Provides an introduction to the history, culture, and people of Cuba for community service providers and others assisting refugees in the United States. The breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990 ended its economic support of Cuba, which ultimately led to a new wave of immigration from Cuba to the U.S. While there now is greater communication between the U.S. and Cuba, normalized relations remain as yet unrealized. Nearly a tenth of Cuba’s population lives in the U.S., half of that in South Florida. This report covers: (1) the geography of the Cuban archipelago and its economy; (2) the origins of the Cuban people and their occupations; (3) Cuban nationalism and cultural identity; (4) Cuban immigration to the U.S.; (5) the history of Cuba, including its discovery in 1492, almost 400 years of colonial rule, independence from Spain, Fidel Castro and the revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, experiments with socialism, and the Mariel boatlift; (6) the Cuban educational system; (7) the Cuban health care system; (8) political, religious, and family life; (9) Cuban music, dance, and art; (10) a comparison of Cuban and American values; (11) resettlement problems and difficulties learning English; and (12) characteristics of Cuban Spanish.
