failed invasion of Cuba by a financed/trained group of Cuban opposed to Castro => overthrow Castro + establish non-communist government to the US ? Cuban missile crisis : spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union in Cuba => heightened confrontation between Cuba, USSR and US = hottest point of Cold War

increase awareness of racial distinctiveness, instilling racial pride in AA movement motivated by a desire for safety, self-sufficiency for AA, promote equality and racial justice