While many have taken to the streets to fight back against Trump’s dangerous rhetoric and political moves, some Black folks are left wondering: Is this our fight? The question rings specifically true for those living in Miami. The relationship between Cubans and Black people in South Florida has been underscored by political schisms and shifting populations for decades. As a result of the “Cuban Adjustment Act, which granted Cubans preferential immigration status,” Black residents in Miami have experienced anti-blackness, political strife, lack of equitable access to funding and grants, and dwindling jobs.
In a recent episode of the Youtube show, Funky Dineva Live, host Quentim Latham who also goes by the stage name Funky Dineva (pop culture commentator and Carol City native) connected the hesitance many Black people have to join in on the fight, to the “F**k Around and Find Out” movement. Cubans are 1% of the population, but 58% of them voted for Trump in the most recent election, and 68% of South Florida Cubans showed support for Donald Trump in a 2024 poll, according to a poll conducted by FIU. Trump’s stance on immigration, human rights, education, and equity was crystal clear—however, Cubans did not think they would be impacted by Trump’s wrath.
Many people have experienced an immense amount of anti-Blackness from Cubans in Miami. Funky Dineva goes as far to say that Cubans wouldn’t spit on Black people “if they were on fire” calling into question the current call for Black and Brown unity in their moment of crisis with Dineva noting that he hasn’t “seen this many calls to unite until [Cubans] were in need.” The desperation for a Black presence during political movements shows our political power when fighting for equity and in South Florida, that often includes fighting against Cubans politically to which Funky Dineva says “it is also satisfying for me to watch people who have shat on people that look like me and my people for a long time, to watch them catch hell…by siding with the oppressor, if i’m being honest, it’s giving me an immense amount of satisfaction.”
This sentiment hasn’t only been spoken about within the Black community—Cubans are speaking up too. Angelina Castro, a popular podcast host and former adult film star who grew up in Miami, praised Black Americans for refraining from protesting on behalf of Cubans. “Cubans specifically…talk sh*t about African-Americans” she said.
“Cubans do not support African-Americans…[they think African-Americans] victimize themselves,” which is a common stereotype cast on Black Americans specifically in an effort to delegitimize our strife in America.
In accordance with his campaign promise, Donald Trump has escalated apprehensions of immigrants to have the largest mass deportation effort in the history of the United States. Under the Biden Administration Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans were able to apply to a humanitarian parole program. Around 532,000 people were granted two-year visas to live and work in the U.S. with a required financial sponsor. On Thursday, June 12th, the Trump administration revoked their visas and ordered all program recipients to leave the United States effective immediately. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as I.C.E., are removing children, community members, and elders swiftly and unjustly across the nation in accordance with this decision.
As raids escalate and spread through the country, it seems as if the time for unity has passed. Many people feel burned by the 2024 Presidential election, and specifically, many in the Black community felt disappointed in other ethnic and racial groups for not showing up as 92% of Black women and 80% of Black men did. Many feel similarly to Funky when he said: “when it’s all said and done…we’re going to be left out to dry again.”
The political divide in Miami between its Black and Cuban residents runs deep and has been a long standing issue for decades with no single clear solution. Even with emotions at an all time high, it is important to note that Afro-Cubans, Haitians, and anyone who is deemed a “deportable group” is subject to the actions of the Trump regime, and that impacts all of us.
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