The Common Tuban-American Family

One Marielito remarked on his venture to the United States, “Well, if I’m looking back 30 years ago, the decision of just leaving the country, getting to the embassy, I think it’s that it was a blessing of having the opportunity to leave the country, and especially to come here directly to the US. We didn’t have no hopes to come here. And I think that I have a wonderful family, many opportunities throughout my life.” The American Promise, in the ideal sense became a tangible and practical element within society for exiles, as it made clear the goals and aspirations of the exile community. Exiles seem to share similar sentiments in not wanting to return to Cuba, amidst the history of suppression, oppression, and hardships. “I’m super grateful to this country. I’m grateful to everything. I mean, this is my life. There’s no way I’d go back. Even if anybody would tell me, here, you got your house back in Cuba, I would never go back.” This sentiment summarizes and represents the mindsets of many exiles, at their time of expedition to America, and

From April 15 to October 31 in 1980, over 125,000 Cuban migrants arrived in the United States. Family members from America ferried relatives and institutionalized Cubans from the Cuban port of Mariel, in what was soon coined the Mariel Boatlift. Mirta Ojito, one of these ‘Marielitos’, as they soon were termed, grew up to write “Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus”. In this text, the author provides a historic account of events leading up to the Mariel Boatlift, narratives from important figures surrounding the event, and a personal narrative describing the struggle of her family to gain freedom from the socialist dictatorship of Fidel Castro. Throughout the story of the years preceding the boatlift and the influence that living in Cuba held on her life, Ojito describes the positive and negative elements of the both the political climate and personal life on the communist island which led to her eventual emigration to the United States.

Cuba is merely one example of a society. Juan Cabrera is simply an ordinary example of an individual. What The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas bring to light is the extraordinary effects of stepping outside the comfort zone of following the expectations of those that lead our governments. Although the situation was unlike our own it highlights what could very well could have

The study of race relations in contemporary Cuba indelibly requires an understanding of the dynamic history of race relations in this ethnically pervasive island of the Caribbean. Cuban society, due to its historical antecedents of European colonialism and American imperialism, has traditionally experienced anguished and even tumultuous race relations. Racial disharmony has plagued Cuban society ever since the advent of the Colonial institution of the plantation system. Thus, in order to acquire some understanding of Cuba’s dynamic race relations one must study and investigate the evolution of racial tensions and the quintessential

In the 1950’s, tourists visited the island of Cuba for its warm beaches, culture and Spanish colonial architecture. But underneath the surface, was a revolution ready to burst through the Cuban people they just needed the right person to lead them. Cuba at this time was run by a Political Dictator named Fulgencio Batista.

Generations upon generations of people have been thriving in Spanish speaking countries. Cuba is no different, through traditional clothing and special holidays they always are in tune with the past. With flamboyant traditional attire, that rivals the suns bright color and Spring flowers, coupled with fun to watch free flowing up beat music like Guaguancó or Pachanga, the Cuban culture is very exciting. In order to start to describe my family ties with Cuba, I will use an analogy: With every spin of a vibrant dress it seems as if the hands of time slowly turn back time. As the clock goes back so does my family history. In the early 1920's my great grandmother and her family made the trip from Spain to Cuba. Ever since then my family has had bearings

Cuba has been the source of controversy for decades. Between events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960s and the country’s ongoing Communist dictatorship, this island nation has not always been thought of as an appealing place to visit. However, Cuba’s physical and human geography, especially when coupled with the lifting of the US embargo, give it the potential to be a prime tourism destination.

He had no argument with wanting to help others, Raul … Families giving clothing, food, money, and, sometimes, a job in the household or in a business” (Hijuelos 261). These conditions are what drove and increased Cuban culture’s impact on American

Santiago de los Caballeros, that’s where my family is from in the Dominican Republic. Everything about it warms my heart just as much as its vicious sun does penetrating your pores until you’re almost sure they aren’t there anymore. My father’s side of the family had just come down from the Capitol, which is known to be ignorant and high maintenance despite being from a third world country. The Dominican air smelled earthy and damp, yet you could feel its purity in the pit of your lungs.We decided to sit down at a food truck area and eat the signature post-club, pre-hangover, Dominican sandwich: The Chimmichurri. It is nowhere near as disgusting as it sounds, I promise. As we made ourselves comfortable in our plastic chairs beside The Monument, we had a complete view of the lights scattered like a den of fireflies illuminating the city. I was lost within the laughter you find yourself in after one too many Red Rock sodas when our Haitian server approached us. He kept reading the menu off to us and I fell in love

That there are 12 murals created in town between 2001-2007 murals depicts a beloved mayor who governed for 20 years. Some of the murals in Cuba are the Cuba city jail, 19-drive in theater, Bob’s gasoline alley, history museum, and Hayes shoe store, etc. The Viva Cuba organization completed its first mural in 2001 with plans to complete 12 more. In 1928 an emergency plane landed by Amelia Earnheart in the area is captured in another mural. Paul T Carr, Philips 66 station opened in 1932 to see how it would go, he opened at the 4 way intersection. Back then people called it the 4 way intersection now these days we call it the 4 way. On the chimney there was a P for the owner Paul people thought it stood

My father travel by foot in the hot weather of the desert (page 3) .Many Cubans (balseros) that’s how they were call. Their only way to travel was by ocean they use wooden rowboats, makeshift rafts and automobile tires lashed together with ropes.(Gonzalez ,page 108). Just like my father they had a 50, 50 chance to make it to their destination safe without losing their life’s .Even with that in mind they risk it all to simply accomplish the dream for something better for family and in some cases it was better than to

My parents, Miguel and Mabel Aguilar, came here in 1997 from Cuba. I was born in New Jersey on July 27th, 2000 and shortly moved to New York three years after. Growing up I had a blend of the “American Dream” and my cuban background and culture. Cubans are super passionate about their roots, with their celebrations including an abundance of dancing, and cuban food, encompassing rice, beans, and roasted pig. I have come to learn that special occasions are always held with a pig roast. Although I lived in America, the cuban culture always followed me because of my parents love for it. Because my parents had such a passion for cuban culture, it was passed down to me. I am extremely grateful that I had and have such a cultural life. The cuban

We would congregate at my house everyday after school. Immediately, I would turn on the stove and start preparing some cafe Cubano. The cafe was a piece of home that made a strenuous and

Loraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in The Sun” and Milcha Sanchez-Scott’s “The Cuban Swimmer” both capture the authors’ past experiences of oppression, and convey their struggles with identity. Both authors are from minority cultures, and both describe the same harsh pressures from the dominant culture. Both author’s share situations of being outcasts, coming from different racial backgrounds and trying to triumph over these obstacles.

As I stepped off the gargantuan, snow white cruise ship, I gazed at a colorful sea of retro-style cars zipping through the narrow streets littered with potholes. The day I had been anticipating and fearing was finally here. I was in Cuba. The customs office at the end of the ship terminal was institutional looking, with stark white walls and bright lighting. Eventually, my family left customs and officially entered Cuba. Before meeting our tour guide, we located a restroom. Outside, there was a rugged and dirty looking man selling toilet paper to American tourists, who forgot their own roll. However, the cruise line had forewarned us, so we bypassed him.