A Cuban-American is a United States resident whose ancestry can be traced to the Carribbean island of Cuba and may themselves be an immigrant. Many communities throughout the United States have significant Cuban-American populations. However, Miami, Florida stands out as the premminent Cuban-American community, in part because it's proximity to Cuba. Yet, the Cuban-American presence in Union City, New Jersey rivals that of Miami.
Immigration
Cuban immigration to the U.S. has a long history, beginning in the Spanish colonial period in 1565 when St. Augustine, Florida was established by Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Hundreds of Spanish/Cuban soldiers and their families moved from Cuba to St. Augustine to establish a new life. Along with Sy. Augustine, many early Cubans migrated to New York City, Key West, and Tampa, Florida.
In the late 1800s a Cuban entrepreneur named Vicente Martinez Ybor started a cigar making business in Tampa. Soon, other Cuban businessmen followed Ybor's example. Within several years Tampa had a thriving cigar making industry. Numerous Cuban families lived and worked in the area known as Ybor City near Tampa, and there are many third and fourth generation Cuban Americans who trace their Cuban heritage directly to this early immigration.
1960 - 1980
Political upheaval in Cuba created new waves of Cuban immigrants to the U.S. In 1959, when Fidel Castro established a communist state, a large Cuban exodus began. From 1960 to 1979, hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees left Cuba and began a new life in America, often forming the backbone of the anti-Castro movement. Like many immigrants, the Cuban-Americans often had little money which was further proliferated in prevention of bringing wealth out of Cuba.
In order to provide aid to recently arrived Cuban immigrants, the United States Congress passed the Cuban American Adjustment Act in 1966. The Cuban Refugee Program provided more than $1.2 billion of direct financial assistance. They also were eligible for public assistance, Medicare, free English courses, scholarships, and low interest college loans. Some banks even pioneered loans for exiles who didn't have collateral or credit but received help in getting a business loan simply because they were of Cuban descent. These loans enabled many Cuban-Americans to secure funds and create their own businesses. At one point, 74% of all Cuban immigrants received governmental aid.Vorlage:Citeneeded
Miami, Florida and Union City, New Jersey became the main centers for Cuban-American culture. Because of its low cost of living and similar climate, geography, and architecture, many Cuban-Americans settled in Miami, Florida. With its Cuban-owned businesses, Miami was the preferred destination for many immigrants. Union City, however was attractive for the opportunities offered by the embroidery industry.
1980s
Another large wave of Cuban immigration occurred in the 1980s with the Mariel boatlifts. Many Cuban-Americans did not like the "Marielitos" because they believed they caused damage to their reputation. However, many of them became prosperous with the assistance of earlier immigrants and government aid and were eventually accepted by the Cuban American community.
Cuban-American Culture
The culture of Cuban-Americans varies from community, and from person to person. However, there are distinct features that characterize most Cuban-Americans.
Religion
Due to Spanish influence on the island's early history, most Cubans belong to the Roman Catholic church. Yet, there are many Protestant, spiritualist, nonreligious, and atheist, and Jewish Cuban-Americans.
Food
Cuban food is varied, though rice is a staple and commonly served at lunch and dinner. Other common dishes are arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), plantanos maduros (sweet plantains), yuca (Casava root), and papayas. A common drink is Materva, a Cuban soda made out of hemp.
Assimilation
Many Cubans have assimilated themselves into the mainstream U.S. culture, but in the city of Miami and its surroundings, there is a uniquely molded Cuban community. Since the 1980s, Cubans have moved out of "Little Havana" to the suburbs of Miami, such as Hialeah, Florida and Kendall as well as the more affluent Coral Gables, Florida and Miami Lakes, Florida. Many new South Americans and Central Americans, along with new Cuban immigrants have replaced the Cuban-Americans who have dispersed throughout the nation.
Cuban Americans have been very successful in establishing businesses and developing political clout by transforming Miami from a beach retirement community into a modern city with a distinct Hispanic flavor. There are now three Cuban American members of the United States House of Representatives and two Senators (Mel Martinez of Florida, and Robert Menendez of New Jersey) in the United States Senate, as well as the Cuban-American Secretary of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez.
Immigration Policy
Before the 1980s, all refugees from Cuba were welcomed into the United States as political refugees. This changed in the 1990s so that the only Cubans that reach U.S. soil are granted refuge under the Wet Feet/Dry Feet Policy. Cuban immigration also continues with an allotted number of Cubans (20,000 per year) provided legal U.S. visas.