Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution : The Making of Cuban New York

Winner, 2020 Herbert H. Lehman Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in New York historyHonorable Mention, 2019 CASA Literary Prize for Studies on Latinos in the United States, given by La Casa de las Américas The dramatic story of the origins of the Cuban community in nineteenth-century New York. More than one hundred years before the Cuban Revolution of 1959 sparked an exodus that created today's prominent Cuban American presence, Cubans were settling in New York City in what became largest community of Latin Americans in the nineteenth-century Northeast. This book brings this community to vivid life, tracing its formation and how it was shaped by both the sugar trade and the long struggle for independence from Spain. New York City's refineries bought vast quantities of raw sugar from Cuba, ultimately creating an important center of commerce for Cuban émigrés as the island tumbled into the tumultuous decades that would close out the century and define Cuban nationhood and identity. New York became the primary destination for Cuban émigrés in search of an education, opportunity, wealth, to start a new life or forget an old one, to evade royal authority, plot a revolution, experience freedom, or to buy and sell goods. While many of their stories ended tragically, others were steeped in heroism and sacrifice, and still others in opportunism and mendacity. Lisandro Pérez beautifully weaves together all these stories, showing the rise of a vibrant and influential community. Historically rich and engrossing, Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution immerses the reader in the riveting drama of Cuban New York. Lisandro Pérez analyzes the major forces that shaped the community, but also tells the stories of individuals and families that made up the fabric of a little-known immigrant world that represents the origins of New York City's dynamic Latino presence. Winner, 2020 Herbert H. Lehman Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in New York history Honorable Mention, 2019 CASA Literary Prize for Studies on Latinos in the United States, given by La Casa de las Amricas The dramatic story of the origins of the Cuban community in nineteenth-century New York. More than one hundred years before the Cuban Revolution of 1959 sparked an exodus that created todays prominent Cuban American presence, Cubans were settling in New York City in what became largest community of Latin Americans in the nineteenth-century Northeast. This book brings this community to vivid life, tracing its formation and how it was shaped by both the sugar trade and the long struggle for independence from Spain. New York Citys refineries bought vast quantities of raw sugar from Cuba, ultimately creating an important center of commerce for Cuban migrs as the island tumbled into the tumultuous decades that would close out the century and define Cuban nationhood and identity. New York became the primary destination for Cuban migrs in search of an education, opportunity, wealth, to start a new life or forget an old one, to evade royal authority, plot a revolution, experience freedom, or to buy and sell goods. While many of their stories ended tragically, others were steeped in heroism and sacrifice, and still others in opportunism and mendacity. Lisandro Prez beautifully weaves together all these stories, showing the rise of a vibrant and influential community. Historically rich and engrossing, Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution immerses the reader in the riveting drama of Cuban New York. Lisandro Prez analyzes the major forces that shaped the community, but also tells the stories of individuals and families that made up the fabric of a little-known immigrant world that represents the origins of New York City's dynamic Latino presence. Introduction: New York Stories -- Part I. Sugar: 1823-1868 -- The Port -- Exiles, Sojourners, And Annexationists -- An Emerging Community And A Rising Activism -- Part Ii. War: 1868-1895 -- War And Exodus -- Cuban New York In The 1870s -- Waging A War In Cuba...and In New York -- The Aftermath Of War And A Changed Community -- José Martí, New Yorker -- Epilogue: Martí Should Not Have Died. Lisandro Pérez. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 327-383) And Index. Lisandro P�erez. Introduction: New York Stories -- Part I. Sugar: 1823-1868 -- The Port -- Exiles, Sojourners, And Annexationists -- An Emerging Community And A Rising Activism -- Part Ii. War: 1868-1895 -- War And Exodus -- Cuban New York In The 1870s -- Waging A War In Cuba...and In New York -- The Aftermath Of War And A Changed Community -- Jos�e Mart�i, New Yorker -- Epilogue: Mart�i Should Not Have Died. Dedication Contents Introduction: New York Stories Part I. Sugar: 1823– 1868 1. The Port 2. Exiles, Sojourners, and Annexationists 3. An Emerging Community and a Rising Activism Part II. War: 1868– 1895 4. War and Exodus 5. Cuban New York in the 1870s 6. Waging a War in Cuba . . . and in New York 7. The Aftermath of War and a Changed Community 8. José Martí, New Yorker Epilogue: “Martí Should Not Have Died” Acknowledgments Notes References Index About the Author Introduction: New York stories -- Part I. Sugar: 1823-1868 -- The port -- Exiles, sojourners, and annexationists -- An emerging community and a rising activism -- Part II. War: 1868-1895 -- War and exodus -- Cuban New York in the 1870s -- Waging a war in Cuba ... and in New York -- The aftermath of war and a changed community -- Jose Martí, New Yorker -- Epilogue: "Martí should not have died