
You learned you were being watched at the hotel; then the military arrived at the demonstration as a show of force. How did you feel about this involvement of the government in daily life, and how did it impact your understanding of the Cuban experience?
CN: I honestly had a hard time wrapping my head around the constant military presence. We are free men in America, allowed to do as we wish. We do not live in fear of our police or military and now that Bush and Cheney are out of office we no longer have to fear our government. I’d say that sense of dread from the people as they spoke with us, always looking over their shoulders for police, scared to be arrested for conversing with Americans was the only real disappointment on the trip. I don’t advocate anyone having to live their life in fear.
I love the scene where the kid kisses the board he was given. What response did you see among the children at the event?
CN: There was not a sad face amongst the skaters that day we gave away the skateboards. All in all everyone got a skateboard or a pair of Vans or eS Sneakers or both or more. Everyone was stoked but I can’t stress it enough; as elated as those kids were, the crew of people I went to Havana with were a million times more psyched. Those kids touched our hearts in a way it will never be touched again. Their reactions and their thanks were so genuine that a year later I still get giddy thinking about it.
Has being a father changed your perspective in the way you relate to children?
CN: My wife went to Havana with us. She was 5 months pregnant. I don’t think that being a father has changed my perspective on children; I’ve always had a good understanding and love of kids but I would say that my experience with the children in Cuba made me a better father. My wife and I learned a very valuable life lesson down there and that is children need not smothered with toys or gifts to have a happy existence, they need only the basic necessities and to be smothered with love. My son is only 7 months old but he has very few toys. It will remain that way his entire life and we will teach him one day about those kids in Cuba and what matters most in life.
Any shout outs you want to give for support of this project?
CN: Honestly, I am very proud of my skateboard community for getting behind that Cuba trip. Nearly every brand i contacted sent product to give away. Main sponsors were Red Bull, eS Footwear, Vans, Skatepark of Tampa, Vice & The Skateboard Mag but the laundry list of skate companies that helped out is enormous. They all know who they are and I thank them again.
Check the Viva Skate Video Here
www.chrisnieratko.com