The Cuban has landed.
Once upon a time, Cuban conquerors discovered Miami.
That's ancient history, well-documented. Since those early days, a lot has changed. For one, Cubans landing in Miami eventually stopped being a thing for quite a while.
A first wave of wealthy Cuban colonizers did land, though. But as Cuba's situation deteriorated, the number of ordinary Cubans trying to escape skyrocketed. Landing in Miami soon became a privilege reserved for a fortunate few.
After that first wave, most Cubans running away from Castro were ordinary citizens who had to be resourceful in finding their way to freedom, whether in Miami or elsewhere.
Eventually, Cubans on the island adapted, dropping airplanes as their preferred escape method. Yet, they certainly made their presence strongly felt in South Florida!
Let's clap a hand for the original Cuban influencers, and then some!
The original Cuban influencers were part of the original wave, of course. They were affluent and mighty and began arriving shortly after January 1, 1959, when Cubans started fleeing en masse to Miami. They've been coming for over 60 years now, with many more to come, for sure!
It feels like eons ago when Fidel Castro took over the island and started kicking rich Cubans out of their homes, but it was just 1959. Castro didn’t like wealthy people—or anyone else, for that matter—except himself.
So, the first Cubans to come were wealthy and escaped mostly by plane. They brought lots of money with them. But conditions changed quickly, and soon, Cubans were arriving in South Florida on just about anything that floats and they still do today. Enter the balseros.
First, though, a few words about the original Cuban conquistadores.
When the first Cubans got here, they took over like nobody’s business. They couldn’t vote, but they renamed streets, neighborhoods, and more to fit their Cuban style. Entire areas changed, and Spanish became the norm. Guess what? Spanglish became the official language!
These influential Cubans also transformed politics. They weren’t a happy bunch, and who could blame them? Fidel Castro had taken everything they loved. So, they turned Miami into a political stronghold against Castro.
In the blink of an eye, Cubans became el exilio historico , the historic exile, once powerful but now fading fast. Sadly, their efforts to overthrow the regime didn’t work, and Castro died of natural causes in 2016.
On a lighter note, Cubans also introduced Miami to Cuban food. Pastelitos, croquetas, café con leche —you name it. Miami was soon filled with Cuban eateries. Little Havana and Hialeah became foodie destinations, and the Cuban sandwich ruled supreme.
Oh, los balseros!
Time passed, and Cubans kept coming, but they didn’t bring much money anymore after 1959, neither came they by plane. They sure made their mark, though.
The Cubans arriving after the first wave are enshrined in history as los balseros , the rafters. They weren’t rich and didn’t revamp the city map, but they certainly made English a secondary language in an English-speaking country.
The balseros also introduced Miami natives to a new level of conversational loudness and passion they had never experienced before. The griteria (screaming) replaced the conversation, que bolá (s'up) replaced traditional greetings day and night, and por la izquierda (under the table) became a term for anything illegal, be it work or cable service.
Most of this happens in Spanish, but Cubans have started mixing in English a bit. Today, a conversation in Miami might include oh, mai gad (oh, my God), forgueret (forget it), and dassit (that's it), with the sweetest Cuban accent.
With all that said, Cubans are responsible for turning Miami into a vibrant city. Their unique way of speaking, loud and expressive, can’t be replicated. And their food—pastries, puerco asado, frijoles negros, and fresh Cuban bread—makes dieting impossible. Salsa adds energy to daily life, and the friendliness of Cubans makes navigating the city a breeze.
Now, let’s push Cubans aside for a moment and look at Miami-Dade County on its own.
For one, it's hard to believe that thirty-some cities peacefully coexist in such a small area. Many people don’t even know they exist. For most, this is Miami, plain and simple. The cities are there, though.
Some popped up out of nowhere, like one built for the one-percenters. Others have strange origins, like one born from a horse dispute. Some, like Sunny Isles, could use a rebranding due to the Russian influence, and Florida City is more famous for odd money accounting than for its location as the southernmost city of mainland U.S.A.
Sweetwater has absolutely nothing to do with water, and its founders are long gone. The politics there are as murky as ever, though. Miami Beach is best known as South Beach and North Miami Beach isn’t what it sounds like—don’t expect any beaches. Trying to figure out why this last one exists can be a challenge.
Down south, Homestead, neighboring Florida City to the north, has great wineries and local food that will awe you, that is, if you stay away from the big chains. And there are also peacocks, lizards, bugs, and alligators galore.
Finally, if you find yourself roaming around Hialeah, don’t argue with a native Cuban. Cubans know everything, and disagreeing with them might defy your sanity!