The Cuba Day celebration at the White House was a significant event last week and a successful political affair to remember.
This was especially true with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban American, speaking alongside discussions on Cuba policy and migration management. Mayorkas's participation is notable, particularly in the context of the recent dismissal of articles of impeachment against him.
The event's focus on recognizing the contributions of the Cuban American community and the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to Latino communities reflects a broader effort to engage with and honor diverse cultural groups within the United States. And having a renowned artist like Chucho Valdés perform adds an extra layer of cultural significance to the occasion.
The special occasion was held one day after the U.S. Senate dismissed articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas who spoke to his fellow Cuban Americans at the White House on Thursday afternoon at an event at which U.S. officials also discussed Cuba policy and migration.
The event was organized by the Office of Public Engagement and advertised as “Cuban Day at the White House,” was held to “recognize” the contributions of the Cuban American community to the United States and “highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to Latino communities,” according to the invitation. Like yours truly, Mayorkas is a Cuban American and one of the first Cubans to lead a federal government department.
Last Wednesday, the Senate swiftly voted to dismiss two articles of impeachment against him, killing a House Republican effort to remove him from the Cabinet for his handling of immigration at the U.S-Mexico border.
Renowned Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés performed at the end of the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_cBhY_S94&list=OLAK5uy_kx68rpA2lsu4uB…
Cuban Americans are constantly making a noticeable impact on USA culture by bringing our rich cultural traditions, which are a combination of African and European influences. The so-called Exile exodus is the mass emigration of Cubans from the Communist island after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Throughout the exodus, millions of Cubans from diverse social positions within Cuban society emigrated within various waves, due to political repression and disillusionment.
Most of us who arrived in the initial wave were pale skinned emigrants who initially encountered less racial prejudice in the United States. In general Cuban exiles are economically successful and conservative becoming perfect model minorities in the United States, and a prime example of the accessibility of the American dream.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD6EO3nWYxg
Image: Celia de Varona Garcia