Fidel Castro, former dictator of Cuba,  died on Nov. 25 at age 90. His brother, Raul, announced the news of Castro’s death on television in Cuba that day.

As many Cubans mourned his death, people questioned the validity of Castro’s significance. According to New York Times, Castro’s legacy is debatable. Some remember him as a respected revolutionary leader, and some blame him for the many problems Cuba has faced, involving issues such as poverty. At the age of 32, Castro led a revolution against the former dictator in 1959 that gained him popularity with the Cuban people. After he was put into power, things quickly started to change. Castro turned from being a symbol of freedom to a symbol of communism. Because of this, many Cubans fled to Florida, causing the U.S. to fight against the tyrant in the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. After commencing the invasion, Americans soldiers returned defeated.  

However, Castro is mainly remembered for the role he played in the infamous Cold War against the United States. Castro led his country against America, alongside the Soviet Union (Russia). Ever since this unforgettable “war,” the United States and Cuba did not have a very good relationship. For many years, Americans were discouraged from visiting Cuba. However, after 11 U.S. presidents,  President Obama tried to relieve the diplomatic relationship between the two countries by visiting Cuba in 2015.

After a countless number of years serving his country, Castro resigned, giving his position to his brother Raul Castro in February of 2008. Raul has been the leader of Cuba ever since. During the time of his retirement, Castro had multiple struggles with his health and was not seen much in the public eye.

On December 4, Castro was taken to his final resting place. The majority of the Cuban public lined up beside streets to catch a glimpse of the car that carried Castro’s remains. While some people mourn the death of the former leader, others establish Castro as a leader who will continue to be a leading figure in Cuban history.