Impact of the Golden Exiles on the cities economic growth and Essay

Impact of the Golden Exiles on the cities economic growth and solidarity among its immigrant community - Essay Example The initial group of Cuban self-exiles known as the "Golden Exiles" was responsible for establishing a prosperous and atypical exile community that would to this day exercise considerable influence over all early and subsequent Latin American immigrants living in Miami. . The Cubans who left the island for Miami after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 were on a political mission, they were to form a counter-revolutionary front, however to avoid nationalization of their assets they left with as much money as they could and it is this salvaged wealth that became the capital for businesses set up by Cuban-American entrepreneurs. This group was comprised of many professional who were educated, experienced and held well-established connections. For this they were able to contribute to the economic and social growth of the area in which they settled. Many other Latin Americans who later migrated to the US were also seeking political asylum as was the case with many Nicaraguans who were fleeing the dictatorial Samoza regime during the later years of the 1970s. However, desperate economic circumstances and poor living conditions soon replaced these political issues as the main reason for immigration throughout Latin America. ... y Alex Stepick and Carol Dutton Stepick in the article "Power and Identity: Miami Cubans" is quite poignant and demonstrates one way in which immigrants have been able to come together for a common goal. It is because of this that they have held great political influence and often their votes determine electoral outcomes in the state and senators are quick to offer incentives that would appeal to the group. However, dissent is becoming apparent within the ranks. The "Golden Exiles" and their supporters are adamant in their desire to implement measures that could break the socialist hold on Cuba and have fiercely backed the trade embargo that bans all economic interaction between Cuba and the US. On the other hand, many new immigrants want to open dialogue between the two countries with the hope of improving the economic situation since they still hold many close ties with people in Cuba. While these initial immigrant groups were able to reach and maintain a level of economic prosperity and independence, many other groups seem not to be able to achieve such mobility and opt to form communities such as those prevalent in Latin America cities. They forge solidarity based on more immediate and common concerns such as marginalization and adversity, and the need to preserve their culture. These issues seem to spring mainly from identity confusion because they not American enough to be accepted in the wider society but they are neither sufficiently Hispanic to claim their ancestral country as their own. While this does not allow them access to "white" society, the Latin American immigrant community can show solidarity with other historically marginalized groups such as the African-American groups. Though solidarity exists to a great extent, one cannot ignore the friction