The First Generation

I’d like you all to read the following, then the letter I received from the blog’s writer which I posted below the fold. It’s from another addition to our Cuban-American blogging family, this baby named “La Primera Generacion“, the First Generation:

Debut
After a year and a half of scouring other people’s blogs (mostly regarding Cuba), I’ve decided it’s time for me to try my hand. Who am I? I’m 21 years old, a first generation Cuban-American, born in the great city of Hialeah but grew up in the Kendall area of Miami.
Spent 18 years surrounded by my Cuban family, but it was only when I turned 20 that I realized I knew nothing about my origins. Sure, I knew “Cuba si, Castro no,” but that was about it. Had anyone asked me to explain my views, I would have been grasping for words. When I was 13 and Elian was all over the news, I was just one of maybe two Cubans in the classroom. When the topic came up in Civics class, I couldn’t defend myself against the rednecks from Homestead.
Then, I turned 20. What’s the significance? I turned 20 on August 1, 2006, and on that day everybody on my floor at work had two reasons to congratulate me. When a 55-year old senior Managing Director came over to my cubicle came to ask me about what was going on in Cuba, and I didn’t have many substantial things to say, I realized that I desperately needed information. That’s when I found BabaluBlog.com, and I haven’t stopped reading since.
My family never sought to educate me on Cuba, never told me their stories, just let me go about my studious ways. Let me go off to school in Boston, where I would be representing my culture without a real sense of what that culture was. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hold anything against them, but I do wish they would’ve talked to me about it more. After a year and a half of reading blogs and books, I’ve been told that I’m the most knowledgeable one in the family when it comes to Cuba. Can you imagine that? Me, a 21-year old who has never set foot on the island.
I’m assuming most of the people who read this (if any) will be older than I am, and may already have children. So I leave you with this — educate your children early about what’s going on in Cuba now, what has happened in Cuba over the past 60 years, and what being Cuban is all about. They’ll thank you for it in 20 years.

Here’s the letter I received on Friday:

Val,
Yesterday at Thanksgiving, I gave thanks for you and the other bloggers, who seek to enlighten the world about what’s really going on in Cuba. I’m writing to let you know that after reading your blog for a year and a half, I have been inspired to try my hand at my own blog called La primera generación. I feel that I bring a fairly unique perspective to the table. I’m a 21-year old Cuban-American, born and raised in Miami, but currently reside in both New York City and Boston. I’ve been working in NYC while I finish my undergrad at MIT in Boston. Had I gone to school at UM or FIU, I probably would have been involved in one or more of their many Cuban organizations and programs. However, I chose to head north to pursue my passion for science, technology and finance and therefore have not had the opportunity to get involved. I can count the number of Cuban-Americans at MIT on my hands.
The extent of my knowledge about Cuban affairs only dates back to a year and a half ago, when I started reading Babalu, but I have been aggressively seeking information since. I’ve read a bunch of books, including “Child of the Revolution” and “Exposing the Real Che Guevara and the Useful Idiots who Idolize Him.” Next on my list is “The Moncada Attack: Birth of the Cuban Revolution.” Thanks to Babalu, I went to the great talk Prof. de la Cova gave in NYC. He signed my book and we’ve exchanged a few e-mails regarding his research.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about what I’ve written so far. I’d also love to sponsor the current BUCL campaign, though my blog has approximately 0 readers to date.
I can’t thank you enough for educating me over the past year and a half.
Best regards,
M.