Afro Cubans the Bulk of the Cuban

Afro Cubans

The bulk of the Cuban community in exile in Miami focuses on its white contingency. Afro-Cubans have a second-class status there, and their patterns of migration have been much different than they have for white Cuban refugees and immigrants. As Newby & Dowling (2007) note, recent Afro-Cuban immigrants have settled in various other places in the United States including the Southwest, where there are already entrenched Chicano communities and African-American communities. Afro-Cubans do not fit into the Chicano communities, the communities with other white Latinos, or the African-American communities. Language presents one of the most significant cultural barriers and identity markers distinguishing the AfroCubans from the African-Americans. Although they share some common ethnic heritage and ancestral experiences of racism, slavery, and political oppression, centuries have passed since their cultures demonstrated divergent trajectories. With regards to white Latinos in the Southwest such as Austin and Albuquerque, race raises serious concerns about identity construction. The experiences of AfroCubans indicates that racism is prevalent, and that AfroCubans have to maintain a unique identity construction, while contending with their being visibly "black" but linguistically "Hispanic."

The AfroCubans that end up settling in New York City have a similar experience with identity construction. However, the greater population and diversity of New York City may make it easier to assimilate into broader communities. Depending also on the extent of language barriers, AfroCubans can choose to associate with communities of origin outside of America, or can choose to associate with African-Americans because of common racial identity. The Newby & Dowling (2007) study highlights the points of divergence between self-perception and the perception of others, including stereotypes and labeling. AfroCubans are AfroCuban: with their own set of ancestral experiences of racism and subjugation, but within the framework of a Spanish language and Cuban cultural identity.

Reference

Newby, C.A. & Dowling, J.A. (2007). Black and Hispanic: The racial identification of Afro-Cuban immigrants in the Southwest. Sociological Perspectives 50(3), 2007, 343-366. doi: 10.1525/sop.2007.50.3.343

2) Do research on heroin and it's effect on human body

Opioids are commonly used in healthcare and have a long tradition of use throughout the world. Heroin is an opioid used recreationally, and causes a wide range of potentially problematic effects including addiction. Unlike pure opium, heroin is extracted from morphine, which is one of the components of the opium poppy plant. The plant originates in Asia, and has a long history of use as a pain killer and recreational drug (National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010). A central nervous system depressant, heroin causes a drop in blood pressure and a slowing down of the heart rate ("Effects of Heroin Use," n.d.). The central nervous system depressive effects also include reduced rates of breathing. Because of these CNS effects, long-term use can lead to severe impairment of heart or lung functioning. A lowered immune system response is also a problematic effect of heroin use and abuse; the lowered immune system response in turn makes the individual user more prone to illness and disease. Heroin users may also be more prone to liver disease and pneumonia ("Effects of Heroin Use," n.d.). When heroin is injected into the body with needles, added risks are incurred including collapsed veins and the potential of contracting infectious diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV / AIDS ("Effects of Heroin Use," n.d.).