Cuban writer Renee Méndez Capote was the first Latin American woman who drove a car. This deed showed the world traits of her personality, characterized by her political courage, daring and intelligence, which expressed- in definite terms- much about this genuine habanera.
Daughter of a Cuban marriage of the highest bourgeoisie, Domingo Mendez Capote and Maria Chaple y Suarez, she could receive-in her father’s house-general instruction classes with Swiss and English governess. She also learned French, Italian and English. She studied music and Spanish dance, which she complemented with sports like swimming, paddle, horsemanship and tennis.
Her first published article, The First Dance,” appears in April, 1917 in a magazine of former pupils of La Salle School. Together with her sister Sarah, she directed Artes y Letras (1918). At a request of the school administration of La Luz School, she taught there French classes. She travels to Paris to take hold of the Consulate, and during the voyage, the ship got on fire. As a survivor of the disaster of The Morro Castle” she was accused of being the cause of it, taking into account her trajectory as a communist.
Renee Méndez suffered prision after the strike of March, 1935, and then she was laid off for her participation in it. Between 1940 and 1959 she was in charge of different positions in the Ministry of Education. She was the radio author of the radio station CMZ between 1943 and 1946. She took part in the movement of clandestine resistance against Batista’s tyranny.
In numerous Cuban publications of the epoch, there appeared works of hers; among them, Diario de la Marina, El Pais, Grafos, Social, Mañana, Correo Musical and Surco. She made use of the literary pseudonyms Berenguela and Suzanne; forced by the compromising situation she was involved during the Republic.
After the triumph of the Revolution, she worked in the National Library from 1960 to 1964, and led her magazine in those last two years. In 1964 and up to 1966 she got connected to the Cuba National Editorial, specifically to the Juvenile Editorial. She collaborated as writer and journalist in Bohemia, Actas Del Folklore, El Mundo, La Gaceta de Cuba, Revolucion y Cultura, Union, Cine Cubano, Verde Olivo y Mujeres, among other publications, she was in charge of executive works in Juventud Rebelde and Pionero.
She was a member of the permanent group of infantile and juvenile literary assessors of the Ministry la of Education since 1974. She was a founder of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and the Federation of Cuban Women.
On account of her literary work and political compromise with the Revolution, the State Counsel awarded her with the Distinction for the National Culture. She was also given the Distinction Alejo Carpentier, the Order Felix Varela, That of Jose Joaquin Palma, for her being outstanding collaborator of the press, The Twentieth Anniversary of Gente Nueva and the Replica of Maximo Gomez’ machete
