Chinese in Cuba

Cuban Family Roots PODCAST

In this episode I discuss the Chinese migration to Cuba from 1850 when the Chinese arrived to toil in Cuba's Sugarcane fields to the second migration of 1870's when more than 40,000 Chinese arrived to the Island. In addition, I discuss the establishment of El Barrio Chino in La Habana and later the migration from California in the 1900's. My guest, Steven Owyang, a Chinese American with family in Cuba, also provides information on why the Chinese came to Cuba and most importantly, he discusses how Chinese Cubans and Cuban of Chinese heritage can begin to research their ancestors back to China. Owyang has been a volunteer, leader, and lecturer for Friends of Roots (FOR), a non-profit all volunteer organization that helps Chinese Americans research their genealogy and family history, learn about Chinese history and culture, and visit their ancestral villages in China. More recently, FOR has taken groups to visit the Chinese communities in Cuba in March 2020.