The Cuban-American Experience is one of those books that easily lead the reader to think that it is elementary or superficial because of its apparent simplicity. Actually, the opposite is true. The work consists of 11 chapters covering the most diverse aspects of the Cuban experience in the United States. The subject matter offers the widest variation of topics, ranging from the period of Spanish domination in Cuba to the history of Cuban migration to the United States and including, of course, a thorough description and analysis of the various aspects of contemporary Cuban life in Miami. A demographic profile of the Cuban-American population, its language and religion, artistic expression, cuisine and foodways, politics and ideology, followed by a closing chapter on the acculturation and assimilation of the Cuban-American family and youth, give the reader an illuminating and multifaceted overview of Cuban culture and activities in this society.
The authors’ exposition of the subject is highly interesting, articulate, and readable. They offer a great wealth of information on numerous topics related to the theme without, however, making their description a dense or tedious one. The authors discuss, for example, the changing motivations of Cubans over time for migrating to the United States (political in the ’60s and economic in the ’70s). They give detailed attention to the residential patterns and socioeconomic and educational characteristics of Cubans in Florida, New Jersey, New York, and other places. They further note that Spanish remains the preferential language spoken in Cuban-American homes, income levels not making a significant difference while education does. Also, proficiency in English in the metropolitan areas of Miami and Union City does not seem to be a condition for employment for a large number of people. As for the media, Spanish remains the main language for all with the exception of television.
The authors point out that Cuban-Americans are tenacious in maintaining their culture. As an example, traditional Cuban music has not disappeared. Additionally, the visual arts and literature have shown great vigor in their development among exiles. Traditional Cuban foods are still dominant.
Regarding politics and ideology, Boswell and Curtis note the conservative and anti-Communist traits of Cuban-Americans, along with their gradually growing desire for citizenship and permanent residence in this country. Concerning the process of acculturation and assimilation of Cuban-Americans, the authors note the persistence of Cuban familial traits. Nonetheless, they state their belief that Cuban-Americans are rapidly being assimilated into American society albeit along generational lines. This is definitely a book to be read by all those interested in learning about Cubans in the United States.
