Immigrant NYC, Episode 7: Becoming Cuban-American (1804-1980)

This episode recounts the two century long history of exchange between Cuba and New York City. It dives deeply into Cuban history to explain why the relationship between the island and NYC developed and how political circumstance on the island, and policy decisions in Washington were continuous evolving the commitments and character of the Cuban immigrant community. Beginning in the 1800s exchange between the island and NYC grew strong due to the sugar trade. That laid the foundation for a Cuban community in exile to develop as Cubans, eventually led by José Marti organized against the Spanish crown in the second half of the 19th century. With the United States exerting great influence over the island after the Spanish-American War the Cuban community in NYC and the surrounding area continued to grow. While the revolution shifted the center of the Cuban-American community to South Florida, a vibrant and lasting imprint on New York society has been left by Cubans who made NYC their home in the past 200 years.