Abstract This paper is a personal discussion on Cuba from an anthropological which includes academic sources. It explores arts in Cuba, focusing on music and dance as cultural expressions also mentioned are Afro-Cuban rhythms. The paper also highlights music before and after the revolution. The author researches the Santeria religion.
From the Paper "The new trend in anthropology today seems to be to conduct research in your own backyard. As a person with two backyards one in my homeland of the United States and the other in the Cuban homeland of my father's ancestors, I was fortunate to be able to take ..."
Abstract Since the Cuban revolution, Cuban-American relations have been strained. The Cuban Adjustment Act (1966) grants refugee status to virtually every Cuban national to arrive in the US. This is a point of contention between the two governments. This paper analyzes Cuban-American migration and the similar case of undocumented refugees from China arriving in Canada in 1999.
Abstract This paper presents a discussion of Cuban undocumented aliens receiving preferential status under American immigration laws, a status that ended in in the post 9/11 era that brought about changes in American immigration policy. It looks at the history of Cuban immigration to the United States.
From the Paper "This research paper summarizes and evaluates the rights of Cuban immigrants seeking to enter the United States as they have evolved overtime and in light of post-September changes in American immigration policy..."r
Abstract The paper argues that the leadership of John F. Kennedy was tested during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The paper explains that the creation of the ExComm, together with JFK's own willingness to heed advice, take responsibility for decisions and explore all options, may well have spared the world from nuclear disaster.
From the Paper "President John F. Kennedy is today celebrated as much for his steady leadership during tumultuous times as he is lauded for his eloquence and ability to inspire. At no time during his presidency and perhaps during his life would JFK be asked to handle an event more challenging-and more potentially combustible-than the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Abstract In this paper, the writer examines President John F. Kennedy's decision-making during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. The writer provides a background of the crisis. In the article, the writer discusses dealings between Kennedy and Soviet leader, Khrushchev. The writer also covers the outcome of the crisis.
From the Paper "The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October when the Soviet Union under the leadership of Premier Nikita Khrushchev began placing offensive ballistic missiles in Cuba, just miles off the U. S. coast. Traditionally, historians have contended that Khrushchev began placing the missiles in Cuba from a position of strength, intended to defy a weak foe, President John F. Kennedy. They emphasized the apparent resolve Kennedy showed in dealing with Khrushchev, essentially portraying Kennedy as a man who finally became presidential during ... "
Abstract This paper discusses Santeria, an African religion passed on through Cuban slaves. It describes the history of the religion, its rituals, and the major deities of the religion. The paper then discusses membership among Santerian communities and the rituals and holidays that members are expected to observe. Finally, the paper discusses Palo, which is considered to be a sect of Santeria.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
History and Sources
Major Deities
Membership and Community
Rituals
Holidays
Palo
Conclusion
From the Paper "Witchcraft, or brujeria, is not often employed among santeros. Palo means "branch" or "wooden stick" which is appropriate because their rituals often employ the use of wood and herbs. There are two main sects within Palo: Palo Monte and Palo Mayombe. Palo Mayombe is considered the "good" sect and Palo Monte is the "bad" sect. Palo Mayombe feel that a Catholic baptism in necessary to join the sect, and anyone who has not been baptized is evil. Palo Monte are not baptized and work for the devil. All Palos work with the spirits of the dead, but the Palo Monte group work exclusively with the spirits of suicides, criminals and evil witches. A practitioner of this sect can be identified by the razor cuts along their skin. Their source of power comes from their cauldrons, also called nganga, in which are kept items such as human skulls, bones, graveyard dust, crossroad dust, branches, herbs, insects, animal and bird carcasses and hot spices. Followers of the Palo sect are very secretive, especially in comparison to most Santerians. This is because their rituals involve human remains, a practice most people do not agree with. Chango is the god they worship most often because they believe he came from the Congo, not Nigeria, and most Palo worshipers are from the Congo."
Abstract This paper addresses the Afro-centric Social Work paradigm, giving the definition and meaning of "Afro-centricity" and further describing the values and concepts of Afro-centricity as a social science paradigm on which social work practice can be built. The article describes the origins and principles of the Afro-centric or African-centered paradigm, the relationship of Afro-centricity to social problems, and explains the reasons for the emergence of an Afro-centric social science perspective.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Afro-centricity - Definition and Meaning
Afro-centricity as an Emerging Paradigm in Social Work Practice
Effects on Male and Female Groups
Conclusion
From the Paper "Peoples of African origin have a unique place within a multicultural society. The history of African Americans in the United States differs from those who came to US as immigrants. Despite African Americans' social and economic progress, they continue to lag behind White America in the areas of income, education, and health (McKinnon, 2003). While several models of social work practice that can assist colored people have emerged, the concept "Afro-centricity" better describes the cultural values of people of African descent and deployed for the social work practice. Social workers are encouraged to follow the Afro-centric paradigm because of its emphasis on eliminating oppression of the colored people."
Abstract This paper discusses Afro-Brazilian dance forms. It looks briefly at the history and origins of the dance form and discusses its importance in understanding the culture in Brazil. The paper then focuses on specific forms of Afro-Brazilian dance. It describes each dance form, the occasion in which the dance is used and how it is performed by the dancers.
Table of Contents:
Candomble
Samba
Capoeira
From the Paper "The Candomble dancing is a ceremonial, religious dance, done during one of the numerous terreiros de candomble scattered throughout the city of Bahaia. Women wear long skirts, usually colored ones. They dance to be respectful to the orixas, or gods. "Each deity represents a given force or element in nature, and has a favourite colour and type of food. Yemanja, for example, is the goddess of the sea, who usually dresses in blue and white. The favourite colour of Oxun, the goddess of beauty, is yellow. In the religious ceremonies, practitioners dress in the colours of the orixas and place food at the altar before singing special songs and dancing precisely choreographed steps to the sacred drums. The anthropomorphic nature of the orixa allows an intimate contact between believer and deity, and the highlight of the Candomble ceremony is the epiphany, or possession, when the orixa takes over the believer's body" (Davis)"
Abstract This paper argues that counter to popular belief, Cubans are far from a homogeneous ethnic group. Rather, it was this group's shared sense of exile and its mobilization of large numbers of immigrants that paved the way for their socio-economic and political clout. This paper takes a historical approach to the growth of economic and political power of Cuban-Americans. It looks at how Cuban exiles slowly shifted focus from anticipating their return to the homeland in the years following the revolution, to working with and eventually becoming part of the established elite in Miami. This paper also discusses how Cubans slowly carved a new identity, as Cuban-Americans. This transformation further paved the way for the development of the Cuban-American elite, first in business and later, in politics.
Introduction
Review of Literature
Geography and Population
From Exiles to Citizens
Miami Politics and Economics
Conclusion
From the Paper "In summary, conventional wisdom has credited Cuban American prosperity to their social homogeneity. However, this is only part of the picture. Unlike other Hispanic groups, Cuban Americans have benefited from a strong social cohesion, brought about by a common goal to topple Cuba. This commonality paved the way for the establishment of social networks, which were later geared towards increasing Cuban presence in local and state politics. Additionally, the greater educational achievement of Cuban Americans further contributed to their growing economic power in the 1980s. Given the aging of the Castro regime and Cuba's growing openness towards capitalism, the economic and political might of the Cuban American population can only increase."
Abstract The paper looks at the economic and social situation in the Oakwood/Eglinton areas, examining the integrationist efforts which have been undertaken to alleviate some of the struggles men, women and children face. The paper discusses the inclusionary tactics practiced by the larger communities housing Afro-Caribbean families and investigates the barriers which frustrate any sort of integrationist initiative. The paper concludes that the past and present have been difficult for recently-arrived Jamaicans in a city that prides itself on its racial tolerance, but there is hope that concerted community action can brighten the future.
From the Paper "The first thing which must be done in a paper of this sort is to look at the economic and social situation which exists within Oakwood and within Eglinton. In truth (simply by glancing at the ward profiles provided on the official web site of the City of Toronto), it appears as though Oakwood and Eglinton are not conjoined as many might think at first glance. Furthermore, a look at the city's neighborhood profiles is only a little more helpful - and it, too, marks the two areas as distinct. Be that as it may, some things can certainly be deduced which offer insight into how the Jamaican community is treated in Canada. For one thing, when looking at household income distribution in the neighborhood of Oakwood-Vaughan (for 2001), it is striking that the income bracket with the largest percentage of the population is that bracket housing those making $10,000 - $19,999 per annum. Ironically, the next-largest income bracket is comprised of those making $100,000 per annum or more (City of Toronto, "Oakwood-Vaughan: Social Profile #3," 3)."
Abstract This paper is about the cultural and political dynamics of Cuban-American identity. It discusses the difference between exile status and ethnic Cuban identity, manifested in the different self-conceptions of the several waves of Cuban exiles since the 1959 revolution. The paper particularly emphasizes the works of two Cuban-American artists, Cristina Garcia and Ana Mendieta, whose works demonstrate the tensions in the Cuban community between nostalgia and self-examination.
Abstract There are two views, as with any conflict or issue, on the reasons and reactions of the major players in the Cuban Missile Crisis that took place at the end of October 1962. The crisis pitted two world powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, against each other in what many describe as the closest the world has come to World War III and a nuclear holocaust. This paper examines the background of the crisis from the Cuban/Soviet point of view in depth. Towards the end of the paper, the United States' perspective of the crisis is discussed.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Background
Upheaval in Cuba - the Bay of Pigs
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The Beginning of Hostilities
The United States Perspective
From the Paper "The account from the Cuban point-of-view paints Kennedy as a man obsessed with removing Castro from Cuba. In Robert Kennedy's memoir, he portrays his brother as someone eager to get the missiles out in a peaceful fashion. Kennedy was in favor of the blockade, despite the advice that this was a weak response and that military action was in order. Among those dissenting was Senator J. William Fullbright of Arkansas. Schlesinger points out that the Soviets were no match for the United States, a point made continually from the Cuban point-of-view; however the take of the this fact is spun differently on the American side. If Kennedy had been completely set on ridding Cuba of Castro, he could have used the Soviet deployment to invade and overthrow Castro's regime. Instead the two Kennedy brothers led the fight against invasion in favor of a peaceful solution."
Tags: Fidel, Castro, General, Batista, Eisenhower, Khrushchev
Abstract This paper takes a look at the Soviet Union's role in the Cuban Missile Crisis between America and Cuba in 1962. The writer explores the crisis from the Soviet Union's perspective using documents from the Soviet Union archives and puts together a historical account from their view. The paper shows that the Cold War was triggered by the crisis and the eventual dismantling of the former Soviet Union was a result of the Cold War, therefore the Cuban missile crisis, while it scared the world for 14 days, set the stage for today's friendly relations between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union.
From the Paper "The Soviet Union placed the missiles in Cuba as a strategic military and political statement to the world about the actions of America. According to recently released documents pertaining to the crisis the idea came to then Soviet Union leader, Nikita Khrushchev, to use as a counter message to the US. He felt the United States had been flexing its muscles and some of the more recent decisions and actions by the states had countered what the Soviet Union had been led to believe(COLD WAR: CUBAN MISSILE CRISIShttp://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/colc.html). The crux of the disagreement was nestled in he direct actions of the United States. The problem as realized in retrospect was that the Soviet Union used deceit and lies to accomplish its point instead of holding discussions with the US powers about its concerns."
Abstract This paper explores the Cuban missile crisis and how then President John F. Kennedy dealt with the issue. The writer believes that the 1962 Cuban missile crisis established JFK as a heroic and able president who was the first and only president to challenge the Soviets directly. The paper offers a brief background on the lead-up to the event and America's involvement in the near nuclear disaster. The paper includes a section on the memory of this event in American psyche today, evident through the many plays, movies and stories which can be seen throughout the U.S.
From the Paper "The Cuban Missile Crisis teaches much about the nature of international relations during the Cold War and about such relations at any time between adversaries. It affirms the characteristics of the American political system that have helped the country succeed for two centuries in the face of considerable international opposition and numerous crises. Kennedy represented a change in the presidency, a youthful man rather than an older political leader, and his vibrancy affected the nation and made people ready to do more than they might otherwise have wanted to do."
Tags: bay, of, pigs, castro, cuba, communism, jfk, cia, leadership, presidency, cold, war, revolution
Abstract This seven-page undergraduate paper discusses the pre-Revolutionary and post-revolutionary Cuban society. The paper is a comparative across time and does not specifically focus on the political regimes but instead attempts to explain how the Cuban revolution changed the lives of the people forever.
