✥ ONLY 90 MILES FROM CUBA ✥
Copyright © 2000 Heinle & Heinle
W
hen you stand on the docks of Key West you are only 90 miles from Cuba!
Sometimes Cuba has seemed closer. Other times it has seemed light years away.
The Spanish territory of Florida became an American territory in 1821 and then a state in
1845. Whether territory or state, Florida has maintained close ties to Cuba. When the
Americans took over, the Spanish citizens living in Florida left for Cuba. In 1868 Cubans
seeking independence from Spanish dominance began the Ten Years’ War against Spain. By
the end of the war many Cubans had fled back to Key West. By 1876 Spanish was widely
spoken on Key West, and was the ideal place for emigrating Cubans.
One of the main factors that contributed to Cuban emigration to Key West were many
job opportunities on the tiny Island. Many Cubans worked in the cigar factories that were
emerging on the island. They earned good salaries and had good working conditions. The
Cuban cigar factory workers hired lectores out of their own salaries to read aloud while they
worked. The lectores would sit in a loft above the workers and read from newspapers, novels,
and literary classics. Many of the workers could not read or write. These lectores educated
them and informed them of events in their community and in Cuba.
Often, these lectores were exiled writers. Some became editors of Spanish-language
newspapers on Key West or Tampa. Many were accused of being political rabble-rousers as
they often read material that dealt with Cuban independence. In fact, because of the money
that the cigar factory workers donated to support Cuban independence from Spain, Key West
was for many years considered the Cubans’ rebel base in the United States.
At this time there were neither immigration processing centers nor customs agencies
monitoring travel between Cuba and Florida. The cigar factory workers traveled from Cuba to
Florida as if traveling within the United States.
Soon, however, the cigar factory workers would have to travel farther to find work. In
1885 there was a 6-month labor strike in Key West. Cigar factory owner Vicente Martínez
Ybor was the first to accept an offer to build a small factory in Tampa. A large fire in 1886
caused Martínez Ybor and others to then move their larger cigar factories to Tampa, to a
section later known as Ybor City. Ybor City would become one of the most important cigarproducing centers of Florida, surpassing Key West. After founding Ybor City the population of
Tampa jumped to 5,532; 1,313 of these persons were Cuban.
Soon after arriving, the Cubans set up a lifestyle to resemble the one they had left in Cuba
and re-created in Key West. Social and fraternal clubs appeared. The Liceo Cubano was
opened as a literary, artistic, and recreational center. Though they were making a new home
for themselves in Florida, the Cubans never forgot about the independence movement in their
native land.
A constant visitor to Tampa was writer José Martí. Martí is considered one of the most
important Cuban literary and historical figures. Martí was born in Cuba to Spanish parents. As
a teenager he was imprisoned for political reasons. After serving several months of hard
labor, he was exiled to Spain.
In 1881, after traveling through Europe and Latin America, Martí decided to live in New York.
There he concentrated on writing for newspapers and organizing the struggle for Cuban
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Readings and Activities for Florida Students
independence. From 1892 to 1895, Martí spoke in Ybor City at least seventeen times. He started
revolutionary clubs there and other cities in Florida and visited Ocala, Jacksonville, and St.
Augustine.
Because he was a friend to many Cubans living in Florida, people couldn’t believe the
headline of the Tampa Tribune on May 23, 1895: MARTÍ IS KILLED! Unfortunately it was
confirmed by his political party. He was killed in battle on May 19, 1895. Martí’s death had a
great impact on the cigar workers’ communities of Florida. They had supported him and
donated time and money to the independence movement. In the end, this interest in politics
had allowed them to exercise their democratic rights in the United States, and become
involved in local politics. Cubans contributed to the economy in the cities where they had
settled by creating new jobs, which promoted the growth of some of the key areas of Florida.
José Martí’s presence in the Cuban communities of Florida and the Cuban independence
movement had long-range implications for the state of Florida.
For many Cubans, the Spanish-language newspapers published in Key West and Tampa
were the major source of information for those who were exiled. These newspapers became
the voice for the Cuban revolutionary movement and also told readers what was happening
in their communities. Cubans began to get involved in local politics in Key West and Tampa.
In order to vote in local elections people only had to have lived in the area for 6 months. The
Cuban vote helped elect Cuban officials. Key West had a Cuban mayor, Carlos Manuel de
Céspedes, and in the Florida legislature there were three Cubans elected before 1900. Cubans
held political office in various elected positions in local, county, and state government.
More than Key West, Tampa became the headquarters for Cuban revolutionaries when
war broke out between Spain and Cuba. The Spanish–American War began after the
battleship Maine was sunk. All young Cuban men were called to Tampa to enlist and fight for
Cuban independence.
On April 21, 1898 the United States declared war on Spain and ordered the fleet to sea.
Because Key West was so close to Cuba it had felt the pressure building between the two
countries for 10 years. In 1886, a suspicious fire started at the Casa de Cuba, or San Carlos
Institute, and burnt down almost all of Key West. The San Carlos Institute was not only a cultural
center but also a symbol of Cuban independence. José Martí had visited Key West three times
and found financial support for the Cuban cause there.
With the U.S. declaration of war, Key West was the place where the fleet would
rendezvous and begin the blockade of the Cuban coast. As the war advanced, captured
Spanish vessels bound for Spain would be held at Key West. A home guard was set up to
protect the citizens of the island because some Americans feared that Spain might attack Key
West. Later in the war, the injured were sent to the Convent Hospital on the island. The war
only lasted three months and 22 days but Key West played a very important role in this world
power play. For many years after Cuban independence, the United States would continue to
be directly involved in Cuban political life.
Florida has always been a haven for people escaping repression and political upheaval
in Latin America. As you have learned, many groups of Cubans came to Florida in the late
1800s to work in the cigar factories. However, by the 1940s, cigarettes became more popular
than cigars, and wages and jobs decreased, which led less Cubans to immigrate for work.
Soon though they would come for political reasons.
9
Level B, Section 1
Only 90 Miles from Cuba
In 1959, Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba. The land and factories of many wealthy
Cubans was confiscated. As a result, Cubans came to Miami and settled in an area that
became known as Little Havana. In 1981, another political crisis on the island caused a large
influx of Cubans, and Cubans continue to immigrate to the United States today.
The increasing population of Cubans has changed the city of Miami in particular. With a
majority of the population of Miami considering itself Hispanic, Spanish is spoken everywhere.
Children usually translate for older Hispanics, learning English in school and growing up
bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English.
The tourists are another group that influence our state. Some are Latin Americans who
come to Florida on vacations. American department stores cater to these tourists by
advertising in Latin American newspapers. Magazines offer free trips to Miami and Disney
World. These people contribute to our economy and spend millions of dollars in Florida each
year. Sometimes they buy condos or houses as second homes here and many invest their
money in local businesses.
As you can see, those 90 miles to Cuba and to Latin America have had an influence on
our state from the very beginning. It continues today.
Questions
Answer using complete sentences.
1. How far is it from Key West to Cuba?
2. Why was Key West an ideal place for Cubans leaving Cuba?
3. Who were the “lectores” and what did they do?
4. Who built the first cigar factory in Tampa?
5. Who was José Martí?
6. What headquarters were located in Tampa?
7.
When did the United States declare war on Spain?
8. How long did the Spanish–American War last?
9. Name three groups of Hispanics who influence the State of Florida.
10. Why are Latin American tourists important to Florida’s economy?
Copyright © 2000 Heinle & Heinle
11.
What do department stores do to entice Latin American shoppers to come to Florida?
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Readings and Activities for Florida Students
Activities
1. Create an advertisement for a local department store in Spanish to entice shoppers to come to
Florida and to that store.
2. Make a map of a mall, labeling all the stores in Spanish. Imagine that you would hand this out to
Latin American shoppers as they arrive. Don’t forget to label where the restrooms are and also the
Food Court.
3. Make a brochure for your city or town. In Spanish, tell the people why they would want to come
to your city for a vacation. Tell them what they could do and where they could stay and shop.
Look on the Internet or in the phone book if you aren’t sure what is available.
Copyright © 2000 Heinle & Heinle
4. Put together the above brochures in one big package for your Latin American tourist and do a
group presentation on your city and state.