The Cuban has landed. Español
Neil Armstrong once landed on the Moon. Same way, once upon a time, we, Cubans, landed in Miami—and we made history, too. Some history!
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 elite settlers did land, though. But as Cuba's situation deteriorated, the number of 'commoners' willing to venture into the outside world skyrocketed. Suddenly, landing in Miami was no longer just a trip—it became a privilege, reserved for a fortunate few.
After that early wave, most Cubans fleeing had to be resourceful and extraordinarily imaginative in finding their way to freedom, whether in Miami or elsewhere.
Eventually, they adapted, ditching airplanes as their preferred getaway 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 turf, but it was just 1959. Castro didn’t like wealthy people—or anyone else, for that matter—except for himself.
The first Cubans to arrive were the affluent, escaping mostly by plane and bringing plenty of money with them. But conditions changed rapidly, and soon Cubans were arriving in South Florida on just about anything that floats—and they still do today. Enter the balseros.
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, nor 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 wealthy and didn’t redraw the city map, but they certainly made English a secondary language in an English-speaking country, mind you.
The balseros also introduced Miami natives to a new level of conversational loudness and passion they had never experienced before. The gritería (screaming) took over conversations, while que bolá (what’s up) became the go-to greeting, day and night. Meanwhile, por la izquierda (under the table) became the term for anything illegal, whether it was work or cable service.
Sure, most of this happens in Spanish, but Cubans have started mixing in English a bit. Today, a conversation in Miami might include phrases like oh, mai gad (oh, my God), forgueret (forget it), and dassit (that's it), all delivered 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.
It’s hard to believe that over thirty cities peacefully coexist in such a small area. Many people don’t even realize they exist. For most, this is Miami, plain and simple. But those cities are definitely there, adding to the rich tapestry of the region, in part, thanks to, well, the Cubans.
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 its odd money accounting than for being the southernmost city of the 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 it exists can be a challenge.
Down south, Homestead, which neighbors Florida City to the north, boasts great wineries and local food that will awe you, that is, if you manage to steer clear of the big chains. And don’t forget the 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 challenge your sanity!