Black Cuban, Black American: A Memoir (Hispanic Civil Rights) (Recovering the Us Hispanic Literary Heritage)
This work presents a seldom-made contrast, that of the differing experiences of a black man in Cuba and in the United States. Grill, a community organizer and political activist, often tells us of the milder divisions between blacks and whites on his home island and of the much tougher, more inextricable racial barriers for blacks in "el Norte." Not only do whites abuse blacks in Tampa but U.S. blacks also set up hurdles for immigrant blacks such as Grillo and his family. As he is assimilated into U.S. black culture, Grillo documents his understanding and enjoyment of the agencies that American blacks developed to survive, grow, and eventually flourish. The church, the black higher education institutions, mentors who give freely of their time, and the armed forces all helped to give Grillo a greater sense of identity and comprehension. Grillo's narrative is full of details that captivate;  he is a very accomplished storyteller. Unfortunately, the end of the work is too abrupt, and we are left wanting to know what happens to Grillo after World War II and in later years. Recommended for African American, Latin American, and diversity collections in public and college libraries.Rene Perez-Lopez, Norfolk P.L.,VACopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.