( 4 reviews )
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Posted: Mar 12 2007
This book exceeded my expectations. Being from Hialeah, what I consider to be the current heart of Cuban Miami - as the book mentioned, Little Havana, the old enclave of the Cuban exile, is slowly being overtaken by Central Americans - I was pleasantly surprised to see several pictures of Hialeah included (and not of the racetrack like many other books focus on, but of actual shopping centers and streets that residents can recognize). The book does a good job at summarizing the exile experience in Miami, from the first wave of the 1960's to the Balseros of the 1990's. I wish that they would have spent as much time studying the Marielitos as they did with the first wave of exiles, though. I also like how they mention not only successful Cubans but those of the lower and working classes, though more attention should be given to them as well, as not every Cuban is living the "American Dream" and owns their own business, or even their own home. Studying poverty in the Cuban community is essential, and not just the poverty of the recent Balseros but of older immigrants who just never assimilated enough to succeed. Success stories are great and all, but there are other realities to explore as well. I also enjoyed that the book is not just a study of Cuban immigrants but of how they have changed the culture of Miami. I especially liked how it mentions our traditions and products. As a Cuban-American, I found myself relating to a lot that the book had to say and recognizing many of the traditions, places, personalities, foods/restaurants, and stores mentioned. I would have liked that the pictures be in color, as they were all in black and white, but this is a minor gripe. A personal suggestion to the authors: you should write a book about Cubans in Hialeah, they are a case study onto themselves! I would also love to see an updated version showing all that has changed since the book was published in 1999, though it can still be considered current.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Sep 22 2001
This book by one of the authors of Secret Missions, offers a pleasant and often poignant glimpe of the history of Miami's Cuban community. Rather than books of this kind, the author shows his respect for Miami's Cuban community although he does not emphasize the glittering success of its most powerful indivuduals. Rather, the book covers everyone from Peter Pan arrivals to Mariel boat people and rafters. A model study, and illustrated with wonderful cartoons and photographs.
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( 3 of 5 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 14 2001
The Authors Asis and Levine have created an excellent documentary of the Cuban immigration to Miami-Dade county. The book takes one from the 1930s to the present. It explains ins and outs the Cuban life in Miami. It is a very neutral book which neither glorifies nor demeans the Cuban immigration to Miami and Florida. It simply explains the reasons of Cuban behavior which might seem somewhat confusing to a non-Cuban as well as other races and nationalities from Latin America. Miami and Cuba had a long relationship way before the revolution came to the island nation. Many of the wealthy sugar barons, rum distillers and tobacco kings kept their cash in South Florida. Miami was the playground for the rich and famous of Cuba usually occupying more hotel space than the rather well known northern snow birds of today. The politics of dislocation is discussed indepth to help one understand the often hostile position of Cuban-Americans toward Castro and Cuba today. Something of a surprise for me was the way the first wave of exiles often viewed the newcommers of the second wave commanly known as the Marielitos with suspicion. The influence of wealthy Cuban businessmen of yesterday and today are felt in many places of the US in Finance, Educational Scholars, Politics and Government. They superficially touch base on this without going into a lot of detail but it still one understand from where they have come from to where they are going. The Catholic church plays a very important role in almost all Cubans' lifes. Many of the cultural and religious specific traditions are explained in great detail. All of the refugees from the first wave and operation Pedro Pan were mainly cared for by Catholic charaties, which also reinforces their beliefs and support for the church. Gloria Estefan, Willy Chirino, Silvio Fontanellas and other Cuban-Americans who have contributed to Cuban culture in the area of music and arts is only briefly discussed on several pages. As a passionate listner of Cuban music, I thought it would have been great if they would have introduced other Cuban musicians in South Florida but then again, this is not a publication about Cuban music. Exiles love to dream about the Island but I think this chapter is a little bit niave as most of the Cubans think that once Castro is gone they will all return home. I have been in Europe during the fall of the wall and many of the former East Germans dreamt about going back to their former country and rebuilding their homes and reuniting their families. This all turned out to be falacy. Those that tried to come back and claim their property were detested by their families who remained in the Communist part and saw their relatives from West with a lot of suspicion. Many family reunions didn't last long and the their dreams were shattered. Things will be different when Castro is gone but it will not be like most Cuban exiles think. Family members who have stayed in Cuba the entire time will want to have their property as well, citing the suffering they have endured under Castro as their rights to the deeds. More important is that exile Cubans understand what caused the revolution and that they try to avoid the pitfalls of their predecessors. Most companies prepare a business plan and if it is not bearing fruit after a certain amount of time they decide to try something else. Perhaps the Cuban exile community should try and persue a dialogue with Cuba. Fourty years of isolation hasn't worked guys.
