Matheson History Museum presents, “Early Cuban Exiles: Memories of Loss, Struggle, and Rebirth”

Press release from the Matheson History Museum

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Join us on Wednesday, September 20, for a conversation about the experience of Cuban exiles who came to the United States from 1959 through 1973. Authors Mario Cartaya and David Powell will interview each other about their respective books. This program is happening in conjunction with one of our current exhibitions – “We Are Here: Stories from Multilingual Speakers in North Central Florida.”

Free Registration – https://mathesonmuseum.networkforgood.com/events/58452-early- cuban-exiles-memories-of-loss-struggle-and-rebirth

Zoom Registration – https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zd6zasjKS- 65mPzDYHY5qQ

Ninety Miles and a Lifetime Away: Memories of Cuban Early Exiles, written by David Powell, is a collection of oral histories from refugees who left Cuba between 1959 and the 1962 Missile Crisis, as well as those who embarked on the Freedom Flights of the late 1960s and early 1970s. During these years, more than 600,000 Cubans migrated to the US, some by way of other countries and many arriving in Miami with only a few clothes and pocket money. In their own words, exiles describe why they left the island, how they prepared for departure, what situations they faced when they arrived in the U.S., and how they integrated into American life.

Journey Back into the Vault: In Search of My Faded Cuban Childhood Footprints is Mario Cartaya’s memoir about his trip back to the land of his birth for the first time in fifty-six years–seeking to reclaim his forgotten Cuban childhood memories, original identity, and once-promised destiny. Enjoy the improbable story of a courageous journey aimed at breaching a subconscious vault once built to store the difficult memories of a childhood usurped, destiny denied, and loving family forever separated by geopolitical events.

This event is sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, FL, and by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida.