Understanding Cuban Immigrants: A Cultural Perspective

People who are not of spanMagaly Queralt system with a new socialist political ish origin frequently are not and economic order), the first major aware of differences among various migratory wave began. Although the Hispanic groups. Although Spanishinitial emigres were more likely to be speaking people share some aspects from the upper or the upper middle of the Hispanic heritage, similar verAlthough one million Cubans class, each successive migratory wave sions of the Spanish language, and now reside in the United brought individuals of lower socioeco variations of a Catholic ideology, they states little has been written nomic' educational, and occupational nonetheless belong to diverse cultures +hic HrcnnnrV nmnn levels than the previous one. After and nationalities, cluster in different . rtisp n C g p. Qver two (jeca(jes of heavy Cuban im geographic locations, and vary in This article provides an migration, the most recent immi demographic characteristics. This is understanding of Cuban CUlgrants from Mariel were no longer not to say that Cubans, Mexicans, and ture and psychosocial characdistinguishable demographically from Puerto Ricans, for instance, are totally teristics to promote better population of the island itself, ex different people; on the contraiy, they cePt for an overrepresentation of are much more alike than they are difcommunication ith C criminals and other institutionalized ferent. However, the prevailing notion Clients and the selection OJ persons forced or persuaded to leave, that there is a "typical Hispanic" is culturally sensitive approaches Contrary to popular belief, Cuban misleading. to treatment. emigres do not compare favorably to The human services literature on the rest of immigrants entering the Spanish Americans has focused priUnited States. Specifically, compared marily on Mexicans and, to a much to other foreign-born entrants during lesser extent, on Puerto Ricans.1 The the 1960s, Cuban-born emigres were social work literature, in particular, is less often in the professional and ad devoid of information about Cubans, sons of Spanish origin, of whom ministrative occupational categories, even though they constitute the third 803,226 were of Cuban origin. Durhad substantially lower family in largest Hispanic group in the United ing the spring and summer of 1980, comes, were more likely to be unem States. This article aims to promote immediately after that census was ployed, and were more likely to be liv better understanding of individuals of taken, 124,779 Cubans migrated to ing in poverty.3 Cuban origin. For social workers, the United States from Mariel. Thus, Table 1 compares selected demo greater cognizance of the Cuban ethos by 1982 the U.S. population of Cuban graphic characteristics of Cubans in should result in better communication origin was approaching the 1,000,000 the United States to other major His with Cuban clients as well as in the mark.2 Metropolitan Miami (Dade panic groups and to the total U.S. pop selection of treatment approaches that County, Florida) is the undisputed ulation. Differences in age are strik are more compatible with their culcenter of the Cuban community in ing. The estimated median age of ture and personality. this country, with more than 50 per33.5 years for the Cuban population cent of U.S. Cubans residing there, is more than twelve years higher than nFli/inrwAPHir Sizable Cuban colonies also exist in that of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. nTPFPUPivrrifc New JerseyNew York, California, IlliThe current disproportionate number DIFFERENCES nois -pexas ancj Puerto Rico. of older people among Cubans doubt Hispanics constitute the second largThe Cuban exodus to the United less stems from the selective nature est and the fastest-growing minority States has been relatively recent. Beof their recent migration. Because of group in the United States. Cubans fore 1959, there were approximately their higher average age, Cubans make up the third largest Hispanic 50,000 Cubans in this country. Shorthave proportionately more persons subgroup, after Mexicans and Puerto ly after Fidel Castro's assumption of participating in the labor force, fewer Ricans. In April 1980, U.S. Census power (as it became evident that unemployed individuals, and more enumerators found 14,608,673 perCastro would replace the capitalist workers at the peak of their earning