Cuba: An American History

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and racism.

Marielitos is an informal term used to describe Cuban migrants who arrived in the United States during the Mariel Boatlift between April 15, 1980, and October 31, 1980. As Ferrer notes, “the name used to identify the refugees—marielitos—was coined as pejorative” (418). This pejorative sentiment was caused by a complex array of factors that included xenophobia, racism, and classism, as these Cuban refugees were more likely to be Black and poor compared to Cuban exiles who arrived in the US previously. Today, the term has less of a pejorative connotation and is used neutrally, including by Ferrer herself, to describe this wave of migrants.

When goods or services are nationalized, they are transferred from private owners to the government. Nationalization of key industries and commodities is a cornerstone of socialist, communist, or mixed economies. Nationalization of US-owned industries operating in Cuba was a key point of tension between the US and Cuba during the Cuban Revolution and at other points in Cuban history. For instance, Cuba nationalized US-owned and operated oil refineries in 1960. Although the companies were paid for their assets by the Cuban government, the companies were not happy with the terms offered and pleaded for US intervention.