Cuban Community in the United States

[Red Commissar]

Can someone describe their make up? I'm aware of the rabid anti-Castro elements, but is the full picture more complicated than that?

[Blackscare]

Users that no longer post here, like M-L-C-F, would never ever admit this, but not all Florida Cubans are bad. I've known a lot that were cool, usually apolitical people who left because of the foot shortages in the 90's when Cuba's fuel supply was gone. They make a mean sandwich, too.

[FreeFocus]

I've known a lot that were cool, usually apolitical people who left because of the foot shortages in the 90's when Cuba's fuel supply was gone. They make a mean sandwich, too.

Being "apolitical" certainly does not strike me as "cool," and I often find being apolitical (and "moderate," for that matter) more detestable than outright reactionary politics. At least the latter have a position on the world.

I don't know many Cubans, but the Cubans that I have met are anti-Castro and generally range from the right-wing of the Democrats to the far-right of the Republicans. In my experience most are Democrats, probably because of the obvious anti-immigrant xenophobia/anti-Hispanic sentiment of Republicans.

[Kléber]

Havana USA: Cuban Exiles and Cuban Americans in South Florida by María Cristina García is a good book to check out if you want a socio-economic breakdown of the differences within the Cuban-American community.

Cuban-American political refugees actually started coming to Florida not 50 years ago, but more than 100 years ago, and they weren't right-wingers but revolutionaries. Many nationalist, socialist and anarchist exiles moved to the US to escape the repression of Spanish and then comprador pro-US imperialist rule; and a strong proportion of them were Afro-Cuban. Then there was the wave of bourgeois emigration from the Cuban Revolution which created the current stereotype. It should be noted that Castro's regime exiled the Cuban anarcho-syndicalists and some of them wound up in Florida too.

But if that right wing anti-Castro counter-revolutionary stereotype was true once, it is not true today - since the Mariel boatlift, Cuban-Americans have again been predominantly working-class, and largely Afro-Cuban. Wealthier and whiter emigrants from the 1960's sneer at the proletarian newcomers as "marielitos." In past decades, the right-wing Miami mafia has used intimidation, beatings and even assassination to silence Cuban-Americans who oppose the embargo against Cuba. These days the new generations of Cuban-Americans also tend to vote Democratic instead of Republican.

[Fulanito de Tal]

I was raised as a 1st generation Cuban-American.

My perception of the Cubans in Miami

First, to understand the Cuban community, one should divide them into groups based on two concepts. One is where they were born. The groups are Cuba and the US. The other concept is a sub-concept to being born in Cuba. It classifies Cuban-born immigrants into groups depending on when they left Cuba. The groups I find helpful are as follows: <1963, 1963-1980, 1980-1990, 1990-2005, >2005.

The Cuban Revolutionary War was won by the 26th of July Movement (M-26-7). This was directed by Fidel Castro and included other famous Cuban revolutionaries such as Camilo Cienfuego who died in battle and Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Prior to their victory, the political and economic system was controlled by a puppet-of-the-US-dictator, Fulgencio Batista. The system in place was capitalist and left many people oppressed while few were rich. The police did mostly whatever they wanted and killed people that opposed them. Batista became known as an assassin. Once M-26-7 won the battle, the revolution began. The private property of many of the rich was appropriated. These people left Cuba to the US in the first wave of Cuban immigration (<1963). These Cubans are extremely mad because they lost what they had accumulated in Cuba to the revolution. They are the foundation of the Cuban exile community and anti-Castro/communism sentiment in Miami. Those that attacked Cuba during the Giron Beach (Pay of Pigs) invasion came from this group. I have also talked to a Cuban in the US that, just after the war was won, left on a boat from the US and shot a machine gun into Havana without aiming at any particular targets, but just to cause havoc. Talking good about Castro, communism, Che, or Cuba’s situation in general to any of these people can easily result in violence.

The next group is the 1963-1980. These people followed their family that left Cuba earlier and hate Cuba almost as much. Others did not like the political change in Cuba as they expected more of a capitalist society with a strong social net. I do not know much else about this group.

The 1980-1990 group contains the Marielitos. The Mariel boatlift was a period of about 6 months in which over 100k Cubans left Cuba to go to the US. These people left due to a drop in the Cuban economy and many were upset at the bureaucracy of the Cuban system. This group also contains many Cuban prisoners that were released to the US. I believe the main character of Scarface is modeled after a Cuban prisoner that came during the boatlift. This people left Cuba with no intentions of returning. Further, many of them have never returned to visit family and friends. I have even met one that left without telling his wife and abandoned her. Their thoughts on Cuba are that the revolution failed and that Castro did it for power. They do not like it when you talk good about Cuba, but they do not tend to get violent. More likely, they will call you stupid, ignorant, or yell at you and get others to do the same.

The 1990-2005 groups began with people evading Cuba’s Special Period. The Special Period was a hug economic downturn resulting from Cuba’s dependence on the USSR and the USSR dissolving. These people left on rafts. A common myth is that they snuck out in the night. That is for the most part wrong. The background for the situation is as follows. The US stopped granting Cuba the amount of visas that were initially agreed upon. The amount dropped so low that Cuba told the US that if they did grant the correct amount of visas, they were going to let the population loose. The US did not raise the amount and Cuba followed through. However, it was not as barbaric as the media would have you believe. The US Coast Guard was at 12 miles off of the Cuban coast picking up Cuban refugees. The Cuban military would be between the US Coast Guard and their shore handing out supplies and allowing those that regret leaving a chance to go back. They were in essence, providing aid to those that requested it. The people in this group do not have a strong disdain for Cuba, but became accustomed to the luxurious lifestyle of the US and stayed here. Many have gone back several times, but still complain about the economy there. They think that those that those from prior groups are somewhat irrational because they do not know what they are talking about. They point to many changes that occurred in Cuba since people in the prior groups have left.

More recently, since about 2005, the Cubans that come over do not have a major problem with Cuba and leave to “see what happens.” Cuba allows those that leave to return in less than one year. There is a trend for Cubans to come to the US, make some money while staying at their family’s house, and return to Cuba loaded with dollars. These people do not care for the prior groups’ opinion on Cuba and will be happy to talk with anyone about the pros and cons about the political and economic system, but would prefer to go to the beach and split a bottle of rum. This group also contains those that leave Cuba permanently. These people complain about how in Cuba you have to do a lot of stuff “by the left hand” which means in a corrupted fashion. For example, you work near a tourist spot and you know someone that works at a cigar rolling location. That person supplies you cigars and you sell them for CUC (a lot) to the tourists that do not know better. You and the person split the money.

And a group I left out, those that have not left Cuba. There are those that want to leave and those that do not. In the example of my cousin, he said, “Pa sacar me de Cuba hay que matar me! [To take me out of you Cuba I would have to be killed!]”

The first generation US-born group (1st-G) is different from those that left Cuba. The vast majority has never been to Cuba and has only heard stories. The stories they hear are negative and they have a distorted idea of what Cuba is. Many think that you cannot speak your opinions on anything and that people go hungry. They have an irrational fear of Castro and communism, but cannot tell you who Engels is if you asked out of nowhere. Of those that have studied politics, Castro, or communism, did so in order to better debate their prejudices and can only point out negatives, some of which are false.

The Cuban community in Miami as a whole
They tend to be of European decent. Some are mulattos with a very small minority of black. The whites tend to be racists, but the newer generation in not as racist. I knew a white 15 year old 1st-G girl that told her mom that she was dating a mulatto 1st-G. She was grounded for doing so by her Cuban mother and prohibited from seeing him again.

In this post I have focused about the Cuban community in Miami and their stance on Cuba. I did so in a negative light due to my admiration of Cuba, its people, and the revolution. There are many other aspects to the community which I did not discuss and may shed a different light. Moreover, these are general projections on a group of people and should not be held as an absolute for every single person in a group. However, my points were honest to the best of my ability and were meant to help answer the question.

[Blackscare]

Being "apolitical" certainly does not strike me as "cool," and I often find being apolitical (and "moderate," for that matter) more detestable than outright reactionary politics. At least the latter have a position on the world.

I was more just referencing people lumping them all in as gusanos. Also, I really pity you, social matters must really suck for you if you personally can't stand anyone who is apolitical.

[Red Commissar]

Thank you for the responses everyone. Dougal's account is great too, I like to see those.

I've been getting the impression recently that the frothing at the mouth anti-Castro types seem to be more common among the older, more landed Cuban community than the ones who have arrived more recently. Those, or at least the bunch that have ended up here in Texas that I've had the chance to talk to, seem to be more indifferent towards Cuba (that is not overwhelming negative or positive) and free of the reactionary tendencies (like Marco Rubio of the tea-bagger crowd). I suppose that owes to the later bunch coming due to economic strain in Cuba rather than political qualms.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

I'm 2nd-generation and my family came before '63. It is possible for people who grew up in families from pre-'63 to reject the politics of their family and to form their own political views, so I wouldn't write anyone from any group off.

[Theory&Action]

I'm sure that there are apolitical and leftist Cuban Floridians, but they're hard as hell to find. My introduction to the community was a lecture given by Ann Louise Bardach about Fidel Castro in a university setting. One of the most horrifyingly reactionary speeches I have ever heard. She spoke about how every tree in Havana is bugged, defended the actions of Luis Posada Carilles, and finished off with a comedy routine about Castro's colostomy bag. The whole time the crowd and faculty was cracking up and giving standing ovations. Repulsive.

[GPDP]

Some time ago, a friend of mine had his house get struck by lightning and his house caught fire. He and his family managed to get out, but the house was destroyed. Luckily for them, their neighbors took them in.

Well, it just so happens their neighbors were wealthy Cubans. I mean, wealthy as fuck. My friend was pretty loaded, but his house was tiny compared to the Cubans' mansion. They had a fucking indoor fountain and shit, and it appears they had a dedicated Porsche or a similar-looking car just to drive to the goddamn gate. I was able to go inside because I and a couple of friends wanted to make sure my friend and his family were ok.

I saw pictures of the head of the household shaking hands with Republican politicians, books about Cuba in the bookcase and office desk, and well, you could just tell they were right-wing to the core, though at least they were courteous enough to help a family in need.

I never felt more out of place in my life. There I was, a communist, red to the core and sympathetic to Cuba, inside the mansion of right-wing Republican Cubans who would probably castrate me if they knew what I was.

[Red Commissar]

Some time ago, a friend of mine had his house get struck by lightning and his house caught fire. He and his family managed to get out, but the house was destroyed. Luckily for them, their neighbors took them in.

Well, it just so happens their neighbors were wealthy Cubans. I mean, wealthy as fuck. My friend was pretty loaded, but his house was tiny compared to the Cubans' mansion. They had a fucking indoor fountain and shit, and it appears they had a dedicated Porsche or a similar-looking car just to drive to the goddamn gate. I was able to go inside because I and a couple of friends wanted to make sure my friend and his family were ok.

I saw pictures of the head of the household shaking hands with Republican politicians, books about Cuba in the bookcase and office desk, and well, you could just tell they were right-wing to the core, though at least they were courteous enough to help a family in need.

I never felt more out of place in my life. There I was, a communist, red to the core and sympathetic to Cuba, inside the mansion of right-wing Republican Cubans who would probably castrate me if they knew what I was.

Shit, talk about going into the hornet's nest :lol:

[727Goon]

I'm half Cuban and my mom came from a Tampeno cuban family. Most cubans in Tampa are less anti-Castro and right wing than Miami Cubans and theres a strong working class culture since most people are descendents of cigar factory workers. However they're also more whitewashed, for example I'm probably a minority among tampeno Cubans who can speak spanish, since alot of the community has been in the US for almost a century there isnt as much of an immigrant culture. One thing I have noticed is that there is an element of racism within the left against Cuban Americans, I definitely would not feel comfortable talking about my Cuban heritage if I was with a group of leftists.

[Apoi_Viitor]

My friend's grandfather was a Cuban immigrant who left approximately 4-5 years after the revolution took place. I don't know his actual political views, but he's vehemently anti-Castro and often speaks of sharp contrasts between Cuban life before Castro and after. One of the main points he brings up, is how he was allegedly forced to labor in the fields while soldiers and 'revolutionaries' simply supervised him doing so...

[Education]

There are close to 1 million Cubans in the United States and more than 700,000 live in Florida, according to the Census American Community Survey of 2008.

[Jose Gracchus]

My friend's grandfather was a Cuban immigrant who left approximately 4-5 years after the revolution took place. I don't know his actual political views, but he's vehemently anti-Castro and often speaks of sharp contrasts between Cuban life before Castro and after. One of the main points he brings up, is how he was allegedly forced to labor in the fields while soldiers and 'revolutionaries' simply supervised him doing so...

Living off the work of others is a bourgeois and landowner right, rightfully to be abolished. He who does not work, neither shall he eat.

Why shouldn't the fundamental needs of society be fairly distributed as responsibilities to each and every person? Ideally in communism there would not be even any party or state or union officials per se, rather division of labor would be reconfigured such that we all shared in socially-necessary work in a democratic egalitarian fashion.

[Raúl Duke]

Cubans in Miami are a divisive group.

None of them view Castro's regime favorably, although a sizable amount (usually those born in Miami, etc; "2nd generation" particularly among my peer group) might acknowledge that the Castro regime did bring a better living standard to many people in Cuba. Many are republicans, but there's a political shift away from the Republicans especially among the young and one could say this shift is significant since Miami-Dade was one of the counties to "turn blue" during the 2008 elections.

In essence, everything that Dougal mentions is correct.

The other "exile" group people should begin to look into is the Venezuelan one. Many of them seem quite conscious about their class position (in Venezuela, etc) and would flat out say elitist things (even in my age group), especially if they were born in Venezuela and came here recently, about how Chavez is supported by "the stupid poor." However, some are quite more reasonable and say "well, it's obvious that in a society like Venezuela where the poor live in shitty living conditions that people would elect a man like Chavez." In a whole, they're more "rational" in their dislike over Chavez than many Cubans who have a quite irrational stance to Cuba/Castro. After all, in Puerto Rico the perception is that the Miami Cubans are stupid for supporting an embargo against their own people back in the island.


range from the right-wing of the Democrats to the far-right of the Republicans. In my experience most are Democrats, probably because of the obvious anti-immigrant xenophobia/anti-Hispanic sentiment of Republicans. I've seen many that could be described very liberal and some "progressives" but they usually tended to be from places like Hialeah and not that well-off.


Well, it just so happens their neighbors were wealthy Cubans.I had a similar "neighbor" of sorts (he was my father's work-related friend) when I lived in Miami. It didn't really bother me much.


Being "apolitical" certainly does not strike me as "cool," and I often find being apolitical (and "moderate," for that matter) more detestable than outright reactionary politics. At least the latter have a position on the world.I actually prefer apolitical people over many leftists, at least they're less likely to live like their life revolves around politics/activism and/or don't have this "hero/martyr" complex that a some self-described leftists have. I guess I'm just tired of hearing too much political BS.

[Red Rebel]

I don't have my books with me; however, I believe it is generally considered that the first groups who left Cuba, left for political reasons (i.e. gusanos). It was at some point in the 1980s that emmigrants started to leave because of economic reasons. This problem only worsened when the USSR collasped. The newer emmigrants from Cuba are more receptive of the achievements of the Revolution (healthcare, education, ect.) but left to seek out better economic living.

[GPDP]

The other "exile" group people should begin to look into is the Venezuelan one. Many of them seem quite conscious about their class position (in Venezuela, etc) and would flat out say elitist things (even in my age group), especially if they were born in Venezuela and came here recently, about how Chavez is supported by "the stupid poor." However, some are quite more reasonable and say "well, it's obvious that in a society like Venezuela where the poor live in shitty living conditions that people would elect a man like Chavez." In a whole, they're more "rational" in their dislike over Chavez than many Cubans who have a quite irrational stance to Cuba/Castro. After all, in Puerto Rico the perception is that the Miami Cubans are stupid for supporting an embargo against their own people back in the island.

That kind of demonization of Chavez is not exclusive to Venezuelans. My parents, my dad in particular, say that kind of thing all the time, and we're Mexican.

Dad: Chavez is a dictator.
me: But he was elected democratically.
Dad: So was the PRI in Mexico, but it was still a dictatorship. Elections were probably rigged.
me: They were closely monitored and no significant fraud was found.
Dad: Well even if there was no fraud, he's a populist that's just taking advantage of his people because they're too uneducated to see past his promises of jobs and welfare.

The irony is that he supported Felipe Calderon in 2006.

[Raúl Duke]

Does your dad live in Miami or in proximity to Venezuelans?

Because the phenomenon you mention isn't something I haven't seen before.
Other South-Americans who lived in my neighborhood in Miami (which has a Venezuelan plurality) state the same opinions about Chavez since they're parroting their neighbors point of view plus the local (and South American news-media). In reality, they don't know what they're talking about.

Also, some come from countries where there's also a left government (Ecuador, etc) and many of those I met are from a similar class background as most Venezuelans I met and thus had the same class prejudices.

[GPDP]

No, we live in South Texas, and out of our family friends, the only non-Mexican ones are Ecuadorian, and they're not particularly vitriolic in their politics. My dad's just elitist as hell, despite the fact that we're not particularly well-off.

My theory is he got burned by his political experiences during his youth with Stalinists and populist backstabbers in government who promised bread and circuses and instead stole the nation's wealth for their own benefit, so he wants nothing to do with anyone that even seems remotely leftist.

Oh, and he listens to Mexican talk radio a LOT, most of which happens to be quite right-wing.

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

Does your dad live in Miami or in proximity to Venezuelans?

Because the phenomenon you mention isn't something I haven't seen before.
Other South-Americans who lived in my neighborhood in Miami (which has a Venezuelan plurality) state the same opinions about Chavez since they're parroting their neighbors point of view plus the local (and South American news-media). In reality, they don't know what they're talking about.

Also, some come from countries where there's also a left government (Ecuador, etc) and many of those I met are from a similar class background as most Venezuelans I met and thus had the same class prejudices.

Where in Miami do you live? I used to live in Kendall and go back quite a bit.

[Raúl Duke]

I used to be in Doral.

[Red Commissar]

Thanks for the input all so far. Learned some new things about the Cuban community and other Latin American groups.


One thing I have noticed is that there is an element of racism within the left against Cuban Americans, I definitely would not feel comfortable talking about my Cuban heritage if I was with a group of leftists.

Oh, I can relate to that. It does get annoying when that comes up (What, you're "x" or from "x"? They [parents, community] don't support "y"? Then enter into "imperialist" ranting. That's my experience with it at least.

[Raúl Duke]

One thing I have noticed is that there is an element of racism within the left against Cuban Americans, I definitely would not feel comfortable talking about my Cuban heritage if I was with a group of leftists.

In my opinion, I think Latin-American leftists and leftists in Miami do not judge you if you're from a Cuban background (and/or if said background was anti-castro). Than again, I'm willing to bet that a large segment of the activist scene in Miami are not pro-castro (they rarely talk about it and/or some might say things like "it was better than Batista and surely the social living standards of Cubans did rise during most of Fidel's regime but currently it seems stagnant/needs more freedom,etc") yet I've actually meet a few Cuban-Americans who were pro-Fidel.

[Fulanito de Tal]

yet I've actually meet a few Cuban-Americans who were pro-Fidel.

I'm one.

[Unclebananahead]

Perhaps it's a bit off topic, but a number of parallels can be drawn between the emigré Vietnamese community and the Cuban one. I live in San Diego, California, in the Vietnamese part of town, and they have the old South Vietnamese flag (yellow with three thin red horizontal stripes) all over the damn place.

My brother has a Vietnamese friend who went back to Vietnam to visit family, and brought back a few souvenirs, including a Vietnamese flag (the current one) themed solid red tanktop, with huge gold star screenprinted upon the chest. It was a bit too small for him, so he gave it to me. As it happened, another one of my brother's Vietnamese friends was there, who cautioned me about wearing it around my neighborhood (known colloquially as "Little Saigon"), because they'd get very angry, and probably even physically attack me.

[Fulanito de Tal]

Perhaps it's a bit off topic, but a number of parallels can be drawn between the emigré Vietnamese community and the Cuban one. I live in San Diego, California, in the Vietnamese part of town, and they have the old South Vietnamese flag (yellow with three thin red horizontal stripes) all over the damn place.

My brother has a Vietnamese friend who went back to Vietnam to visit family, and brought back a few souvenirs, including a Vietnamese flag (the current one) themed solid red tanktop, with huge gold star screenprinted upon the chest. It was a bit too small for him, so he gave it to me. As it happened, another one of my brother's Vietnamese friends was there, who cautioned me about wearing it around my neighborhood (known colloquially as "Little Saigon"), because they'd get very angry, and probably even physically attack me.

There's a VietTown in my city too. I enjoy the food, so I go to restaurants there. There are also good supermarkets. Anyway, besides why I go, I would not bring up any communism talk with them, especially since all those businesses are family owned, which to me means they are, in Marxist terms, reactionary small-boogies.

[Sixiang]

Perhaps it's a bit off topic, but a number of parallels can be drawn between the emigré Vietnamese community and the Cuban one. I live in San Diego, California, in the Vietnamese part of town, and they have the old South Vietnamese flag (yellow with three thin red horizontal stripes) all over the damn place.

My brother has a Vietnamese friend who went back to Vietnam to visit family, and brought back a few souvenirs, including a Vietnamese flag (the current one) themed solid red tanktop, with huge gold star screenprinted upon the chest. It was a bit too small for him, so he gave it to me. As it happened, another one of my brother's Vietnamese friends was there, who cautioned me about wearing it around my neighborhood (known colloquially as "Little Saigon"), because they'd get very angry, and probably even physically attack me.

Interesting. I live in west Michigan and there is a small Vietnamese community here, too. West Michigan is very conservative as it is very heavily populated by members of the Christian Reformed Church (a Calvinist church). Most of the Vietnamese that are here got here because they were sponsored by local churches who helped pay for them to come over here. There a few Vietnamese owned restaurants and other businesses (yes, there are a lot stereotypical nail salons here). I actually go to school with and am friends with a Vietnamese girl. She was born in Vietnam and her family came here when she was six. Aside from the fact that this is a generally conservative area anyway, from what I understand a lot of the Vietnamese here are conservative as well. My friend says that most of the older people in here family are apolitical and came here for more economic opportunities to start businesses. She also says that a big reason for apolitical feelings is that most of the older Vietnamese cannot speak English so they have no idea what is being debated in America or how to vote or get involved with anything. She also told me that she still has family back in Vietnam who like it there and don't want to leave and she said that her dad has sometimes indicated that in retrospect he liked it better in Vietnam.

[Red Commissar]

Perhaps it's a bit off topic, but a number of parallels can be drawn between the emigré Vietnamese community and the Cuban one. I live in San Diego, California, in the Vietnamese part of town, and they have the old South Vietnamese flag (yellow with three thin red horizontal stripes) all over the damn place.

My brother has a Vietnamese friend who went back to Vietnam to visit family, and brought back a few souvenirs, including a Vietnamese flag (the current one) themed solid red tanktop, with huge gold star screenprinted upon the chest. It was a bit too small for him, so he gave it to me. As it happened, another one of my brother's Vietnamese friends was there, who cautioned me about wearing it around my neighborhood (known colloquially as "Little Saigon"), because they'd get very angry, and probably even physically attack me.

I think we can see a similar experience of ex-pat communities from countries that had a "communist" movement of some sort take hold. I'd imagine we had a similar phenomenon with White Russians way back in the day, as were ex-pat communities from the Eastern Bloc and Soviet Union.

I have a Vietnamese community near my place too and they have the old flag of South Vietnam in some businesses. I remember in school parents often complained if Ho Chi Minh was portrayed too "positively" in our school textbook (mind you this is in Texas!). Much more recently, a Vietnamese cultural festival was "picketed" by some elements of the Vietnamese Community here because of the organizers' link to Vietnam. Though the Vietnamese friend I knew frankly was more interested in cars and music than the things his parents often were more passionate about.

[Highfructosecornsyrup]

Hey - 2nd Generation Cuban American here.

My view is that there is some truth to generalizations about the politics of Cubans in the US as being generally right wing, for reasons that have to do with the historical circumstances of a lot of the migration, the comparisons that have been raised with White Russians and Vietnamese all point out the same trend.

Still I'd like to add that it is potentially dangerous to generalize about the relationship between ethnicity and politics, especially as time passes and the exceptionality of the migration becomes less relevant. For instance as a Second generation, yes my parents were Centre-Right at least but I'm sure there are a sizable percentage of socialists who have found themselves to the left of their parents. Ideas are not biological.

So while while a certain segment of particularly older Vietnamese and Cuban immigrants probably have complex relationships with the revolutionary movements in their homelands which have shaped their politics - it is equally true that both and their children are often subject to racism and exclusion in the US in such a way that modify their politics still further.

As for myself I do support the Cuban Revolution and Castro, particularly against the fantasies offered by the American right, but I don't necessarily equate them nor support them uncritically.

[727Goon]

In my opinion, I think Latin-American leftists and leftists in Miami do not judge you if you're from a Cuban background (and/or if said background was anti-castro). Than again, I'm willing to bet that a large segment of the activist scene in Miami are not pro-castro (they rarely talk about it and/or some might say things like "it was better than Batista and surely the social living standards of Cubans did rise during most of Fidel's regime but currently it seems stagnant/needs more freedom,etc") yet I've actually meet a few Cuban-Americans who were pro-Fidel.

I was talking about white people, in the Tampa Bay area from what I've seen the leftist scene is white as fuck. There arent many latin american leftists or really many non-whites outside of Uhuru.