Race, Gender, and Class in the Persistence of the Mariel Stigma Twenty Years after the Exodus from Cuba

It is appropriate to assess the 1980 Mariel Cuban migratory experience as we approach the 25 year-mark of these immigrant’s first arrival in the United States. Marielitos, as they are commonly known, have contributed greatly to the cultural and economic development of South Florida. Their contributions extend to the arts, literature, academic, and entrepreneurial domains. Yet, despite their many accomplishments, there is considerable research showing that during the period 1980-90, Marielitos experienced a different and more negative pattern of incorporation into U.S. society compared to earlier Cuban immigrants and post-Mariel Cubans admitted to the U.S. The evidence suggests that this experience was mediated by state policies in the United States and Cuba that contributed to higher levels of institutionalization and socio-economic marginality in the U.S. This paper assesses the extent to which the Marielitos’ experience is “different” twenty years after their arrival in the U.S.