Surviving, Fighting, and Rebuilding: My Journey, Cuba’s Struggle, and the Mission of GonnaHappen

March 16, 2025 | GonnaHappen.com | aarongbeebe

Surviving, Fighting, and Rebuilding: My Journey, Cuba’s Struggle, and the Mission of GonnaHappen

A Story of Survival and Resilience

History has a way of repeating itself, but it can be rewritten in a positive way. My family’s background is a testament to resilience, survival, and the pursuit of equal rights, and my own journey has echoed those struggles in ways I never anticipated.

From the Uyematsu side of my family, who endured the injustice of Japanese internment camps, to my German-Jewish ancestors who faced persecution, to my Puerto Rican and Mexican relatives, and friends I made over the years, including Angel Salazar from Cuba, our collective story is one of perseverance against oppression.

Yet, despite coming from a lineage that has fought for basic freedoms, I found myself suffering through my own trials over the past five years. The pandemic and its aftermath took away everything I had built—my connections, my career, my finances. I was left isolated, abandoned by people I once trusted, and forced to navigate a world that suddenly seemed determined to erase me.

In that struggle, I saw reflections of my family’s past—internment camps, forced migrations, economic hardships—and I realized that my battle was not just my own. Across the world, people are still fighting for basic rights and dignity. Nowhere is this more evident than in Cuba, where citizens endure economic collapse, human rights violations, and government repression.

During my time attending Miami’s cultural music festivals, exploring Little Havana and Calle Ocho, and meeting Cuban friends, I began to see the fight for freedom and opportunity up close. Their struggles mirrored my own, reinforcing my belief that oppression is not just historical—it is ongoing.

Just as my ancestors refused to be silenced, I refused to be erased. That is why I built GonnaHappen.com—not just as a business, but as a mission. A mission to push through failure, to persevere, and to create a platform where others can reclaim their voice and their future.

How the Produce Industry and Immigrant Workers Saved My Life

Growing up, I was a troubled kid—restless, searching for direction, and often feeling like I didn’t belong. I didn’t have many opportunities handed to me, and I had to learn how to navigate life on my own. But when I started working in the produce industry, everything changed.

I began at the bottom, packing boxes in warehouses, working long hours, and learning the grind of physical labor. It was tough, but it taught me discipline, resilience, and appreciation for hard work—something I had never truly understood before. I worked alongside immigrant field workers who had left everything behind for a chance at a better life. No one had ever given me that kind of perspective before.

I saw firsthand what it meant to struggle, to sacrifice, and to work tirelessly without complaint. These men and women, often overlooked and underappreciated, showed me what true determination and perseverance looked like. They saved my life in a way—because they gave me something I had been missing: a sense of purpose.

As I slowly moved up, I learned how to inspect produce, handle logistics, and eventually understand the entire supply chain. The experience shaped me into the person I am today—someone who knows the value of hard work, respects every level of the workforce, and refuses to take opportunities for granted.

The produce industry and the immigrant workers I worked alongside taught me more than any classroom ever could. They taught me respect, humility, and the power of perseverance—lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life.

A Family History of Survival

Japanese Internment and the Uyematsu Story

The Uyematsu side of my family, like many Japanese Americans during World War II, was unjustly forced into internment camps. They were stripped of their homes, businesses, and dignity, treated as enemies in a country they called home. The trauma of these camps—where they were held against their will under harsh conditions—left a lasting impact, not just on those who lived through it but on the generations that followed.

📌 Watch the Uyematsu Story Here

Years later, the U.S. government formally apologized and honored the Japanese-American community for their unjust treatment, recognizing the sacrifices they endured. Their story serves as a reminder that history can be corrected, but only if we fight to tell the truth.

Honoring Amy Uyematsu: A Legacy of Strength and Cultural Identity

📌 Learn More About Amy Uyematsu

Amy Uyematsu (1947–2023) was a poet, activist, and educator who gave voice to the Japanese-American experience. Her work helped reclaim cultural identity, fought against assimilation, and stood in solidarity with civil rights movements.

She used poetry as her weapon to fight oppression and reclaim identity. I use Gonna-Happen.com as my platform to do the same—to give people a space where their voices are heard, their experiences are shared, and their resilience is celebrated.

Her message remains clear: We must never let history silence us. We must own our identities, share our truths, and fight for a future where no one is erased.

The Struggle for Freedom in Cuba: A PSA for Awareness

Cuba is facing a human rights crisis, economic devastation, and ongoing repression. The Cuban people are struggling daily under an oppressive system, much like my ancestors once did. Their battle for freedom, dignity, and survival is a reminder that oppression is not just a thing of the past—it is happening today.

📌 Human Rights Watch: Cuba’s Situation
📌 Freedom House: Cuba’s Political Status

The Cuba Freedom March: A Movement for Change

As I reflected on my own struggles and the fight for justice, I came across a movement that deeply resonated with me—the Cuba Freedom March. This movement represents the voices of millions of Cubans who are standing up against oppression, censorship, and economic devastation. It is a global call for change, driven by Cubans in exile, activists, and human rights organizations who refuse to let the world ignore the suffering of the Cuban people.

The Cuba Freedom March has taken place in major cities like Miami, Washington D.C., Madrid, and Mexico City, with thousands gathering to demand:

✅ The end of dictatorship in Cuba
✅ Freedom for political prisoners
✅ Basic human rights, including free speech and democracy
✅ Economic reform and an end to government corruption

📌 Learn More About the Cuba Freedom March – (social)

https://www.instagram.com/cubanfreedommarch/

The passion and determination behind this movement remind me of my own journey—of being silenced, abandoned, and erased. But just like the brave activists of Cuba, I refuse to let my story be erased, and I refuse to let their fight go unnoticed.

The power of a movement lies in the people who refuse to give up, just as my ancestors fought through internment, persecution, and economic hardship, just as I fought through personal loss and rebuilding, and just as the people of Cuba continue to fight for freedom and dignity.

I stand in solidarity with Cuba and the Cuba Freedom March because no one should be forced into silence, oppression, or exile. Freedom is a right, not a privilege.

📌 Join the movement, spread awareness, and stand for Cuba’s freedom.

🔥 Freedom for Cuba is not just a dream—it’s a movement, and together, we can make it happen (CUBAN CULTURAL CENTER)

German-Jewish Persecution

At the same time, my German-Jewish ancestors faced persecution, imprisonment, and extermination under Nazi rule. Some of my family members were fortunate enough to escape, while others suffered through war, displacement, and death.

📌 The History of Jewish Persecution

The fear of being targeted, labeled an outsider, or losing everything overnight is something that has echoed through my family’s history—just as it continues to echo through the lives of those fighting for freedom today.

How GonnaHappen.com Became My Fight for a Better Life and a Positive Community Platform

Through my own oppression and suffering, where I had my basic needs stripped away, I was forced to fight back with my voice. They took almost everything and everyone from my life—but they couldn’t take my ability to tell my story.

I built Gonna-Happen.com as a platform to reclaim my independence and create something positive for others.

Finding Brotherhood in Colombia: Dumar Roa’s Fight and Our Shared Resilience

In the midst of my struggles, I found an unexpected friend and brother in Dumar Roa, a Colombian MMA champion from Bogotá. Dumar, like me, has faced hardship, setbacks, and moments where the world seemed determined to keep him down. But through sheer will, discipline, and perseverance, he never gave up—on himself, his dreams, or his community.

I have had the privilege of supporting and sponsoring Dumar as a fighter, not just to help his career but to uplift the people around him. His journey is a reminder that true strength isn’t just physical—it’s about mental and emotional resilience, about pushing forward when life keeps knocking you down.

Dumar’s story and the way he continues to inspire his community in Bogotá remind me of the same values I learned from immigrant workers in the produce industry—hard work, dedication, and never making excuses. He’s proof that no matter where you come from, if you fight for your dreams, you can make them a reality.

I am honored to stand behind him, just as he has stood by me when so many others disappeared. In a world where too many people walk away when things get tough, Dumar has shown me what true loyalty and perseverance look like.

🔥 His fight is my fight, and together, we rise.

Social – https://www.instagram.com/dumarmma?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==

GonnaHappen Part as a Small American Sponsor to support him and his community (PRESS INFO BELOW)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gonnahappen-sponsors-colombian-mma-fighter-160000254.html

https://www.kxan.com/business/press-releases/globenewswire/9270043/gonnahappen-sponsors-colombian-mma-fighter-dumar-roa-for-knockout-19-challenge/

Final Thoughts

History is a guide, but it does not have to be a prophecy. I have suffered, yes—but I have also learned. I have been broken, but I am rebuilding. And just as my ancestors, my friends from Cuba, and others from around the world have fought for a better life, I will continue to do the same.

To those who feel unheard, unseen, or abandoned: I see you. Your story matters. And no matter what struggles we face, we will always find a way to persevere.

Because no matter what happens—it’s all GonnaHappen.

📌 The journey doesn’t end here—this is only the beginning.

Hashtags:

#GonnaHappen #CubaLibre #HumanRights #FreedomForCuba #Resilience #EqualRights #Survival #CubanCrisis #Oppression #HistoryMatters #Immigration #PSA #PoliticalStruggles #Uyematsu #NeverForget #MigrantWorkers #AgricultureIndustry #PositiveCommunity #VIPExperiences #Gonnahappen #aarongbeebe #holocuast

📌 Visit GonnaHappen.com to learn more –

SUPPORTING LINKS PROOF POINT BELOW

https://youtu.be/gTv7uGdwnBA?si=U1USeTgdBIS5OKwg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Uyematsu?wprov=sfla1

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/cuba

https://freedomhouse.org/country/cuba

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gonnahappen-sponsors-colombian-mma-fighter-160000254.html

https://www.kxan.com/business/press-releases/globenewswire/9270043/gonnahappen-sponsors-colombian-mma-fighter-dumar-roa-for-knockout-19-challenge/

https://www.instagram.com/dumarmma?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==

https://www.cubanfreedommarch.com/

Cuban Freedom March 🆘🇨🇺 (@cubanfreedommarch) • Instagram photos and videos

https://gonna-happen.com/