Who Speaks Spanish? Parte 2: Los Cubanos (Cuban Americans)

(FL)

Reason #1: Starting in the 1500's, many Cubans came to Florida, which was colonized by Spain. Florida Cuba Florida Cuba 1500’s

Reason #2: : Educated upper and middle class Cubans immigrated to Miami to escape Fidel Castro's communist regime. Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals Reason #2: : Educated upper and middle class Cubans immigrated to Miami to escape Fidel Castro's communist regime. Doctors, lawyers, and other professionals By Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png : Warren K. Leffler derivative work: Damiens.rf (Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png ) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

Reason #2: : Helped by the US government (who were happy to assist those fleeing a communist regime) and local banks Reason #2: : Helped by the US government (who were happy to assist those fleeing a communist regime) and local banks By Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png : Warren K. Leffler derivative work: Damiens.rf (Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png ) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

Reason #2: : Built a thriving Cuban American community in Miami. Reason #2: : Built a thriving Cuban American community in Miami. By Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png : Warren K. Leffler derivative work: Damiens.rf (Fidel_Castro_- _MATS_Terminal_Washington_1959.png ) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

Reason #3: April-October, 1980: Mariel Boatlifts: Because Cuba was in financial trouble, Castro opened jails and mental institutions, and allowed anyone to leave Cuba by boat to Miami. (It is highly unusual for a communist government to allow its citizens to leave the country.) Reason #3: April-October, 1980: Mariel Boatlifts: Because Cuba was in financial trouble, Castro opened jails and mental institutions, and allowed anyone to leave Cuba by boat to Miami. (It is highly unusual for a communist government to allow its citizens to leave the country.) By U.S. Department of Homeland Security [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

Reason #3: April-October, 1980: The US government intercepted many of the boats, and placed the immigrants in detention centers until they could be returned to Cuba. Some found a way to stay in the US. Reason #3: April-October, 1980: The US government intercepted many of the boats, and placed the immigrants in detention centers until they could be returned to Cuba. Some found a way to stay in the US. By U.S. Department of Homeland Security [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

Reason #3: April-October, 1980: Cuban Americans in Miami felt that these immigrants damaged their good reputation, since many "Marielitos" were criminals or mental patients. Reason #3: April-October, 1980: Cuban Americans in Miami felt that these immigrants damaged their good reputation, since many "Marielitos" were criminals or mental patients. By U.S. Department of Homeland Security [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1500’s

#1: There is a high concentration of Cuban Americans in Miami, FL and other cities in the northeast (including Hazleton, PA). (Please know the postal abbreviations too!) #1: There is a high concentration of Cuban Americans in Miami, FL and other cities in the northeast (including Hazleton, PA). (Please know the postal abbreviations too!)

#2: There were 2 major waves of immigrants from Cuba: one after Fidel Castro (communist) came to power (many were educated professionals), one in 1980 (Mariel Boatlift, included many criminals and mental patients send here by Castro to save money for Cuba).

#3: Generally speaking, Cuban Americans have higher socio-economic status and higher education levels than other Hispanic American groups.

 he_United_States he_United_States  miami/topics/history-of-miami/ miami/topics/history-of-miami/  Americans.html Americans.html