Cuban Migration

America is an immigrant nation. Since colonial times, successive waves of immigration from around the world have poured across its shores, creating the most diverse society on Earth. Cuban migration is part of this society, and not without it mishaps, the issues with the Cuban migration are unique but not new. Normal immigration from Cuba has been elusive since Fidel Castro came in to power. Over the years, the custom of Cubans fleeing by boat to the U.S. has become routine, and has reached levels of noticeable exodus. Since the last upraise of “boat people” in 1990s, the United States and Cuba worked together towards establishing safer and legal immigration, which includes frequent migrants interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Cubans have had a long history of migrating to the United States, as we know political reasons has as a lot to do with it. So many Cubans, specifically manufactures of the famous cigars, came during war times 1868-1978 involving the Spanish army and Cuban nationals; but the most important migrations of Cubans have happen in the last thirty five years or so; with the four distinct waves of Cuban immigration to the United States ever since the year 1959. Although many of the earlier migrants did flee Cuba for political reasons, it’s also because of the decline in economic condition in their homeland. The Cubans have a heavy African background; they are descendants of Spanish colonizers and of African slaves who worked in the sugar trade. Cuba had become New York’s principal supplier of sugar in 1833. (Chaffin pg.49) Cuban population is Roman Catholic and non-denominations; although nearly half report no religious affiliation. Spanish is the official language of Cuba; nearly all Cubans are Spanish with Afro-American heritages. Many Cuba’s live and work in New York, Buffalo, Houston and Miami Florida; which is where a big population resides today.

The First waves of immigrants were largely upper and middle class professionals, and trade workers; second wave of immigration occurred in 1965, this is when Castro did allow certain Cuba’s to leave and be with relatives in the U.S.; doing this important time, a lot of Cuba’s used this to their advance and fled; allowing others families members to live together for traditional and economic reasons. The third wave of immigrants is known as the “Mariel’s left” Castro announced that any Cuba’s who wanted to leave Cuba, must go to Embassy grounds. The Mariel Boat Lift started in 1980 when Castro opened the port of Mariel to American boasts. The fourth waves of immigrants are known as balseros because they left the island on boats and rafts in 1994. The former President Clinton changed past policy by Cubans would not be allowed to come into the United States and he quarantined the refugees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The U.S. then grants visa to over twenty two thousands Cubans yearly under provisions of an agreement between the two countries. Also the name “Dusty foot” is a term the Department of Homeland Security gave Cubans immigrating in to the U.S. through Mexico.

In 2005 the Department of Homeland Security had deserted the method of detaining every dry foot Cuban who crossed through Texas and started a new policy, by allowing most if not all Cubans to gain immediate parole. The wet foot, dry foot policy is the name given to an outcome of the 1995 modification of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 which stated, that anyone who fled Cuba going into the United States would be able to take up residency a year later. The Cuban government and the Clinton administration came to an understanding with Cuba that it would do it best to stop admitting Cubans found at sea. The existence and size of the Cuban community in the United States is a result of both “push and pull” factors. The revolutionary government’s inflexible attitude toward dissent, and its imperviousness to demands that dissenters make, probably constitute the greatest push factors. Cubans who are unhappy have had no reason to believe that they can effect changes in their lives. Another strong push factor for the recent wave of newcomers is the economic situation and scarcity of crucially necessary goods like medicine. The “pull” factor has been the United States policy with regard to Cuban émigrés, which has effectively been, until recently, an unqualified welcome for both documented. Until 1985, there was no quota for Cubans entering the U.S. via normal immigration procedures, as there was for other immigrant groups.

The University of Havana, founded in 1728, Scientific and technical fields are emphasized; and the leading institution of higher education on the island. Cuba 's government initiated a campaign to wipe out illiteracy in 1961 and now has one of the highest literacy rates, at 94 percent, in all of Latin America. Music is probably the most important aspect of Cuba 's popular culture. Cuban music combines Spanish and African influences. Typical music styles include charanga, son, rumba, mambo, cha-cha-cha, and danzon. From a blend of these rhythms evolved salsa which literally means "sauce." Celia Cruz, known all over the world as the Queen of Salsa, began her career in Havana in the late 1940s with a group named Sonora Matanzera. In addition to traditional music, Cubans teenagers enjoy rock and roll, both Cuban and American versions.

In Cuba, ballet is to the fine arts what baseball is to sports: the top. The Cuban National Ballet Company, founded by its leader and star performer, Alicia Alonso, has performed all over the world. She is considered one of the best ballet dancers of all time.
Several Cuban writers and poets, including José Marti and Alejo Carpentier (1904–80), have left their mark upon Latin American literature. A notable poet, Herberto Padilla, whose collection of poems, Out of the Game , received praise worldwide but was banned in Cuba, was even arrested.Before Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, Cuban painters and sculptors demonstrated European influences. Post revolutionary artists like Manuel Mendive (1944–) have incorporated Afro-Cuban mythology and folklore into their work. Many artists have produced works that protest government policies, although artists who disagree with the Revolution may be persecuted. Cuban culture, established Cuban foods are affluent in both Spanish and African influences. Pork is the meat often used in a traditional meal, accompanied by Rice and beans, as well as Fried green plantains, called tostones or mariquitas, which complete the meal. Major holidays in Cuba mark significant events in the revolution: January 1 and July 26. May Day, a communist holiday worldwide, is an official holiday, as is October10 which marks the historic revolt against Spain that began in 1868. Catholics honor Three Kings Day on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. The labor force in Cuba is divided almost evenly among service-related jobs, agriculture, trade, manufacturing and mining, and utilities. Jobs in tourism are highly desirable because of their access to U.S. dollars and foreign goods. Even teachers, doctors, and engineers have left their professions to work in tourism jobs because they can earn more money. Migration is everywhere in the American experience. It is entwined throughout American history and has become part of the very fabric of the nation’s identity. It is commemorated in such national landmarks as the Statue of Liberty and the Gateway Arch. Migration, as much as any factor, has built America and made it what it is today.

Bibliography:

U.S. Department of State. Fact Sheet on Cuban Migration, 1958-1998 http://www.state.gov/www/regions/wha/cuba/migration

Chaffin,Tom ., Fatal Glory Narciso Lopez and the Fist Clandestine U.S. War against Cuba, Virginia 1996

http://www.everyculture.com/ http://www.ascinsa.com/LATINOCONNECTION/cuba.html

Bibliography: U.S. Department of State. Fact Sheet on Cuban Migration, 1958-1998 http://www.state.gov/www/regions/wha/cuba/migration Chaffin,Tom ., Fatal Glory Narciso Lopez and the Fist Clandestine U.S. War against Cuba, Virginia 1996 http://www.everyculture.com/ http://www.ascinsa.com/LATINOCONNECTION/cuba.html