The Republic of Cuba is a multiracial society with people of primarily Spanish and African origins. Mistrust of government has reinforced a strong personalistic tradition and sense of national identity evolving from family and interpersonal relationships. The desire for personal freedom, hope of refuge, political exile, and promise of economic opportunities prompted migration to the United States from the 1960s to today. Cubans in the United States take extraordinary pride in their heritage, possess a strong ethnic identity, speak Spanish, and adhere to traditional Cuban values and practices.
