“Ser De Aquí”: Beyond the Cuban Exile Model

Abstract

The historiography of Cubans in the United States has focused for the most part on the experiences of Cubans who migrated after 1959. Known as the “exile model,” this historical framework privileges the history and experiences of Cubans who arrived after 1959, linking their experiences with the Cuban Revolution, the United States' policy towards Cuba during the late 20th century, and the development of the Cuban exile community. This framework leaves little room for examining migrations that took place before the revolution, were driven by economic factors, and attracted Cubans from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This article questions the viability of holding on to an “exile model” during a period of globalization and transnationalism. It calls for a re-evaluation of the model by seeking a more expansive framework that incorporates the history of pre-1959 Cuban migrations as well as one that employs Latino/a, Afro-diasporic, transamericanist, and Global Studies paradigms.