how Afro-Cuban immigrants form their racial and ethnic identities in communities

 how Afro-Cuban immigrants form their racial and ethnic identities in communities

Goals & Findings

The purpose of this study is to explore how Afro-Cuban immigrants form their racial and ethnic identities in communities that force them to choose between being Black and Hispanic. These two demographic identities are often viewed as being mutually exclusive, which complicates how Afro-Cubans maintain their characters in the face of external racial classification.

The study was conducted through interviews and participant observation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Austin, Texas, between 2001 and 2003. Forty-five participants took part in the study. Twenty-four of the participants went through structured formal interviews, which averaged 2 hours. The other 21 participants underwent shorter and more informal interviews during social and religious events within the Cuban community. The researchers collected demographic and socioeconomic information, a detailed life history, and migration details from each participant. The target population for the study is Cubans, who identify as being of African origin (p. 350). Snowball sampling was used to develop the sample. The researchers contacted participants through community contacts and the networks of other participants.

The independent variable is being an Afro-Cuban immigrant living in the Southwest. The dependent variables are how the participants form their racial and ethnic identities.

The qualitative data collected from interviews with participants was analyzed not to derive any statistical information, but to better understand the identity formation and negotiation processes from the perspective of the participants (p. 351). The data were analyzed according to two themes. The first was on boundary-making, and the second on racial hierarchies.

The study’s first finding is that the processes of racial and ethnic identity formation are influenced by acceptance or rejection from other racial and ethnic groups. The participants reported a lack of acceptance from members of the Hispanic community who did not consider them to be Hispanic due to their appearance (p. 359).

The study’s second finding is that the processes of racial and ethnic identity formation are further influenced by the relative rankings of the various racial and ethnic groups. In most communities, all Spanish speakers were lumped into the category of Hispanic, with Mexican-immigrants taking the lowest position on the social ladder. Afro-Cubans, in such cases, were less likely to identify as Hispanic to distance themselves from the stigma.

Lastly, the study found the participants preferred being identified by the nation of origin, rather than their race and ethnicity. The participants viewed themselves first and foremost as Cuban (p. 359). The external classification of Hispanic or Latino was, therefore, a challenge for the participants who were unable to identify with these groups due to being phenotypically Black.

Assessment

The authors maintain consistency between the goal of the study, the variable under investigation, and the findings. The research problem is properly addressed and answered as participants extensively share their experiences in navigating racial and ethnic identity since arriving in the United States. From the information shared by the participants, the study is able to achieve its objective of providing understanding into the identification process Afro-Cubans go through.

The strength of the methods used in this research is their ability to provide in-depth and contextual information. This information can be evaluated with great detail to derive findings that can inform meaningful decisions. In contrast, the methods used by the researchers are limited to smaller sample sizes, which result in findings that cannot be generalized. The data collected from such methods is also challenging to analyze.

The relevance of this research is that Afro-Cubans immigrants in the Southwest experience a different racial and ethnic composition than immigrants in Florida, New York, and New Jersey (p. 344). Cities in the East Coast have received an influx of Afro-Caribbean immigrants, many of whom speak Spanish. In contrast, the immigration of Afro-Caribbean immigrants is still new, and cities in these areas are yet to reconcile the fact that an individual can be both Black and Hispanic. Studying how Afro-Cuban immigrants and receiving communities struggle to articulate and form group membership (p. 360) is essential to sociology.

A significant limitation of the study was that the participants spoke predominantly in Spanish. The researchers conducted the interviews and in Spanish, and the transcribed interviews were later translated into English. The translation of the participant’s responses may have failed to represent their interpretations and definitions of identity accurately. The study’s small sample size and the use of non-probability sampling was also a limitation. The authors do not state any ways to improve their research.

The ethical considerations of this research include informed consent, voluntary participation, and confidentiality. The authors state that they used pseudonyms for the participants to maintain anonymity. The study focused on Afro-Cubans in the Southwest. The researchers note that Black Spanish-speakers are an anomaly in this area. Future studies can consider the factors that influence how Afro-Cubans in other regions of the country with a large Afro-Caribbean presence form their racial and ethnic identities.