I have found myself asking that annoying question to anyone with a Spanish accent in research for this blog. People either look at me strange or respond with some Latino nationality.
I must admit, I was surprised by one of the responses I received. When I asked a girl (who will remain anonymous) what she was, she quickly said, “Cuban… but not like the refugees from the raft. My parents came on a plane.”
Do Cubans actually distinguish themselves from other Cubans based on the mode of transportation that got their family to America? Better question yet, how many UF students are actually ashamed of their Cuban roots? While I will never find an exact number, I’m curious to meet students that feel that way to add a different perspective to this blog.
Note: The Gainesville Sun ran an article last fall about students who don’t take much pride in their cultural heritage. Read it here now!
Photo courtesy of Google Images. Translated it reads, "Welcome to Cuba. Pearl of the Antilles."
2 comments:
Some 'high class' Cubans distinguish themselves in this matter because there were 2 different enclaves of Cuban immigrants. The first consisted of the Cuban exiles and the second "Marielitos" and Balseros(rafters). The Marielitos/Balseros that came were quite different from the Golden Exiles in that they were raised in a Socialist Cuba. The majority were unskilled and considered low class by the Golden Exiles.
She perhaps developed this response in light of the 'Golden Exile' p.o.v.
I did a research paper and quick ppt presentation. If you want more either, talk to me in class :)
Thanks Ennvoy,
Part of my research for the rest of the semeter is to distinguish between the attitudes of students whose families came in the two different waves of immigration. Thanks for the information as it will be a nice jumping off point to ask questions to Cuban-American students.
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