Cubans in America
From The Peopling of NYC
Contents |
History
Starting with the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959, Cuba has undergone a wide range of political, economic, and cultural changes impacting the daily lives of each and every Cuban. This page was developed to provide an introductory understanding of some of these changes and how they led to the formation of a major Cuban diaspora in the United States. We use a combination of text, images, and videos to tell the story. Enjoy!
Immigration
When we think about Cuban immigration, there are four large waves that come to mind – starting in the late 1950s and continuing to the present. Over these years, a large number of Cubans immigrated to the U.S. (well over one million). However, Cuban immigration to the U.S. began back to the 19th century – it is this immigration that set the foundations for future generations of immigrants.
[Source: The New Americans: A Guide to Immigration since 1965, by Mary C. Waters & Reed Ueda]
In America
Upon coming to America, Cubans predominantly resided in Miami and New Jersey. It was in these states that they built their ethnic enclaves and flourished in culture and lifestyles as the years passed. They slowly adapted to American culture but never forgetting what they left behind.
Model Minorities
Due to the great advancement that Cubans have had in the United States they are commonly thought of as a model minority. Through all the difficult times they still managed to make major strides in a wide array of fields from business, to entertainment, to politics.
The Cubanologists
Click here to hear "Tradición" by Gloria Estefan
