Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution: The Making of Cuban New York

by Lisandro Pérez

Winner, 2020 Herbert H. Lehman Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in New York history

Honorable Mention, 2019 CASA Literary Prize for Studies on Latinos in the United States, given by La Casa de las Américas

The dramatic story of the origins of the Cuban community in nineteenth-century New York.

More than one hundred years before the Cuban Revolution of 1959 sparked an exodus that created today’s prominent Cuban American presence, Cubans were settling in New York City in what became largest community of Latin Americans in the nineteenth-century Northeast. This book brings this community to vivid life, tracing its formation and how it was shaped by both the sugar trade and the long struggle for independence from Spain. New York City’s refineries bought vast quantities of raw sugar from Cuba, ultimately creating an important center of commerce for Cuban émigrés as the island tumbled into the tumultuous decades that would close out the century and define Cuban nationhood and identity.

New York became the primary destination for Cuban émigrés in search of an education, opportunity, wealth, to start a new life or forget an old one, to evade royal authority, plot a revolution, experience freedom, or to buy and sell goods. While many of their stories ended tragically, others were steeped in heroism and sacrifice, and still others in opportunism and mendacity. Lisandro Pérez beautifully weaves together all these stories, showing the rise of a vibrant and influential community. Historically rich and engrossing, Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution immerses the reader in the riveting drama of Cuban New York.

Lisandro Pérez analyzes the major forces that shaped the community, but also tells the stories of individuals and families that made up the fabric of a little-known immigrant world that represents the origins of New York City's dynamic Latino presence.

400 pages, Hardcover

Published July 10, 2018

Reviews

[Elliot Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pérez tells a really interesting story about how New York became such an important place for Cubans in the 19th century, and the role that New York played in the fight(s) for Cuban independence. The book really deepened my knowledge of the history of Cubans in the US and the transnational nature of the fight for Cuban independence. Pérez is an excellent writer, and the people he describes really come to life. Much of the book could accurately be described as a history of prominent Cubans in New York - I would have liked some more history about what it was like to live in New York as a Cuban in the 19th century, and more about the lives of non-famous and non-wealthy New York Cubans. The last third of the book loses the New York story a bit - it becomes more about the Cuban war for independence, and many of the key players just happen to be in New York, rather than a story about how the New York connection really mattered to the war. Still, a very informative and enjoyable book.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was familiar with the Cuban community in Miami both before and after Fidel. It was the first time I'd ever heard of "readers" used in cigar factories to read the newspaper, and other materials, to the workers and how they fomented revolution! So this book was, intriguing, to say the least! I know a lot of people from New York, but they are mainly from Puerto Rico and Central and South America. It was pretty exciting to discover that Cubans went to New York in the mid 19th century and pretty much established communities much like those later started in Miami. Lisandro Perez's book is well researched and well-written book. Anyone interested in Cuban history in the states, New York history, and immigrants, will find this book very informative. great book!

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Hansel5]

What a wonderful read! My friend Ramiro Fdez. alerted me about it. It had been published a year ago.
Professor Perez has put together the definitive history of the genesis of the Cuban presence in New York City; and it was driven by the desire by Cubans to be free of the yoke of the Spanish Crown.

I learned a great deal about important figures in Cuba's fight for independence who got their start in the City; there were facts I was never aware of. Surprised at every turn.

It resonates more for Cuban-New Yorkers I feel. Very glad to have picked it up.

[Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough history of Cuba's immigrants migration to New York and its effect of Cuba's fight for independence. I did not like the first part, which focused on the wealthy aristocrats. However, this setups the second part of the book. I found it interesting how they financed military operations from New York.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well-researched book of a specific time, place and circumstances of the Cuban people.
A must for any Cuban history buff.

[Cristie Underwood]

This book was extremely interesting, as I didn't know much about the time period where Cubans came into New York and made it the largest Latin American community at the time. This book was filled with a lot of obscure information and was an interesting read!

[Yunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of Cuban New York is dominated by José Martí. The mission of the author, Lisandro Pérez, was to tell the history of Cuban New York without having José Martí dominate the narrative. For the people dominated by the one narrative of José Martí, they will find this book full of stories of other important Cubans that walked the streets of Manhattan that were important in the narrative of Cuban New York.