Cuban Nationalism
For several reasons, Cubans have a very strong sense of "Cubanidad,"
cultural identity. This sense of cultural identity comes partially from
a sense of place—Cuba as an island has clearly defined boundaries—and partially
from the homogeneity of language and shared culture. It is a major factor
in the relative stability of the revolutionary government in Cuba and
in the stability of the Cuban community in the United States.
Despite the fact that within the Cuban-American community there is a
great deal of political contention, the community forgets its differences
in taking care of its own. One of the practical problems service providers
face in working with newly-arrived Cubans is that they can function so
comfortably within the Spanish-speaking Cuban-American communities: There
is little motivation to learn English or move away to areas where there
are better jobs.
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REFUGEE FACT SHEET NO.12