A Study On American Cuban Immigrants After 1959

In the 1950s, revolutionary struggles fighting against dictatorship swept Cuba. In 1959, Cubans overthrew the dictatorial regime under the leadership of Fidel Castro, which also started a process of emigration. Waves of Cuban refugees departed from mother land and overwhelming majority of them emigrated to America.The Cuban immigrants after 1959 are distinctive, they are not only immigrants but also refugees. They underwent legendary immigrant experiences, were granted refugee status, then got a special treatment. Besides that, Cuban immigrants owned good business minds, indomitable courage, as well as the pioneering and innovation spirit, united as one man. They created an enclave in Miami which was named Little Havana depending on their own hard work. Today this group of Cuban immigrants has attracted increasing attention because of their sensitive refugee status, also because of their outstanding achievements in political and economic fields.This dissertation consists of four chapters.Chapter One, Emigrant History to America of Cubans Since 1959 and America's Refugee Policy against Cuba, this chapter reviews the emigrant history of Cubans to American since Cuban revolution, analyses the causes which lead to waves of refugees from push and pull, then explores the refugee policies and interactions of America and Cuba combined with background of Cold War.Chapter Two, American Cuban Communities and Economic Development Since 1959, this chapter mainly studies Cuban community economy in America, demonstrates the whole picture of Cuban immigrant communities, reflects objectively their economic development level.Chapter Three, Political Development and Evolution of American Cuban Immigrants, this chapter emphasizes two concepts of exile politics and Ethnic politics which display Cuban immigrants' transition from exiles to American citizens then their faith in exile politics. Now Cuban immigrants especially their interest group known as "Cuban-American National Foundation" has grown up as a significant force and exerted great impact on American elections and policies against Cuba.Chapter Four, Dual-identification of Cuban Immigrants, I focus on immigrants' dual-identification and its causes, explore the relationship between identifying with America and identifying with Cuba. At last, I interpret the relationship between immigrant cultures and mainstream culture in American society by the theory of Emerging Culture.