The Caribbean

By: Sharrisse Viltus and Dahlia Seggelin

The Focused Countries

Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico• Population: 11,241,161• Capital: Havana • Government: Communist

State• Population: 9,719,932 • Capital: Port-au-Prince • Government: Unitary, semi-

presidential republic• Population: 3,706,690 • Capital: San Juan • Government:

Democracy (within the US Constitutional system

• Corruption- to escape government prosecution -communism

• Poverty- to flee from the constant impoverished communities  

• Find work- to send money to family back home.

Why do they come to the U.S.?

• Not only was Cuba a strategic naval location, but it was a key provider of sugar and other goods to the U.S.

• After the Spanish-American war, Cuba and Puerto Rico as well as many Latin American countries were annexed by the U.S from Spain with the Treaty of Paris of 1898. 

• Cuba became an official independent country in 1902. It was only in February 1959 when Fidel Castro became prime minister did Cuba become a communist state.

History between Cuba, Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Cuban immigration• Mostly concentrated in Florida: Key

West and Miami• The only immigrant group privileged

with 'Wet feet, dry feet' policy • Between 1959-2009 • The "freedom flights" brought

middle and working class Cubans to the U.S. (1965-74)

• Escape of Fidel Castro (1959-89)

Elián González Controversy • In 1997, Elián was among

fourteen Cuban immigrants that attempted to sail to Florida. He was the sole survivor and was rescued at the coast of Florida. 

• In 2000, a custody dispute erupted when his father, in Cuba, wanted his son returned from the relatives in Miami. 

• In the end, Elián was returned to his father.

• The way the U.S. gov went about it was controversial

http://youtu.be/AgaacrxsS4c?t=30s

• Concentrated in New York: New York City

• Because Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory, all Puerto Ricans are American citizens.

Emigration from Puerto Rica, 1900-1990

Puerto Rican Immigration

Haitian Immigration

• Heavily concentrated in New York: Brooklyn and Queens 

• Massachusetts: Boston, Brockton, Randolph, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Hyde Park

• Florida: Miami "Little Haiti" and Palm Beach 

• In 1981, President Reagan ordered that the Coast Guard interdict (stop and search) all Haitian vessels travelling in the waters between Haiti and the U.S. (Haitians in America)

• They were further empowered to return any suspicious claimants to Haiti, to their certain punishment, and possible deaths.

 Stereotypes

• Puerto Ricans are constantly confused with other Latin American cultures, especially Mexican Americans. 

• Haitians are confused with Jamaicans• Cubans smoke Havana cigars and talk about Fidel

Castro • All Haitians practice voodoo  

• Cuban organization: Cuban American National Foundation- Jorge Mas Canosa

• Haitian organization: Haitian American Leadership organization- Angelo M. Gousse

Modern legacy 

Our sources:

• http://lcw.lehman.edu/lehman/depts/latinampuertorican/latinoweb/PuertoRico/1950s.htm

• http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Cuban-Americans.html

• http://historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/guantan.htm• http://www.everyculture.com/multi/PaSp/Puerto-Rican-

Americans.html • http://pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/23.pdf• http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/

1989/1/89.01.08.x.html