U.S. Latino/a: Cuban American

1. U.S. Latino/a:Cuban American From 1900 to 1960 By: Valerie Welsh Genell Burroughs Leslie Schuller Mandy Miller and Michael Capps

2. Study Guide • The traditions of what two groups influenced Cuban traditions? Spanish and African. • What sports did Cuban American children enjoy? Baseball, boxing, volleyball, and basketball. • Between 1868 and 1920, Key West became known as the _____ Center of the U.S. Cigar. • Between 1930 and 1950, Cuban Americans began to make their marks in what two areas? • Politics and business. • Between 1959 and 1961, the first to flee the island of Cuba under Castro’s leadership were known as whom? • The “Golden Exiles”. • What period in history were North American teachers sent over to Cuba to teach Cuban children? • U.S. occupation of Cuba (1899-1902). • What was the name of the program the Cuban children participated in while in school? • The City School Program. • What types of games became popular in the 40’s and 50’s? Board and Card Games. • What game was mentioned as being common to several cultures in the time period?El Aro (The Hoop). • What are the two religions of Cuban-Americans? Santeria (Regla de Ocha) & Roman Catholic. • Are children involved in the practices of Santeria? No. • What is the true name of Santeria? Regla De Ocha. • What is the number one conflict over the religion Santeria? Animal Sacrifice.

3. Culture & Traditions By Michael Capps

4. Study Questions • The traditions of what two groups influenced Cuban traditions? Spanish and African. • What sports did Cuban American children enjoy? Baseball, boxing, volleyball, and basketball.

5. Culture • Heavily influenced by Spanish: prior to this time period, Cuba was a colony of Spain. • Also inspired by African traditions; African population as a result of slaves brought to Cuba to work the sugar plantations.

6. Quinceañera • AKA Quince Años or Quince. • Celebration of female’s 15th birthday; a transition into adulthood (rite of passage). • Similar to a “Sweet 16” party. • Embraces religious traditions, and the virtues of family & social responsibility. • The Quinceanera's court can be comprised of young girls (called a Dama), young men (called Chambelán or Escorte or Galán) or a combination of both - traditionally up to 14 persons in the court, which with the Quinceanera, would total 15 young people.

7. Cuban Youth Army • Both boys and girls. • Mandatory. • Age of 15. • Usually a reservist until age 49. • If in school, kids will practice during school holiday.

8. Holidays • Carnival (June through August): • First begun in Santiago de Cuba. • Introduced by slaves to ward off bad spirits. • 3-day event in Havana. However, different parts of Cuba celebrate it at different times of the summer. • Much music and partying. • Upset about lack of Sunday observance.

9. Holidays, Continued • Nochebueña (The Good Night): • Cuban New Year’s Eve. • Families gather together and rejoice around the Nativity scene. • Interrupted at Midnight by the ringing of the bells, calling families to “La Misa De Gallo” (Rooster’s Mass). • Called this because it is said that the only time a rooster crows at Midnight was on the day Jesus was born. • Most beautiful of these candlelight services is held at the monastery of Montserrat, high in the mountain near Barcelona, which is highlighted by a boy's choir describes as performing the Mass in "one pure voice.“

10. More Holidays • Dia de Los Reyes Magos (The Day of The Three Kings): • Epiphany, January 6th. • Leave grass in boxes to feed the Wise Men’s camels. • Saint’s Days: • Celebrate the day pf the saint you are named after • Interview: Jorge del Castillo, celebrated San Jorge on April 23rd, receiving a small present and a small celebration.

11. Sports • Since Cuba is one of the poorest Latin American countries, many activities must cost little to nothing. • Baseball: Like their fathers, Cuban boys typically love to play baseball. • Boxing: Usually begin at age of 7, if they intend on going professional. • Cubans have won 27 Olympic gold medals in boxing.

12. Sports, Cont. • Girls: Volleyball. Nets often set up in many strange places, such as the streets. • Both Girls and Boys: Basketball. • Making Music: Playing the guitar. Inexpensive and full of heritage. Many people know how to play: bonding. • Listening to Music: Enhances dancing skills.

13. “Pedro Pan” • Major influx of Cuban children to the U.S. • Program created by the Catholic Welfare Bureau (Catholic Charities) of Miami in December 1960 at the request of parents in Cuba to provide an opportunity for them to send their children to Miami to avoid Marxist-Leninist indoctrination. • Fearing that parental authority would be taken away, parents sent over 14,000 kids to the U.S. alone.

14. Class By Valerie Welsh

15. Study Questions • Between 1868 and 1920, Key West became known as the _____ Center of the U.S. Cigar. • Between 1930 and 1950, Cuban Americans began to make their marks in what two areas? Politics and business. • Between 1959 and 1961, the first to flee the island of Cuba under Castro’s leadership were known as whom? The “Golden Exiles”.

16. Time Periods: Waves The first Cuban immigrants started to arrive in the late 1800’s; they came in what is termed as “waves.” During the time period from the late 1800’s to 1960, there were three distinct waves of Cuban immigrants: 1880 – 1920 1930 – 1950 1959 –

17. 1868 – 1920 When the Ten Year’s War against Spain broke out in 1868, a tenth of Cuba’s population was forced to emigrate. After Cuba defeated Spain in 1878, many Cubans returned home to Cuba. But many remained in the U.S. Many professionals, businessmen and workers established themselves in New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Baltimore and Key West, Florida. More than three-quarters of the workers became involved in the tobacco Industry. Cigar manufacturing had been a thriving business in Cuba; so many exiles arrived here with years of experience in the industry, as workers and entrepreneurs. Once settled in Key West they quickly turned it into the Cigar Center of the United States. Life was quite inexpensive for them. They could rent a house for one dollar a week, buy a pound of meat for less that ten cents, and a meal for a nickel. Wages ranged from 20.00 – 40.00 dollars a week. Workers lived in relative comfort. They lived in close knit communities with strong social and family ties.

18. 1930 – 1950 From 1933-1944, Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar ruled over Cuba. While he had support of the majority, he infuriated some Cubans with his disregard for the democratic process, and how he instead ran a police state. He sent countless people who opposed him to jail, or even to death. Some rich and powerful who opposed him were forced to seek temporary refuge in the United States; this wave was in much smaller numbers. Along with the rest of the country, both new immigrants and established Cuban Americans faced The Depression. One harder hit industry was the luxury industry, including the cigar industries. Cuban American workers were hit hard. But they didn’t wait for things to get better; instead they dispersed to other areas around the country in an effort to find work. Families especially felt the effects of the depression. Entire families were unable to move easily, so many adolescent children were sent to work in factories in an effort to help support their families. Cuban Americans proved to be very resourceful. They made use of the great opportunities which this country offered, and they achieved remarkable prosperity in the process. During this period many Cuban Americans began to make their mark in politics, as well as in business.

19. 1959 – 1961 Thousands fled the island after only a few months of Castro seizing control. It didn’t take long before Castro began implementing socialist reforms, including confiscation of privately owned property. Castro aligned himself with the Soviet Union both economically and politically. The first to flee were typically people with wealth, know as the “Golden Exiles.” They had little trouble blending in the American culture, where money constituted an international language. Next came the middle class: doctors, lawyers, architects and disillusioned white collar workers, some of whom lost their property to confiscation. They were soon followed by farmers, peasants, and fishermen. Also, out of fear, thousands of unaccompanied children were sent over by their parents. In 1960, President Eisenhower made available one million dollars to be used for resettlement, and to aid such children.

20. 1961 And Beyond These Cubans were received by the majority of society with much less prejudice than other immigrant groups. Overall, Cuban American status rose much more quickly than did many European groups’. They achieved both economical and political success, often compared to that of whites.

21. Education By Genell Burroughs

22. Study Questions • What period in history were North American teachers sent over to Cuba to teach Cuban children? U.S. occupation of Cuba (1899-1902). • What was the name of the program the Cuban children participated in while in school? The City School Program.

23. Education: U.S. Occupation of Cuba 1899-1902 §North American teachers were sent over to Cuba to teach Cuban children. §       Giving the Cuban children an education was an opportunity the North American authorities saw to develop attitudes and values compatible with North American policy objectives. §       The organization and content of the school curriculum conformed to North American practices. §       The subjects that were taught in the classroom were: -        The English Language and North American Literature -        Politics -        History

24. Education: The English Language and North American Literature §       By having the English language taught in the classroom, North American authorities saw it as an important link to bind Cuba to the United States. §       Children were taught that English was the language of the future, and that it would give them a better chance to understand Americans and do business with Americans in the future as adults. §       Also, North American literature was placed into the classrooms to promote the children’s knowledge, and improve their morals. And textbooks adopted for classroom use were Spanish translations of North American books. These books transmitted culture.

25. Education: Politics §       Cuban children participated in the “The City School Program.” The program was modeled on a system that was being used a lot in immigrant neighborhoods of New York City to promote the acculturation process. §       The program was in civil training, a project in which the children could become familiar with North American institutions by organizing model governments and playing the roles of elected officials. §       The City School Program sought to impress upon the children the virtues of the North American political system and warn against the vices of Latin American politics.

26. Education: History §    For the teaching of history, it functioned as an instrument of cultural imperialism and political hegemony. It served as one of the principal means through which to reshape the memory of the past. And the history textbooks used mostly dealt with North American history. §       Also, Cuban history was taught briefly to the children. They learned about the Cuban revolutionary war, but the history books the children used were recorded in the North American version.

27. Play By Leslie Schuller “Many Cubans were born and spent their formative years in the United States. They learned to play new games and acquired a commonplace acquaintance with attitudes and customs that were wholly unfamiliar in Cuba.” On Becoming Cuban

28. Study Questions • What types of games became popular in the 40’s and 50’s? Board and Card Games. • What game was mentioned as being common to several cultures in the time period?El Aro (The Hoop).

29. Work, Work Work… Children of working class families had little time for play. In Ybor City, Florida, children often began working by the age of five as Messengers Delivery boys Stable hands Shoe shine boys In Grocery stores Cigar Factories Farms Cottage industries Children had many obligations at home as well, helping with younger children, housework and home repairs.

30. Popular Outdoor Activities As child labor laws were passed, children had more time for play. Popular outdoor activities: El Palito (The Stick) Los Papalotes (The Kites) Kites were also made by children and hung in windows for sale La Carreta de Patines (The Scooter made from Roller Skates) El Aro (The Hoop) La Lata (The Can)

31. El Palito (The Stick) This game was described in two interviews and in a book The game is played with two sticks – often made from Mama’s broomstick One stick 4 - 5 inches long, rounded on each end – el palito One stick about four feet long – el mocho Three or more players The batter puts el palito down on the street. The other players, fielders, are down the street, waiting to catch el palito. The batter hits the rounded end of el palito causing it to flip into the air, then hits it with el mocho, sending it flying toward the fielders. The fielder who catches el palito is the next batter.

32. Los Papalotes (The Kites) Kites were described in an interview and in a book. Kites were home-made or purchased from a store or from another child To make a kite you needed: Light weight sticks – varillas – two about 16 inches, one about 10 inches – scraps from the cigar box factory were just right Paper – the corner store had colorful “papel de China” for sale Lightweight but strong string Glue Fabric for a tail Straight pins to fasten the varillas together After you made your kite you could fly it on a breezy day. Both boys and girls enjoyed kites. Sometimes boys would attach razor blades to the tails of their kites and have kite fights called La Fajazon, trying to cut the string of their opponent’s kite so it flew away.

33. La Carreta de Patines (Scooter) Mentioned in an interview and a book To make a scooter you need: --Scrap lumber – two 2x4s, one about 18 inches, one about 18 inches or to size for height of child, one 1x2 about 7 inches long for the handle --One old skate --Hammer and nails Nail the skate to the bottom of the 18 inch 2x4, half at each end. Nail the handle centered on one end of the remaining 2x4 and nail the opposite end to the front of the first piece. Paint if you want to, grease the wheels and go!

34. El Aro (The Hoop) Mentioned in a book Hoop or steel rim – from a truck tire or a barrel Stick or wire pusher To play with the hoop a boy or girl would roll the hoop along the ground, pushing or controlling it with the stick or wire. This was a popular pastime in many cultures in this time period.

35. La Lata (The Can) Mentioned in an interview A game for any number of players Start by balancing a can lid on its side and spinning it, then run! The player who runs the farthest from the lid when it stops spinning is the winner.

36. Popular Indoor Pastimes Popular indoor pastimes: Jacks Dolls and Paper dolls Miniature metal trucks, cars and other friction toys Books and Comic books Button yo-yos Motion Pictures Board and Card games became popular in the 1940’s and 50’s

37. Americanization of Play Many Cuban-American families, especially after the late 1950’s, made a conscious effort to blend into ‘American’ culture and did not want to be singled out as Cuban. Play in these families closely resembles play in mainstream America.

38. Religion By Mandy Miller

39. Study Questions • What are the two religions of Cuban-Americans? Santeria (Regla de Ocha) & Roman Catholic. • Are children involved in the practices of Santeria? No. • What is the true name of Santeria? Regla De Ocha. • What is the number one conflict over the religion Santeria? Animal Sacrifice.

40. Roman Catholic & Regla de Ocha (The Rule of the Orisha) Also Known as Santeria

41. Roman Catholic Roman Catholic religion has many practices such as: MassCommunionBaptismsConfirmationand Prayer

42. Baptism of an Infant Incudes: -Wearing White The baby wears white because it is a sign of their new life White stands for purity and innocence and the rejection of sin-The priest traces a cross on the child’s forehead & the parents do the same-There is a reading from the Bible-Then there is a prayer for the child and parents-Then there is an Exorcism in which the priest holds his hand up and says: "O God, you sent your Son to cast out the power of Satan, set this child free from Original Sin" -Then there is the Anointing which is where the priest anoints the child on the chest with oil. The oil is a sign of strength and healing-Then the parents are asked to make the Promises "Do you reject Satan?" "I do" "Do you believe in God?" "I do” "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God?" "I do" "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?" "I do"

43. Baptism After the promises, water is poured over the child's head three times. The priest says the child's name and then: "I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

44. First Communion Children usually make their First Holy Communion at the age of 7 or 8. It is a time of great celebration when the candidates usually wear white and receive gifts to mark this special passage in their spiritual life.

45. Regla de Ocha Santeria Santeria is a syncretistic religion, which is the joining of two beliefs. These would be the worship of the Orisha and beliefs of the Yoruba, combined with elements of worship from Roman Catholicism .

46. The Beginning This religion began when people were forcibly transported from Africa to be slaves in Cuba They were baptized Roman Catholic upon arrival They kept their religion alive by equating the Orisha of their traditional religions with a corresponding Christian Saint Examples:Oggzn became St. Peter Eleggua or Elegba became St. Anthony

47. Interesting Fact In the early 1900’s the African Drum was forbidden and Afro-Cuban ritual ceremonies were stopped and their musical instruments were confiscated and burned & Their annual carnivals were ultimately banned due to being seen as “savage and uncivilized”

48. Terminology AsheAshe is growth, the force toward completeness and divinity. OlodumareThe Owner of Heaven, the Owner of all Destinies. OrishaSacred patrons or "guardian angels”.

49. Practices Ritual SacrificesThe animal's blood is collected and offered to the OrishaDancing is another main component of the ritual Possession Rhythmic sounds and dancing during Santerian rituals are believed to lead to possession SecrecyVery little information about beliefs, ritual, symbolism, and practice are released to the general public TraditionSanteria is not a religion of a book

50. Conflicts Over Santeria Animal Sacrifices:Chickens and other small animals are ritually sacrificed at times of serious sickness or misfortune, and at times of initiation Santerians defend their practices by pointing out: -The animals are killed in a humane manner-They are often eaten later, just as the many of millions of animals slaughtered daily in North American commercial establishments are-Ritual sacrifice of animals was extensively practiced in ancient Israel and was only discontinued after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in the eighth decade CE-They feel that the sacrifices must continue because their Orisha require the food-Animal sacrifices have formed a part of their religion for over one millennium-The Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religious expression