Cuba's Flight

Cuba’s Flight: From Revolution to Freedom

Tahlia Brooks

Professor John Wallace

SOC312

Post University

Abstract

For many immigrants, the reason for leaving their home country behind was to find and live a better life elsewhere. In this research paper the history, reason, and effect of the immigration wave of Cubans during the mid to late 1900’s will be discusses as well as the residual effects on both Cuban and US governments. The goal of this research paper is to inform the reader of the importance of the Cuban presence and culture in the US and triumph throughout.

Cuba’s Flight: From Revolution to Freedom

The conditions for the mass immigration of Cubans were created in the late 1950s, when a Marxist revolution brought Fidel Castro to power. (Healey, 2010-2011 p. 374) The Cuban Revolution was a revolt against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, who was finally ousted January 1, 1959. Before the 1950s, there was not much immigration from Cuba to the US, even during times of labor shortages. ( Perez, 1980, p.256)

The U.S. government of President Dwight D. Eisenhower was concerned at the direction which Castro 's government was taking, and in March 1960, Eisenhower allocated $13 million to the CIA in order to plan Castro 's overthrow. This was the fore note to the invasion known as the Bay of Pigs. Following his victory in the 1960 United States presidential election, John F. Kennedy was informed of the invasion plan and gave his assent to it. The Bay of Pigs Invasion, known in Hispanic America as La Batalla de Girón, was an unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba. The failed invasion strengthened the position of Castro 's administration, which proceeded to openly proclaim their intention to adopt socialism.(Kellenr, 1989, pp.69-70, Szulc, 1986, p. 450) The US government was embarrassed and went on note with a quote from the president saying "I believe that there is no country in the world including any and all the countries under colonial domination, where economic colonization, humiliation and exploitation were worse than in Cuba, in part owing to my country’s policies during the Batista regime. I approved the proclamation which Fidel Castro made in the Sierra Maestra, when he justifiably called for justice and especially yearned to rid Cuba of corruption. I will even go further: to some extent it is as though Batista was the incarnation of a number of sins on the part of the United States. Now we shall have to pay for those sins. In the matter of the Batista regime, I am in agreement with the first Cuban revolutionaries. That is perfectly clear."(US President John F. Kennedy, 1963)

Cuba’s Flight: From Revolution to Freedom

What would drive a strong economic based group from their native home? The answer is the Castro regime, a government that later reformed along communist lines becoming the present Communist Party of Cuba in October 1965. (Beaubien, 2009) Castro’s government was openly anti-American and America (through Bay of Pigs) was anti- Castro. During the beginning for the Castro regime many affluent citizen of Cuba lost their wielding hand in politics and economic growth making ongoing business harder and harder to maintain. This sparked the first wave of Cubans to the United States. (Healey, 2010-2011 p 374)

Another large wave (an estimated 125,000 people) of Cuban immigration occurred in the early 1980s with the Mariel boatlifts (named after the port Mariel where most were departed) most of the "Marielitos” were people wanting to escape from communism, and have succeeded in establishing their roots in the US. Fidel Castro sent some 20 thousand criminals directly from Cuban prisons, as well as mentally ill persons from Cuban mental institutions, with the alleged double purpose of cleaning up Cuban society and poisoning the US. Those people were labeled "undesirables" by the US government, and with time, through many negotiations, have been returned to Cuba. (Portes & Manning, 1986, p 58)

The US was a desirable and practical place for refugees to relocate and Florida was the target. Much like Cuba, Florida shared similar climates and already had a Hispanic presence there with Puerto Rican and Mexican immigrants. Another plus was that many Cubans have already adapted American attitudes and lifestyles, having prior business relationships with US companies and on average more educated than other immigrants from Latin America. (Healey, 2010-2011 p374, p375)

Cuba’s Flight: From Revolution to Freedom

By being educated and affluent, the first wave of Cuban immigrants came with Americanized business practices and resources as many were already business owners, lawyers, and landowners, which grew and stabilized the Cuban society. As with any immigration, especially on such a large scale in a short period of time, self-preservation was key to the success of Cuban assimilation even with the favorable reception they enjoyed for the US (Portes, 1990, p.169). Like other successful assimilated groups, Cuban Americans are an enclave minority, meaning they are economically sufficient and have social institutions to permit them to function as a self- contained and independent of surrounding communities. (Healey, 2010-2011, p 375)

As of today, nearly 70% of all Cuban Americans live in Florida, with South Florida being the heaviest populated area with over 850,000 in its community. Communities like Miami, Tampa, and Union City, which Cuban-Americans have made their home, have experienced a profound cultural impact as a result, as seen in such aspects of their local culture as cuisine, fashion, music, entertainment and cigar-making. (Martin, 1995, Juri, 1995)

Even with an easier and more welcomed assimilation, Cubans have had their share of discrimination like other cultures in America. Being so densely populated in Florida, many conflicts between Hispanic, African American, and White Americans have grown, some largely due to language barriers. They have also been subject to stereotypes such as “too successful” and “too ambitious”, which are exaggerated as poverty and unemployment that is an issue in every culture is present in the Cuban society as well.

Cuba’s Flight: From Revolution to Freedom

There are scores of highly successful Cuban Americans in all ranges of positions for example in politics there are four Cuban-American members of the United States House of Representatives. In entertainment Desi Arnaz, Gloria Estefan, and Eva Mendes just to name a few, have been a testament to the hard work and dedication and strong base that the Cuban people have. And in spite of the reason for their immigration they did not let their past stand in the way of their future.

References

Audio: Cuba Marks 50 Years Since 'Triumphant Revolution ' by Jason Beaubien, NPR All

Things Considered, 1 January 2009.

Healey, F Joseph, 2010-2011 Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class 5th Edition pp. 374-376

Jean Daniel Bensaid: Biography". Spartacus Educational. Retrieved 3 December 2012, — U.S.

President John F. Kennedy, interview with Jean Daniel, 24 October 1963[11]

Juri, Carmen. "Jersey 's Cuban flavors" The Star-Ledger; August 9, 1995; Pages 41 & 54

Kellner 1989, pp. 69–70. "Historians give Guevara, who was director of instruction for Cuba 's

armed forces, a share of credit for the victory"

Martin, Lydia. "Cuban cool" The Star-Ledger; August 9, 1995; Pages 41 & 54

Perez, 1980, p. 256

Portes, 1990, pp.165, 169

Portes & Manning, 1986,p. 58

Szulc (1986), p. 450. "The revolutionaries won because Castro 's strategy was vastly superior to

the CIA 's; because the revolutionary morale was high; and because Che Guevara as the head of the militia training program and Fernández as commander of the militia officers ' school, had done so well in preparing 200,000 men and women for war."

References: Healey, F Joseph, 2010-2011 Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class 5th Edition pp. 374-376 Jean Daniel Bensaid: Biography" Martin, Lydia. "Cuban cool" The Star-Ledger; August 9, 1995; Pages 41 & 54 Perez, 1980, p Portes, 1990, pp.165, 169 Portes & Manning, 1986,p