Cuba’s higher education system is often lauded for its commitment to equity and social development, particularly in the fields of education and health. Yet, it remains one of the lowest-ranked countries globally in terms of academic freedom. This study applies epistemic network analysis (ENA), a technique within quantitative ethnography, to visualize and analyze how violations of academic freedom in Cuban universities are experienced along racial and gender lines. Drawing on 81 documented cases, our findings show that AfroCubans, compared to White Cubans, face more immediate and severe repercussions, such as expedited expulsions and terminations. Black men are disproportionately targeted with false accusations of sexual misconduct, while Black women experience sustained institutional censorship alongside acts of resistance. In contrast, White Cuban women are more likely to encounter prolonged administrative coercion. These patterns reveal deeply racialized and gendered dynamics in the enforcement of ideological conformity, suggesting that racism and sexism continue to structure academic repression in Cuba’s universities—despite the egalitarian rhetoric of the revolutionary state.

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Como citar: Daché, Amalia & Mesa, Jennifer & Espino, Danielle. (2025). Still Under the Hammer and Sickle: Race, Repression, and Violations of Academic Freedom in Cuban Universities. 10.1007/978-3-032-12229-2_28.