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American Youth in the Venceremos Brigade
In the late 1960s members of the Students for a Democratic Society founded the Venceremos Brigade with assistance from Cuban officials. The SDS formed the Brigade to show solidarity between the American left and the Cuban Revolution. Its main purpose was to challenge the United States government’s policies towards Cuba, especially the embargo emplaced after the 1953 revolution. This played out at a time when the Soviet Union was competing with China for who would be the locus of authority for the Communistic world. (1) The loss of the Soviet Union’s prestige as the world’s “vanguard of international socialism, decolonization, and the struggle for the emancipation of nations under Western imperialism” was due to the rise of the People’s Republic of China. (2) However, with the success of the Cuban Revolution came a new challenger to the title. It was due to Cuba’s success in stopping United States intervention that drew many Socialists to their cause. Many of these socialists came from the United States. It is by looking at diaries and interviews from the earliest American activists transported to Cuba that we will judge how effective they were as revolutionary instruments in Cuba. We will also look at how their pride, prejudice, and ignorance affected their group dynamics.
Atomic HistorianPublished 12 months ago in History Microfiction Magic Challenge Winners
Call it flash, micro, or any other tiny phrase. However you view it, writing as much with as few words as possible is (at least to us, for this Challenge) the gold standard of creative fiction. What makes Challenges (and challenges) like these so enjoyable to read and participate in is the same thing that makes all fiction enjoyable: making every word count. Once a story becomes waterlogged with extra emotion, extra words, extra extra, our interest flags and we tend to stop reading.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 12 months ago in ResourcesLightning in the Lanterns of Fortune
The gods punishment can be cruel, depending upon the law, but far more cruel is being cursed with such depth of love for the fool who broke it. My very soul lies broken with you upon this punishment my husband, but I shall never leave your side. Daughter to the Æsir, Lady who rules over loyalty , faithfulness... compassion, I leave not mine husband to face this ill fortune alone.
Veronica ColdironPublished 12 months ago in FictionThe Plague
After a night of thin sleep, I rose from my bed, joints aching and body weary. Lack of rest or something else? Gently, I probed my neck and underneath my arms. No swelling. Reassuring but it could mean I hadn’t progressed to that symptom yet. I took stock. No aching skull, no bone-rattling chills. I swallowed. No sore throat. Surely, nothing more than poor sleep.
N.J. GallegosPublished 12 months ago in HistorySanta Anna
In the country, we collected rainwater in metal drums. We’d cover them with squares of aluminum weighed down with stones. We kept five drums in the backyard where someone had planted yams and bananas, among other things. I feared the banana trees, suspecting that at their roots where it was cold and dark, fat slugs were always lurking.
Tonya R. MoorePublished about a year ago in FictionNeighbours
They’re feuding. Have been for months. Next time, the dog gets a bullet. She ruffles Baxter’s fur – watch it buddy – but one whiff of sheep and he’s over the fence, ears pinned, nipping at lamb rumps.
Megan AndersonPublished about a year ago in FictionThe Lust Between Us
Daylight bleeds In through satin curtains, and the Saturnalia of our fairytale last night Transcends this harrowed space (in which my)
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 6/7/2023
Get ready to break out the confetti 🎉 and unleash a chorus of applause 👏 because it's time to celebrate the creators who've left their mark on the Vocal platform this past week.
Vocal TeamPublished 12 months ago in ResourcesThe Quick Heist
Bjork slid the mask to his chin once his partner signaled the security cameras were disabled. “You’re sure this is right place? I don’t see a bank sign,” he said.
J. S. WadePublished 12 months ago in Fiction- Content Warning
Electric Meat
Content Warning: Portrayals of sex. The airport buzzes soft and grating in your ear; the security line inches along. It’s not a crowded day, mind you, but there are fewer security agents than usual herding people through metal detectors; some stomach bug going around among the staff that you’ll never know about because you’re not on the inside. So you scroll through your phone, and every 30 seconds, you grasp the handle of your rolling luggage and glide it two feet down the line, on a floor that’s always a little sticky. The handle crackles against the tips of your fingers. You sigh.
Steven Christopher McKnightPublished 12 months ago in Fiction Vocal Memes for Established Creators (Part V)
How on earth are we up to Part V already? Time flies when you're making memes, I guess. It's been over two years since the first Vocal Memes for Established Creators article was published, and to-date it's still my most read Vocal story of all time, although I'm determined to beat that record this year with something new.
J. R. LowePublished 12 months ago in HumorArt is Life or Life is Art?
Life imitates art far more than art imitates life. The Decay of Lying ~Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) is widely regarded as believing the exact opposite of Mr. Wilde, that art imitates life. Aristotle, a born thinker, son of Nichomachus, the personal physician of King Amyntas of Macedon. In fact, in his ancient script Prior Analytics, Aristotle is credited for having the earliest study of formal logic. Aristotle went on to serve as an apprentice to Plato for twenty years before politics changed things. An invitation from King Philip II to tutor the King’s young son, Alexander (The Great) of Macedon started a new realm for Aristotle in the Macedonian Court. In the royal academy, Aristotle was teacher to not only Alexander but also two future kings, Ptolemy and Cassender.
Dana StewartPublished 12 months ago in ArtWrite Here, Write Now: Chop Chop by AJ Nelson
Grief and resentment coil around one another in this dark fantasy from AJ Nelson. “Chop Chop” luxuriates in language, transforming seemingly routine moments into a feast for the imagination. All of these familiar details add up to an ending that is anything but ordinary.
Write Here, Write Now: A Vocal PodcastPublished 12 months ago in ResourcesTHE TWIST
Din echoes through the mind. Imagination grind. Stressing about the world news, thoughts flooding brings on the blues. Right or wrong, there's a new slog.
Babs IversonPublished 12 months ago in PoetsHi, I'm Justin @ Vocal (Parody)
Doing all I can for my spoilt complaining matrix connective robots Is it ever enough? NEVER!!! Spending all my time pandering to their every whim and fancy
Novel AllenPublished 12 months ago in PoetsThe Easy Job
Sheets of bank paper float on drafts of air. Wind rushes from vacant spaces where glass panes used to be. Last images of a life lost. The bank manager's eyes stare at me from where he fell on the floor. His mouth moves slightly in desperate gasps for air, he won't get. A lake of red expands across marble tiles. All of his tomorrows are gone, and so are mine.
The Invisible WriterPublished 12 months ago in FictionTwo Apples High Rewind!!!
It was the weekend; the primetime to blow off some steam. Me and my friends (including my cousin/closest friend) were dressed to the nines and ready for any adventures that may come our way. We hopped in the car and meandered our way to the local nightclub on base.
Tiffany GordonPublished 12 months ago in HumorDon't Let Me Drive
Driving long distance with nothing to look at In an infinite cycle of boredom – ugh, nausea — trapped, my Senses spiral. They whir frenetically like a…
Ashley BallPublished about a year ago in PoetsVocal Creator Chat: 6/6/23
Have questions about creating stories, growing your audience, and getting rewarded on Vocal? The Vocal community and team are here to help answer your questions and feedback together.
Vocal Creator ChatPublished 12 months ago in ResourcesA Look At English's Past And Future
We’ve all seen those Egyptian hieroglyphics in tombs and temples. Those hieroglyphics represented a number of ideas and sounds and concepts. But is English heading towards this kind of future?
Deasun T. SmythPublished 12 months ago in History