by Roberto Alvarez-Galloso

Created on: February 10, 2009

Before discussing contemporary Cuban and Floridian history, it must be remembered that Cuba and Florida has enjoyed a special relationship since the Spanish under Ponce de Leon left Cuba and colonized Florida. Ponce De Leon founded the first city in North America called St Augustine one hundred years before the English founded Jamestown.

For those who say that the British were in North America in 1587 before Jamestown, the Spanish were able to establish a presence in North America and in Florida before the British came. The classical history of Florida and Cuba were intertwined with refugees from both sides. When Cuba exploded, many people went to Florida. When Florida had problems especially when the United States of America invaded Florida, many people left for Cuba.

During the struggle for Cuban Independence from Spain, Jose Marti used to stop in Tampa and Key West for the cause against the colonial masters of Spain in Cuba. Even US President Grant visited Cuba before his death in 1885.

Miami was a tourist destination for Cubans during the era of the Republic and the now defunct airline Pan Am used to fly people from Cuba to Miami and vice versa. People even went on cruise boats from La Habana to Key West or Miami and vice versa. The same applied to Tampa.

The present history of Cuba and Miami started in 1959 when Castro took over in Cuba. While many people can attest to his popular support, there were people who saw through him. There was also documentation which shows Russia [USSR] and the USA were involved in planning the events in Cuba. Russia wanted a colony, Castro wanted power, and the United States of America wanted cheap professional labour to replace the African Americans who wanted to be free to determine their own destiny.

Everybody got what they wanted and Castro was able to establish a Communist Regime in the heart of the Americas. The people of Cuba who could not stand Castro or wanted to wait for him to fall went to Miami Florida. While waiting for next year in Cuba, they worked in menial jobs such as being waiters, bakers, dishwashers, and eveb janitors while they tried to study their careers again.

The 1960's were difficult but the Cubans moved on and started to become part of the American Dream as they started working in their professions after passing their examinations. Others went into business after raising money. The march towards propserity was ongoing. The 1970's were the times of a big presence of Cubans. People started to visit Miami

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