Understanding the Cuban American Culture
Miami Florida has the biggest Latin population than any other city in the United States. The majority of Latin's being of Cuban descent. Since the Cuban revolution there have been constant waves of immigrating Cubans to Miami. The result has been a Cuban American society that has created culture diversity within. In order to understand the Cuban American culture you must understand its ethnic origin, politics, and the varying times of immigration.
CUBAS ETHNIC ROOTS AND ORIGINS
The Cuban population consists of a variety of ethnic origins. In the early days before the Spanish inhabited Cuba the population was made up of 90% Taino speaking American Indians ho had displaced even earlier inhabitants. Shortly after came the Spanish conquest. Cuba was claimed by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
1 The Spanish discovered sugar; this became important source of income. Due to the harsh working conditions such as starvation while working in the sugar plantation and forced to mine gold the Taino speaking Indians were wiped out due to diseases. This forced the Spaniards to import African slaves to replace the Indian laborers which had died. Approximately 800,000 Africans arrived to work the sugar plantations. The relations between master and slaves this created a new genetic variation. The mulatto (mixed black & white) population began to develop. These roots shape the basis of traditions, culture, and beliefs. Later, people of Russia, Chinese, and European decent created today's Cuba. According to the CIA'S World Fact book, Cuba is 51% mulatto, 37% White, 11% black, and 1 % Chinese.
CHAPTER 2
CUBAS REVOLUTION
The Cuban American culture was strongly influenced by the Cuban revolution. Most say that the revolution began in 1956 when Fidel Castro led a group of rebels and landed a ship in the south of Cuba. There they met heavy resistance and almost all were killed. A dozen survivors including Castro and his brother Raul retreated to the mountains. There they started
CUBAS ETHNIC ROOTS AND ORIGINS
The Cuban population consists of a variety of ethnic origins. In the early days before the Spanish inhabited Cuba the population was made up of 90% Taino speaking American Indians ho had displaced even earlier inhabitants. Shortly after came the Spanish conquest. Cuba was claimed by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
1 The Spanish discovered sugar; this became important source of income. Due to the harsh working conditions such as starvation while working in the sugar plantation and forced to mine gold the Taino speaking Indians were wiped out due to diseases. This forced the Spaniards to import African slaves to replace the Indian laborers which had died. Approximately 800,000 Africans arrived to work the sugar plantations. The relations between master and slaves this created a new genetic variation. The mulatto (mixed black & white) population began to develop. These roots shape the basis of traditions, culture, and beliefs. Later, people of Russia, Chinese, and European decent created today's Cuba. According to the CIA'S World Fact book, Cuba is 51% mulatto, 37% White, 11% black, and 1 % Chinese.
CHAPTER 2
CUBAS REVOLUTION
The Cuban American culture was strongly influenced by the Cuban revolution. Most say that the revolution began in 1956 when Fidel Castro led a group of rebels and landed a ship in the south of Cuba. There they met heavy resistance and almost all were killed. A dozen survivors including Castro and his brother Raul retreated to the mountains. There they started