An American content creator who documents his conversations with strangers on the street had an unexpected encounter with a Cuban in the Florida Keys.
During his 24-hour visit to the area, Adam Matheson, who is documenting his journey on social media, spoke with Tony, a Cuban coconut water seller who shared his story as a former political prisoner and his arrival in Miami in 1979.
Tony tried to escape from Cuba in 1977 along with his brother and two school friends. However, they were detained by Fidel Castro's regime and sentenced to prison on charges of "undermining the integrity and stability of the nation."
The sentence could have been up to 10 years, but her luck changed when the then President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, initiated a dialogue with Fidel Castro in 1978.
Carter told Castro, "I will take all the political prisoners you have." Castro agreed, but on the condition that they were only those who were born after he took power in 1959," Tony recounted, who was born in 1961 and claims that this allowed him to benefit from the agreement.
Finally, in April 1979, Tony arrived in Miami without speaking English and faced a completely different environment from what he knew.
"There weren't many people, but everyone was friendly," he recounted about the city at that time. He also remembered that the community was made up of various nationalities, although the great metropolis that Miami has become today did not yet exist.
"When I came to Miami, it was just a building. Now it’s a whole city, full of skyscrapers," he added.
The charismatic Cuban surprised his interviewer by demonstrating his ability to open a coconut with his mouth, a feat that impressed Matheson and others who have watched the full video on his YouTube channel.
Tony's story is a reminder of the hardships faced by many Cubans who attempted to flee the island in search of freedom, as well as the impact that U.S. immigration policy had during those years in providing them with a new chance at life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Migration to the United States
How did Tony, the Cuban political prisoner, arrive in Miami in 1979?
Tony, a former Cuban political prisoner, arrived in Miami in April 1979 thanks to an agreement between U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro, where Carter agreed to accept political prisoners born after 1959. This agreement allowed Tony to emigrate to the United States after enduring imprisonment for attempting to escape from Cuba in 1977.
What were the living conditions of the Cubans who arrived in Miami in the 1970s?
The Cubans who arrived in Miami in the 1970s, like Tony, found themselves in a city that was significantly different from what it is today. Miami at that time was smaller and less developed, but the community was welcoming and made up of various nationalities.
What impact did Jimmy Carter's immigration policy have on Cuban political prisoners?
The immigration policy of Jimmy Carter had a significant impact by opening the possibility for political prisoners from Cuba to emigrate to the United States. Carter offered to welcome these prisoners, which allowed many, like Tony, to escape the harsh conditions in Cuba and start a new life in freedom.
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