Cuba and Rhode Island: Then and Now

Cuba and Rhode Island: Then and Now will be a discussion on the complexities of the Cuban-American experience through changing political climates. This event helps us re-examine America’s social and cultural history. We will show excerpts from the acclaimed PBS series: Latino Americans 500 Years of History — Episode 4 -The New Latinos to help inform the discussion

The film excerpts will uncover this history of U.S. – Cuban interchange, as well as engage audiences in conversation about how our countries continue to be linked. Latino populations discussed in film —Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican— mirror the first Hispanic groups to arrive in RI, appearing in large numbers in the 1970s and growing by 132% between 1980 and 1990.

It’s also important to note that hundreds of Cuban children were placed in Rhode Island during Operation Peter Pan and a Cuban Club was established in 1967.

Among other questions, the panel will discuss the following: How do we define home? What is “freedom”? How can we reconcile the past with the present?

Introduction: Marta V. Martínez, Oral Historian and Chair of RI Latino Arts
Facilitator: Daniel Rodriguez, Brown University Assistant Professor of History

Panelists: Miriam Gorriarán and Gina Rodríguez

• Refreshments will be served

This program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Associations’ Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant opportunity. Thank you!