Offers a detailed picture of the lives of Cuban Americans through interviews with artists, writers, and philosophers. This fascinating volume contains interviews with nineteen prominent Cuban-American artists, writers, and philosophers who tell their stories and share what they consider important for understanding their work. Struggling with issues of Cuban-American identity in particular and social identity in general, they explore such questions as how they see themselves, how they have dealt with the diaspora and their memories, what they have done to find a proper place in their adopted country, and how their work has been influenced by the experience. Their answers reveal different perspectives on art, literature, and philosophy, and the different challenges encountered personally and professionally. The interviews are gathered into three groups: nine artists, six writers, and four philosophers. An introductory essay for each group is included, and the interviews are accompanied by brief biographical notes, along with samples of the work of those interviewed.

Table of Contents:
Preface Jorge J. E. Gracia The Cuban Diaspora: A Brief Chronology Part I. The Artists Lynette M. F. Bosch Identities Baruj Salinas A Sense of Place Humberto Calzada Art on Art Emilio Falero The Juggler María Brito If Quebec Were in the Tropics Mario Bencomo The Human Condition Arturo Rodríguez For the Children Demi A Search for Unity Juan Carlos Llera Landscapes of the Mind Alberto Rey The Artists' Work Flow Up Fuji-San Baruj Salinas Island in Crisis Humberto Calzada Across Emilio Falero Self-portrait as a Swan María Brito If Quebec Were in the Tropics II  Mario Bencomo Untitled Arturo Rodríguez  An Artist's First Painting Demi  Fear of Flight Juan Carlos Llera  Brown Trout—Hosmer Creek Alberto Rey Part II. The Writers Isabel Alvarez Borland Thinking in Images Carlos Eire What Sounds Good Also Rings True Gustavo Pérez Firmat A Baratan Experience Pablo Medina Writing Without Masks Virgil Suárez Escaping the Humors Roberto Fernández Crossing the Crest of Forgetting Ana Menéndez The Writers' Work Treinta y Cinco Carlos Eire Fire in May Tristeza de mamá Gustavo Pérez Firmat Driving Home Rites of Spring Russian Doll Mirage The Poet as an Old Man Pablo Medina  The Seed Collector The Trouble with Frogs Virgil Suárez Nellie Roberto Fernández Travelling Fools Ana Menéndez Part III. The Philosophers Jorge J. E. Gracia Cuban, Hispanic, and Latina? Ofelia Schutte The Search for Identity Outside Miami Jorge J. E. Gracia Cuban American or Latin American? Oscar Martí Universalism or Particularism? Ernesto Sosa The Philosophers' Work Identities in Tension Ofelia Schutte                                       Ethnic Identity Jorge J. E. Gracia Breaking with the Past                               Oscar Martí Philosophy, the History of Philosophy, and Science                                        Ernesto Sosa Bibliography About the Editors Index