Cuba

1
Cuba

• An Exploration into the Culture and Education of
  Cuban People
• By Whitney Curry - Fall 2007
• Middle Grades Presentation

2
What to Expect in the Presentation

• First, we will explore the history of Cuba and
  how it affects American relations.
• Next, we will explore the culture of the Cuban
  people.
• Finally, we will explore the geography of Cuba
  and the diversity of life on the island.

3
A Brief Overview of Cuba

• Cuba is a developing country that is located
  approximately 90 miles south of the United States
  off the coast of Florida.
• The U.S. has had a rocky relationship with Cuba
  since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
• Many refugees from Cuba try to enter the United
  States illegally every day.
• As of today, the United States and Cuba do not
  import or export any goods or services.
• Travel to Cuba is very difficult for the average
  U.S. citizen but relatively easy for citizens of
  other countries.

4
History of Cuba

• Before the 1500s
• Before Christopher Columbus discovery, Cuba was
  inhabited by indigenous tribes the Tainos,
  Ciboneys and Guanajatabeyes.
• During the 1400s these Indian tribes had come
  from South America to the island of Cuba.
• These people lived in a peaceful society of
  hunters and gatherers.
• These indians wove hammocks and thank goodness
  without the discovery of these people by the
  Spaniards we might not have them!

5
History of Cuba

• 1500s and 1600s
• It was during this period of colonization by
  Spain that most of the Cuban Indians were wiped
  out.
• The natives that were not killed were sold into
  slavery or made to work the gold mines for the
  Spaniards.
• The Spaniards brought many diseases with them
  that completely destroyed the Indian people. So
  if they werent massacred or sold into slavery,
  they were killed off by disease.
• Because the natives were dying, they Spaniards
  began importing African slaves. This continued
  until 1865.

6
History of Cuba

• 1500s and 1600s (continued)
• In 1607, Havana became Cubas capital.
• Not much gold was found in Cuba but Cuba became a
  stopping point for ships heading for the gold in
  Latin America.
• With Cuba being a port for ships this lead to
  piracy of the harbor which became a huge problem
  during these years.
• Not only was Cuba a harbor for ships, but it was
  also a huge producer of sugar cane.

7
History of Cuba

• The 1700s
• During this century, the British traded Florida
  for Cuba to the Spaniards. This was very
  important because it allowed trade with the rest
  of the world which only intensified Cubas
  wealth.
• Tobacco crop was replaced by sugar cane to be the
  most important crop.
• The major difference between Cuba and other
  Spanish colonies during this time was that Cuba's
  economic production largely remained on the
  island and was put towards developing it, rather
  than being returned to Spain.

8
History of Cuba

• The 1800s
• This century was a time of turmoil for the Cubans
  and Spanairds.
• The Spaniards did not give the Cuban people the
  same rights as the Spanish and the Cuban people
  began demanding equal rights.
• The Cubans resisted the Spaniards and a war
  ensued. The Cubans were in control but agreed for
  peace with the Spanish.
• Things remained the same until finally the U.S.
  stepped in and took Cuba from the Spanish in
  1898.
• Did you know that the U.S. once owned Cuba? How
  does this affect our relations today?

9
History of Cuba

• The 20th Century
• During the first part of the century American
  influence was very prevalent. This ended with the
  Cuban Revolution of 1959.
• During the years that Cuba ruled itself the
  government was very corrupt. The U.S. had many
  investments in Cuba that resulted in owning 75
  if the sugar industry and 60 of its land. The
  rich were very rich and the poor were extremely
  poor.
• The corrupt officials were overturned in 1959 by
  Fidel Castro (pictured at right) who turned Cuba
  into a Socialist country.
• What is socialism?

10
People of Cuba

• Cuba is one of the most egalitarian countries in
  the world. Everyone shares what resources are
  available.
• Cuba is a country of working people. Life is not
  easy, but it is much better than other developing
  countries.
• Think Ahead
• What do you think their work ethic means to their
  education system?
• What do you think the word egalitarian means to
  their education system?

11
People of Cuba

• This may be hard for you to believe, but the
  average person in Cuba lives off of 200 pesos or
  10/month!
• However, the government is the provider for many
  goods and services. This includes food rations
  and free medical care.
• Cubans are very friendly to tourists and seem
  very curious about the outside world. They dont
  get many chances to travel and enjoy talking to
  tourists who visit Cuba about their native
  countries.
• Cuba has virtually NO crime, especially violent
  crimes. This speaks volumes about the morals and
  values of the Cuban people.

12
People of Cuba

• With the hardship of everyday life the Cuban
  people use artistic expression as a way of
  coping.
• There is a huge artistic presence in Cuba whether
  they be trained artists or gifted amateurs.
• Not only do Cubans enjoy the art of painting and
  drawing, but they also have a passion for
  dancing.
• Some of the most popular Latin dances such as the
  cha-cha and the salsa originated in Cuba.
• Whether they be in the big cities such as Havana
  or in the rural areas, dancing and music are
  always popular venues for entertainment.

13
Cuban Cuisine

• Just like any country, the food in Cuba is the
  essence of the people. Each dish is made with the
  heart and soul of the cook who prepared it.
• Authentic Cuban recipes are served up from the
  melting pot of authentic traditional recipes from
  the four continents of South America, Africa,
  North America and Europe.
• Typical Cuban dishes served often include black
  beans, white rice, yellow rice, citrus marinades,
  garlic, and fried sliced banana (plantain).
• My favorite Cuban recipe is a variation of the
  Cuban sandwich made into a pie.

14
Diversity of Land Life

• Cuba is home to a rich diversity of animal and
  plant life including leaping crocodiles and
  some of the worlds smallest hummingbirds, lizards
  and frogs.
• Cuba is called the Wild Island of the Caribbean
  because of the diversity of habitats, from fields
  and swamps to mountains and forests that are home
  to many different species of plants and animals.
• Because of increased travel to Cuba by outsiders
  there have been massive impacts to the
  environment such as deforestation and
  development. However, Cuba is proactive in their
  attempts to keep their countrys ecosystem
  balanced.

15
Flora and Fauna of Cuba

• Cuba is home to atleast 6,000 plant species, some
  of which are found no where else on earth.
• The most prominent species of plant is the palm
  tree. It has been estimated that there are 15
  million palms on the island including the cork
  palm, big belly palm and the royal palm.
• The palm trees can be found on Cubas coastline
  and inland from the coast.

Royal Palm (Reistonea regia)
16
Flora and Fauna of Cuba

• It is in the mountains of Cuba where you will
  find the elegant Butterfly Lily, the national
  flower of Cuba and many varieties of orchids.
• Pine and oak trees also thrive in the mountain
  region because of the dry climate.
• Along with the dry forests, Cuba also boasts a
  beautiful tropical rainforest on its eastern side.

Butterfly Lily (Hedychium coronarium Koenig)
17
Flora and Fauna of Cuba

• Last but certainly not least is the beauty that
  is the southern part of Cuba.
• Along the southern coast, large mangrove swamps
  provide nursery waters for fish and important
  habitat for birds.
• The southern part is primarily made up of the
  Zapata Swamp, the largest wetland in Cuba.
• Along with diverse animal species, the Zapata
  Swamp is home to a wide range of vegetation from
  aquatic plants to plants typically found in semi
  deserts.

18
The Beauty of Cuba

• Cuba is a country rich in history and culture.
  Its people are extremely hard workers who live
  life daily to its fullest.
• The curiosity of Cubans mixed with their
  education create a country that is strong in its
  traditions.
• With such a diverse culture of people and places
  it would be fun to imagine how life would be if
  you lived there instead of America.

19
Thinking Ahead
Group Discussion

• As the presentation has shown, Cuba is a culture
  of diverse people, places and history. How has
  the history of Cuba shaped the determination of
  the people to keep it from being governed by
  another country (such as the U.S. or Great
  Britain)?
• Compare the colonization of Cuba to the
  colonization of North America. What were some of
  the motives for colonization? Were the natives
  treated well on either continent? What kind of
  treatment did they receive from the explorers?
• Florida and Cuba are separated by 90 miles of
  Caribbean Sea. Give 3 examples of how Florida and
  Cuba are the same and 3 examples of how they
  differ. You can refer to history, culture and/or
  geography of the landscape.
• The Cuban people live off of 10/month which is
  impossible here in the states. What do you
  believe this says about their society? Refer to
  the notes and your personal inference for the
  answer.
• Give 2 stereotypes that you have heard about
  Cuban people or people of Latin decent. Did this
  presentation help dispel those stereotypes or
  reinforce them?
• Given the information provided would you want to
  travel to Cuba in the future? Why or why not?

20
Homework Assignment

• Your assignment for this weekend will begin with
  a R.A.F.T.S. prompt.
• Role Cuban immigrant to America
• Audience Relatives back in Cuba
• Format Letter
• Topic Differences and similarities between
  Florida and Cuba
• Strong Verb Describing
• This assignment should be 1-2 pages in length.
  You should describe the differences/similarities
  in culture, people and geography. Use the
  questions we answered as a class after the
  presentation and your notes as a guide. Make the
  letter personal. Keep in mind that these are
  family members that you will most likely never
  see again because of difficulty of travel to
  Cuba.

• I will be grading you on the content of your
  paper. I want to see that you have used the notes
  provided to give a descriptive account of how you
  believe a Cuban immigrant would view the American
  culture.
• You will NOT be graded on grammar or spelling
  unless it interferes with my understanding of
  your point or points.
• This assignment should be done in your class
  journal.
• It is due at the beginning of class Monday 10/15.

21
Presentation References

• Nature. Cuba Wild Island of the Caribbean
• http//www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/cuba/eco_explorer.
  html
• The Cuban Experience
• http//library.thinkquest.org/18355/
• Cuban Recipes
• http//www.cubadomainsforsale.com/cuban-recipe.ht
  ml
• Google Images (Zapata Swamp, palm trees,
  butterfly lily, people of Cuba, Cuban cuisine,
  Cuban artwork)
• http//images.google.com
• Dictionary.com
• www.dictionary.com (socialism and egalitarian)