Update Working Americans book series And More Food

This is just a short update for the book, Working Americans, by Grey House Publishing that I talked about in my last blog.  Fortunately, I was able to locate it online through the university library catalog.  Here are just a few excerpts from the section on Cuban cigar workers to give you an idea of the kinds of information in it.

In 1912, they did a family profile of the Cuban Rodenas family of four:  


"The father of the Rodenas family...works as a hand cigar maker, making $.45 per hour working about 46 hours weekly; the average worker receives $.29 per hour.  Since cigar makers are paid on a piece rate, the man makes more than 1,000 cigars each week.  The woman works as a bander, making $.18 per hour,...the average wage for that type of work....cigar workers through the country set their own hours and protect that privilege vociferously."  

"...family lives in a one-story house which is very close to its neighbors...windows are left open...conversations between neighbors take place from window to window..."  


"Parades, picnics, and festivals are important to the energy and social action of the society and take place often.  Seventh Avenue is a social magnet for the family, who promenade down the street on a Saturday night where everyone speaks and visits.


"Church attendance among Cuban cigar makers is poor, and donations to the Catholic Church are low, even while large social clubs are being constructed.   


"The social life of the family is centered around the El Centro Asturiano....The club includes more than 5,000 books, a staircase of Mexican onyx, a dance hall with a marble floor and magnificent chandeliers.  It boasts approximately 3,000 members...also includes a bowling alley and gymnasium for members...This club, like most Latin clubs, protects and promotes the idea of the supreme Latin male; women's auxiliaries exist to serve the male members.  


"Yellow fever is a constant threat to the family, along with typhoid, dengue fever, malaria, and tuberculosis..


"82 percent of Cuban males work in the cigar industry compared with 45 percent of the Italians and 78 percent of the Spanish men.


"Cigar workers, many whom are unable to read and write, are able to quote Shakespeare, Voltaire, Zola, and Dumas...become educated thanks to the traditions of lectors...or readers...hired to entertain the cigar roller.  They are paid by the cigar workers...they are usually seated in a chair elevated above the cigar roller tables so their voices can be easily heard...begin the day by reading excerpts from a local newspaper and a newspaper from Spain or Cuba, followed by a reading from a novel or the works of a political philosopher.


"West Tampa sections, where the Rodenas family lives, boasts 10 cigar factories, a $20,000 opera house, and streetcar service. 'West Tampa is just like the wild west, a frontier town.  There are cock fights, boxing matches, horses tied to hitching posts in front of cantinas.'"  


I think you can see how valuable this information could be in understanding the lives of your ancestors.  Numerous pictures were included in the article.

Here's a link to an article that talks about Cuban foods.
http://dailyme.com/story/2010012600004866/miami-spice-authentic-tastes-super-bowl.html

Among the foods mentioned that are typical to Cubans in Ybor City are:  black beans, Cuban-style yellow rice, shredded beef ropa vieja (Cuban staple with roots in the Canary Islands), plantain, cafe con leche, avocado, and of course the Cuban sandwich, which originated in Tampa.

Last blog I talked about making a good Cuban sandwich which could only be done with authentic Cuban bread.  The above article stayed  that  "La Segunda Central Bakery at 2512 N. 15th St. in Ybor City. It's the source for many a grocery and restaurant in Tampa."   The bread is also good by itself with butter.  I am getting so hungry for Cuban food.   So if you visit Tampa, you can at least know where to get it fresh.  Cuban bread gets hard fast, so it's best eaten the same day.