November 2019 | SMITHSONIAN.COM 49The letter he left for his children to read after his death is
more political than paternal. “Grow up to be good revolution-
aries,” he writes. “Remember that the Revolution is what is im-
portant and that each one of us, on our own, is worthless.”
Advance word of Che’s execution in Bolivia was passed by
Cuban intelligence services to Fidel, who called Aleida back
from a work stint in the countryside to give her the grim news
personally. Ernesto was only 2 at the time, Alyusha 8, Camilo 4
and Celia 3. A million Cubans gathered for an all-night vigil for
Che in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution. The family watched it
on television, lacking the strength to appear in person. Haunt-ing photographs of the dead Che lying
Christ-like on a concrete washbasin in
the hospital laundry of the village where
he was killed also circulated. Devotion
to Che was cultlike. In Italy, a left-wing businessman began
making silk-screen prints of Che in his starred beret, from a
photo taken by Alberto Korda at a rally in 1960. Across Cuba,
heroic posters proliferated. “Growing up, I saw my father’s face
everywhere,” Ernesto recalls. “I don’t remember a time when I
wasn’t surrounded by photos of him. It wasn’t like I had to ask,
‘Who is this?’ Che was always there, all around me.”In truth, my love of bikes was not from a need for
connection with Che. It just seemed natural. All the kids
in Havana were doing it. I also went into the commandos,
but it wasn’t because my papa was a guerrilla leader.”“
Ernesto Guevara
and motorcycle
tour members at
a restaurant in
Cienfuegos.