For nearly surmises half a ailey shows century, Cuban Americans have also largely defined themselves, socially and politically, in opposition to their enemy, Castro's regime. Preferring to see themselves as exiles rather than as immigrants, Cubans in the United States cling to a powerful exodus story -- full of loss, longing and redemptive possibilities -- that has given meaning to their hardships and inspired their impressive climb up the American social ladder. Last week, news of Castro's incapacity sparked speculation about what a post-Fidel Cuba would look like. But there's another pressing question: What will become of Cuban Americans if and when the island opens up?All cultural groups like to think of themselves as unique, but Cubans, and especially Cuban Americans, have a grand sense of exceptionalism. Their genesis tale in the United States is about exile, not immigration -- the "ideology," according to Lisandro Perez, sociologist at Florida International University, that "they were . . . driven out, impelled to leave by a government and by a political system. "This sense of uniqueness -- combined with hatred for Castro and the fact that Cuba is an acknowledged U. S. enemy -- has enabled Cuban Americans, who make up one half of 1% of the U. S.

population, to play an outsized and pivotal role in American politics and foreign policy. One only need consider the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act of 1966 . Until the law was amended in 1996, all Cuban migrants, no matter their documentation, were allowed to apply for permanent resident status after one year in the U . S ailey ballet . Since 1996, the "wet feet/dry feet" policy has prevailed: Undocumented migrants caught off the coast of Florida are sent back to Cuba; those who make it to U. S soil are still generally allowed to stay ailey boutique. Once admitted, they become eligible for federal refugee benefits Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre - alvinailey . Exceptionalism is strongest among the first generation of refugees who arrived after the revolution in 1959 ailey city center . Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre tickets They fought fiercely to remain culturally Cuban and made their longing to return to a liberated Cuba their calling card. They established a network of institutions to preserve their customs and traditions and to influence U Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre . S policy toward their homeland Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre - wikipedia . They gravitated toward the Republican Party largely because of the GOP's tougher stance toward Castro. Although U. S. -born Cuban Americans are not as politically focused on Cuba, the strident anti-Castro politics of the exile generation nonetheless defines the entire population to the rest of the United States.