American Family Album #6

The Cuban American Family Album

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"When you ask my sons where they are from they will answer, 'I'm Cuban, but I was born in McAllen, Texas.'"--Maria Luisa Salcines, born in Guantánamo, Cuba, who came to the United States in 1963.
Between 1960 and 1995 over one million Cubans arrived in the United States--almost 10 percent of the island's population. Many came in the dead of night with only the clothes on their backs. Though it is less than 100 miles from Cuba to the tip of Florida, the journey was often a dangerous and
unpredictable voyage in makeshift boats. The "Golden Exiles" who escaped Fidel Castro's revolutionary government between 1959 and 1962 were probably the best-educated and wealthiest large group of immigrants ever to arrive in the United States. These immigrants who had been doctors, lawyers,
bankers, business owners, and college professors in Cuba quickly established a community that remains a powerful political and economic force, and one that embraces the new Cuban immigrants who continue to arrive today.
A whole generation of Cuban Americans has grown to adulthood in the United States. Many left the island as young children and have assimilated into American life. Others yearn for a life in Cuba they can only imagine from the stories their grandparents tell. These stories--full of longing and
hope--are the heart of The Cuban American Family Album. Interviews, excerpts from diaries and letters, newspaper accounts, profiles of famous Cuban Americans, and remarkable pictures from real family albums tell a poignant yet exuberant story of a beautiful blending of Cuban and American traditions.
The result is a vibrant picture of a distinctive and important American community.
    Genres

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 10,1996

This edition

Format
128 pages, Paperback
Published
May 28, 1998 by Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780195124255
ASIN
0195124251
Language
English

About the author

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Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, a married couple who have written numerous books together, were drawn to this story of great writers inspiring each other collaboratively. Their most recent novel, In Darkness, Death, won a 2005 Edgar Award. They live in New York City.

Series:
* Samurai Detective
* Century Kids
* Her Story
* Images Across The Ages
* American Family Album


Community Reviews

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July 15,2025
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A good history lesson for someone like me who knows little about our neighbors to the south.

I vividly remember the 1980 advent of the "boat people." I have relatives residing in the Florida Keys who would often call and regale us with tales of how numerous they were arriving day by day.

Surprisingly, I learned that in 1995, President Clinton initiated the process of sending them all back to Cuba, despite the harrowing journey they had endured.

I don't recall there being a great deal of political upheaval regarding this matter. However, it should be noted that in 1995, I was in a rather difficult situation and didn't have access to a TV or computer to keep abreast of such events.

Perhaps if I had been more informed at the time, I would have had a better understanding of the complex issues surrounding the "boat people" and the decisions made by the government.

Nonetheless, this serves as a reminder of the importance of staying informed and educated about the world around us, especially when it comes to matters that have a significant impact on the lives of others.

It also highlights the need for empathy and understanding when dealing with those who have fled their homelands in search of a better life.

As we move forward, it is essential that we continue to learn from history and strive to create a more just and equitable world for all.
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