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From Havana to Calle Ocho: Cuban and Cuban American Image and Myth in the U.S.

From Havana to Calle Ocho: Cuban and Cuban American Image and Myth in the U.S. Dr. William Martínez. Cuba at the “Beginning”: 1492. A definition of Paradise “Paradise” lost. European Christian beliefs “Paradise found” Spanish Messianic beliefs Columbus’ letter to Isabel

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From Havana to Calle Ocho: Cuban and Cuban American Image and Myth in the U.S.

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  1. From Havana to Calle Ocho: Cuban and Cuban American Image and Myth in the U.S. Dr. William Martínez

  2. Cuba at the “Beginning”: 1492 • A definition of Paradise • “Paradise” lost. European Christian beliefs • “Paradise found” Spanish Messianic beliefs Columbus’ letter to Isabel Cuba as a “New” Paradise

  3. The image of Cuba after the Spanish American War • Image of Identity “The Foreigner comes here to find what is not permitted in his country.” Poca Cosa, 1915 “By all means and any means the American visiting Cuba should get acquainted with its women.” Basil Wood. When it’s Cocktail Time in Cuba, 1928

  4. “Anyone can find…friendly and peaceful natives, guitars and songs, beaches and mountains, a great deal of sun and as much moon as possible. In short al the pleasures of the primitive and colonial…”(emphasis mine) Carteles, 1947.

  5. When the Cuban goes shopping he invariably specifies “Americano, por favor,” even when buying such things as wines and laces, which are European Specialties… Of course, this tremendous admiration for everything American works to the advantage of the tourist, who finds himself very much at home the moment he sets foot in Havana, where he is received and welcomed everywhere.” Mexico and Cuba on Your Own, 1954.

  6. Cuba as an “Other” • The exotic nature of Cuba • Cuba and the U.S. during Prohibition • Maximum pleasure for the most minimum of risk. • The sensual (sexual) nature of the exotic • “A paradise on earth.” Anaiïs Nin • “Going to heaven without having to die” National Airlines slogan

  7. Cuba: 1930-1950 • The Americanization of Cuba • Tourism designed for the comfort of Americans • “It’s one of the most picturesque and unusual cities in the world--in spite of its nearness to us.” Norval Richardson, Ambassador to Cuba, 1934 • Cuba defined in North American Terms

  8. “Cuba, so near and so friendly is a storehouse of inexhaustible sun and gaiety for the Americans… It might be said that nature has purposely placed this Holiday Isle of the Tropics at the door of the great American nation for the pleasure, repose and enjoyment of its inhabitants.”Add for Cuba in the U.S. 1939.

  9. Batista and Cuba • Fulgencio Batista Presidency(1940-1944) • The Americanization of Cuban Education • Schools open specifically to accommodate U.S. interests (ex. Havana Business Academy, The Havana Business University) • The Transition of Power “Cuba is the model of stability and democracy in all Latin America” FDR

  10. The Coup of 1952 • March 10, 1952 • Batista takes over after dissatisfied w/ elections • The U.S. Reaction-- Apparent indifference • Cuban Reaction--Distrust of U.S.

  11. “The fact that Cuba, deprives of its public freedoms and under the sway of military dictatorship has to arouse the democratic public opinion of the U.S…a desire to condemn the situation. Never was the present time more right, since the U.S. is constantly calling the free world to oppose and resist the aggression of the Soviet totalitarianism, and little could be said of these preachings if some of the peoples appeared to suffer, in their internal life, an oppression and indignity of a nature similar to that they are requested to fight.” • Eliseo Riera Gomez to Attorney General of U.S. 1/20/53

  12. Cuba in America: Desi Arnaz • “I Love Lucy” The U.S. confronts “Cuban Pete” Who is the “I” in “I love Lucy”? a. Desi Arnaz b. Ricky Ricardo c. The American Public d. CBS

  13. Fidel Castro: The 1959 Coup • Cuba’s new reputation • “The red light district of the Caribbean” • “The Vegas of Latin America” • “The brothel of the New World.” • “The gangster island”

  14. Cubans after the Revolution: Miami here we come--1960-1980 • The Peter Pan Program • The Cuban Refugee Program • Cuban Settlements in Miami • The Beginnings of Calle Ocho • “Next year in a free Cuba” • The Bay of Pigs incident • A second Exile (Camarioaca) • Freedom Flights (1965-1972)

  15. The U.S. Reaction to Cuban Exiles • 1963-- 27,000 Cubans in Miami, mostly professionals • 1966-- 1500-2000 new refugees each week • “Little Havana” La Sagüesera (Southwest) • 1966--Cuban Adjustment Act • 1970--1/2 Million Cubans in U.S. and 121,000 Born in U.S. of Cuban decent

  16. A New Idea of Paradise • The “transient” nature of the refugees • “Miami up to its armpits in Cubans” Miami Herald editorial, 1969 • Little Havana a re-definition of Cubanness Cuban Music Cuban Food The age of Guayaberas Older Cubans eat, drink and sleep in Spanish

  17. A New Idea of Paradise • “Little Havana is a Golden Cage, an artificial paradise, the neighborhood of dreams and the dream of Cubans to stay Cuban.” Gustavo Pérez Firmat Next Year in Cuba

  18. New Cuban refugees 1973-1979 • 1973 12,579 • 1974 13,670 • 1975 8,488 • 1976 4,515 • 1977 4,548 • 1978 4,108 • 1979 2,644

  19. The 1.5 Generation: Cuban Americans 1980-2000 • “We are Cubans like our parents but American by Accident.” • The not-quite-american-but-too-young-to-be-anything-else generation • By 1980 60% of Cubans own a home • 1/3 of business in Miami Cuban owned • 90% of new residential/commercial construction controlled by Cubans • 800,000+ born in U.S. of Cuban decent

  20. A New Generation: Mariel Boat Lift • April 1980--6 Cubans crash into Peruvian Embassy • Two days later more than 10,000 invade the embassy grounds • Castro declares “anyone wanting to leave Cuba, can do so” by the Mariel Port. • Cuban Americans send boats to pick up relatives who are new refugees

  21. Castro’s response to Mariel • Empty the prisons and hospitals • By Mid May, 1980, 3000 Cubans are fleeing Mariel daily. • By early June, 5000-6000 leave the island daily • Castro closes Mariel Port on Sept 25. By then, more than 125,000 Cubans have left the island.

  22. U.S. Response to Mariel Boat Lift • Coast Guard starts to turn away boats • Sets up Tent Cities to process incoming immigrants • Federal Government creates laws affecting “The boat people.”

  23. In Music • Celia Cruz • Willi Chirino • Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine • Clouds • Arturo Sandoval

  24. Other famous Cuban Americans • Cristina Saralegui--TV Show hostess • Andy García--Movie Actor • Luis Azaceta--Artist • Hilda Perera--Children’s books writer • Luis Santeiro--Playwright

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