The Jungle, Wifredo Lam (1902-1982), from MoMA’s permanent collection
The Cuban Cultural Center of New York is proud to celebrate its V Congreso Anual, this year dedicated to the Chinese presence in Cuba, the first conference of its kind ever held in New York City. In order to due justice to the many contributions of Chinese Cubans to the Island, the CCCNY has planned an entire day of activities to study and pay tribute to the historical, sociological and cultural legacy of this important ethnic group in Cuba.
TAIPEI ECONOMIC & CULTURAL OFFICE
1 East 42nd Street, NYC
For reservations, write to: cccofny@aol.com
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:
In 1847, poor Cantonese laborers arrived in Cuba, hoping to make money to support their families. Those who survived the arduous journey found themselves in a system of indentured service. Their contract was for 8 years, at a wage of 4 pesos a month, making what was by Chinese standards a small fortune for those who returned. But most never did.
Once in the island, the Chinese adapted to Cuban life, even fighting against Spain in the three wars of independence in the 19th century. Many married Cubans and started families in their adopted land. As they stayed, their traditions became established on Cuban soil.
In the years following the founding of the Republic in 1902, the Chinese presence in Cuba swelled with the immigration of middle-class merchants from San Francisco’s Chinatown, and the Chinese Cubans built in Havana what was once the largest and most prosperous Chinatown in all of Latin America.
Although the majority of Chinese Cubans left for the United States after the Revolution of 1959, opening up restaurants and businesses alongside other Cubans in exile, the dragon dance is still held every year in Cuba and fraternal organizations still exist.
The congress will bring to light the important role the Chinese Cubans have played in the historical development of the island and the many ways in which they are an intrinsic part of the cultural legacy of Cuba.
PROGRAM
A.M
8:30 Inscripción / Desayuno continental
9:00 Bienvenida Iraida Iturralde (Centro Cultural Cubano de Nueva York)
9:10
Dedicatoria a Wifredo Lam, In Memoriam
Alejandro Anreus (William Paterson Univerisy) y Miguel Loredo, OFM
Con la proyección de Pintores cubanos: A home movie, cortometraje histórico sobre Wifredo Lam, dirigido por José Gómez Sicre en 1953, con cinematorgrafía de Nestor Almendros.
10:00
Conferencia magistral de apertura
La presencia china en Cuba
Pío Serrano (Editorial Verbum, Madrid)
10:30 Historia, impacto y legado de los chinos en Cuba
Relaciones raciales: chinos y negros en la Cuba del siglo XIX
Evelyn Hu-DeHart (Brown University)
Alianza, separación e identidad china en Cuba: Tres vidas
Kathleen López (University of Michigan)
Restaurantes chinocubanos: Recreando a Cuba en el exilio
Lok Sui (New York University)
La ruta china de Severo Sarduy
Roberto González-Echevarría (Yale University)
Moderadora: Perla Rozencvaig (Columbia University)
P.M. 12:15 – 1:50 Almuerzo
2:00 Documental
3:00 Memoria, identidad y reconciliación: Testimonios personales
Mi abuelo chino
Tania León (Compositora y profesora, Brooklyn College)
Chinita tú, chinito yo
William Luis (Vanderbilt University)
Identidad y reencuentro
María Lau (Artista)
China y cubana, con mucho orgullo
Hilda Lee (Cantante)
La colonia china en Cuba: nacimiento y decadencia
Alfredo Pong (Arquitecto y caricaturista)
Moderador: Rolando Alum (Antropólogo)
5:00
Exposición de arte
(Coauspiciado por CubaArt NY y Reynardus & Moya Advertising)
Artista invitada: María Lau
Merienda Pasteles, refrescos y café / Venta de libros y CD’s
6:00
Conferencia magistral de clausura
La eternidad de un instante
Zoe Valdés (Escritora)
6:45 Recital
Pincelada china, starring Hilda Lee
Emilio Cueto, piano
7:30 Recepción Buffet y vino