Overview
La Saguesera is home to many Cuban and other immigrant communities in Southwestern Miami. To many Cubans, this neighborhood has a rich history and has significantly influenced the economy, politics, and demographics of both the Cuban community and other immigrant groups in Miami. The name "Saguesera" reflects its large Hispanic population, as it is a Spanglish adaptation of the word "Southwest". This Spanish-English word was created by Cubans in Miami, who struggled to pronounce "Southwest" and instead pronounced it "sagues". Geographically, La Saguesera covers the southwest area of Miami, with the southern boundary is S.W. 8th Street, the northern boundary is Flagler Street, the western boundary is S.W. 27th Avenue, and the eastern boundary is S.W. 4th Avenue. Cubans make up the primary population of this area, and it is abundant with Cuban culture, food, and business.
The neighborhood "La Saguesera" is often associated with the famous Calle Ocho (8th Street) and its surroundings, as well as Little Havana. However, many Cubans in Miami recognize the Saguesera for its historical significance, rooted in the immigrant experience and the development of Miami's Latin neighborhoods, as one of the city's original Cuban communities.
Historical background
"La Saguesera" traces its origins to the large influx of Cuban immigrants to Miami in the 1960s following the Cuban Revolution. In the early years, Cuban immigrants settled in Miami's southwest region due to affordable rents and easy access to public transportation, making it an ideal location for establishing a community.
Freedom Flights (1965-1973)
From the 1960s into the early 1970s, thousands of Cubans arrived in Miami, particularly during the Freedom Flights, which brought approximately 270,000 more immigrants from Cuba to Miami. This period marked a rare moment of cooperation between the United States and Cuba, during which both countries agreed that the U.S. would finance flights for Cubans with relatives in the U.S. to reunite with their families. These flights operated twice daily, five days a week. As Cuban immigrants arrived and adapted to their new country, "La Saguesera" simultaneously became their new home and a self-sustaining community, with businesses and community organizations playing a central role. .
Mariel Boatlift (1980)
The neighborhood also witnessed the emergence of new immigrants after the arrival of the "Mariel Boatlift" in 1980. As many as 125,00 Marielitos arrived in Florida and settled in La Saguesera. However, the arrival of Cuban immigrants from the Mariel Boatlift was not embraced as quickly as those who entered the country on the Freedom Flights. Many of the established Cuban residents looked down on the newcomers due to their lower socioeconomic class and their reputation as criminals. As a result, the Marielitos struggled to thrive economically compared to those who had arrived before them. After the Marielitos arrived in the country, immigration from Cuba slowed. Eventually, the United States and Cuba entered an agreement allowing 20,000 Cubans to be allowed into the United States each year, with priority given to Asylum seekers.
Business in La Saguesera
In the early years following the Cuban Revolution, Cuban immigrants sought affordable housing and employment opportunities in southwest Miami, particularly along West Flagler Street. This area became known as "La Saguesera" and became the hub of Cuban commercial life, where Cuban-owned businesses operating in neighborhood. Many of these businesses were small, family-run establishments, such as cafeterias offering freshly brewed Cuban coffee and tasty Cuban food, fruit and vegetable markets, barbershops, butchers, ice cream shops, music stores, and bakeries. The area was filled with activity, and rang with the sounds of Latin music, and dancing, and impassioned debates ranging from sports to politics. Cuban culture was abundant in La Saguesera, where Cuban immigrants showcased their musical talents through songwriting.
One song in particular, titled "Flagler Street" by Gustavo Perez, accepted "La Saguesera" as a replacement for the Old streets of Havana, Cuba, even as he continued to yearn for his homeland. The stream of incoming Cuban immigrants in the 1960s and early 1970s also led to the establishment of community support structures, such as the Centro Hispano Católico and the Cuban Refugee Center, which provided vital assistance, including food and job placement. These institutions helped facilitate the community's growth and success, as Cubans worked diligently to establish businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations. By 1970, the majority of Cuban immigrants in La Saguesera still held unskilled labor jobs, with 14.1% working as technical managers and professionals, 23.8% in sales or clerical positions, 43.8% in unskilled labor positions, and only 3.57% in skilled labor fields.
Although many Cubans worked in unskilled labor, the economy in the 1970s in La Saguesera was extremely successful by the mid-1970s. La Saguesera also housed iconic shops such as Firestone (which sold household appliances including televisions and record players), La Tijera (a place where locals could catch up on news while they bought scissors, thread and home appliances), and an ice cream shop called San Bernardo.
The Rise of Cubans
Cuban businesses became so successful that Cuban entrepreneurs began to be seen as the "model minority" due to their rapid ascent in Miami's economy and their significant contributions to the American market. Cubans in the United States contributed to the economy not only through their local businesses but also by filling job positions for which there were not enough qualified Americans. After they immigrated to the United States, 2,500 Cubans worked as teachers, 2,000 as physicians, and many others as engineers, architects, and scientists. These contributions improved the public perception of Cuban exiles by U.S. citizens and leaders. "The Cuban exiles have not hurt the country; actually, they have bettered it." – Former Vice President H.
Humphrey As Cuban communities in South Western Florida proceeded to expand their businesses and seek further education, they began to mirror Cuban communities throughout the country. So much so that many began to leave the affordable real estate of La Saguesera in search of a higher standard of living. Many Cubans expanded into more middle-class neighborhoods, as successful professionals began to settle in areas such as Coral Gables, Westchester, and Hialeah.
Politics and representation
During the 1960s-70s, Cuban exiles in the U.S. shifted from focusing on the politics of their homeland to becoming more involved in the American political system. This shift is evidenced by the growing number of Cuban exiles becoming U.S. citizens (at a rate of about 1,000 per month), and 80% of these new citizens registering to vote. Cuban-American political representation also gained traction, as exemplified by Manolo Reboso, who won a seat on the city commission and became the first Cuban elected official in Miami-Dade County. The Cuban-American community, especially in Miami, became more politically engaged, with one-third of Miami-Dade County's population being of Cuban descent. This demographic was a key political force, as was demonstrated by the Republican nomination contest between two Cuban-American candidates.
Although Miguel Carricarte lost to veteran Congressman Claude Pepper in the general election, the increasing number of eligible Cuban-American voters demonstrated the community's growing political influence. Cuban Americans have demonstrated their political influence over the years, with many seeking political power since Reboso's win in the 1970s. Since then, Miami-Dade County has had many Cuban American political leaders such as Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carlos Curbelo, David Rivera, and Marco Rubio.
Demographic evolution
From the 1970s to the 2000s, the Cuban population in Miami experienced a significant shift in both concentration and distribution. In 1970, La Saguesera was a prominent Cuban immigrant neighborhood, with Cubans making up 65% of the population and 86% of Spanish speakers. Overall, while the total Cuban population grew, their percentage within the neighborhood steadily decreased, indicating a demographic shift and the growth of other Hispanic groups. As Cubans began to leave La Saguesera and migrate to other areas of Florida, new immigrants made the neighborhood their home, and its cultural demographics began to change. New immigrants from countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Central America arrived in La Saguesera. While wealthier Latin Americans moved to more prosperous neighborhoods, many of the new arrivals in the area were working-class individuals seeking better opportunities.
One of the prominent new groups of inhabitants in the area was Nicaraguan immigrants who were escaping the Sandinista regime during the 1970s and 80s. At the end of the 1980s, 68,000 Nicaraguan immigrants had moved into Miami-Dade County. These new immigrants often worked low-wage jobs and faced economic challenges like past Cuban immigrants. As this new immigrant demographic arrived, the economy of La Saguesera closely mirrored that of the early stages of Cuban immigration to Florida. However, like previous Cuban immigrants, the incoming immigrants worked hard to improve their lives, marking a new phase for La Saguesera.
La Saguesera today
As of 2022, the area continues to evolve. Since the initial arrival of Cuban immigrants, the neighborhood has seen an increase in immigrant groups from other Latin American countries, such as Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador Despite the changes La Saguesera has experienced over the years, the location continues to offer cheap rent and ample job opportunities for those seeking to build a new life in the area.