Interviewer: Juan Izquierdo
Interviewee: Magdaleno Izquierdo
Date: October 20, 2000
Relationship: Father
 

A man escapes slavery and heads for the land of the free

What is your full name?

Magdaleno Izquierdo

What is your nationality?

Cuban

What is your date of birth?

July 22, 1945

Where were you born?

Havana, Cuba

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

May of 1980.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

I left my country because of political reasons. The politics in my country didn't allow you to express your own beliefs or ways of thinking.

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

I disliked the political system, because I'm my own person and therefore I should have a right to decide how I choose to live my life and my country Cuba's dictator (Fidel Castro) wouldn't allow that. As a result of this situation I got involved in the political fight against what I didn't agree with. I liked my country's beauty.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

I had a family that were my friends living in the U.S.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here? How would you change that?

My transportation to the U.S. was in a boat, the boat was more or less 27 feet long with around 35 people to a boat. The trip took more or less 14 hours. The captain on the ship gave each person 1 sandwich and a soda.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

Relatives to my friends helped me find a place in Philly. They gave me a place to stay, food and within a week they also helped me get a job.

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?

I traveled from Cuba in the Muriel float that was the exodus of Cubans in 1980. I traveled with around 34 other Cubans that were all strangers to me.

Give 1 thing you remember most about your home town and why?

I remember my neighbors most of all because they were all friends to me. We were like an extended family that shared in joys and sorrows.

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

I went from slavery to freedom and the differences were, working in exchange for nothing to being able to work for self gratification. I felt it was slavery because no matter how much I worked, the government decided who would get what and it had nothing to do with how much we worked.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I was expecting to be treated like a human being which is what happened.

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

I came to accomplish my goals of life which were to be, to be able to make decisions about my own life and those closest to me. I also like the fact that I work to accomplish my goals towards being my own person and not someone's puppet ( not being able to express myself freely ).

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

The differences between when I arrived and now are that when I came I had dreams ( being able to be free and to think for myself ) and now those dreams are a reality to me. I can be my own person without the threat of being punished for thinking differently than the dictator ( Fidel Castro ) of my country ( Cuba ).

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

I left my mother which was extremely difficult to turn away from, due to the fact that I loved her very much and I knew I would miss her.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

The problems I came across was the language barrier. The fact that I didn't know English was a language barrier. When I came to this country I only spoke Spanish (main language) and French and Italian (second and third languages).

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

I got here with $20. A friend gave me the money. This friend was a political prisoner companion of mine that had my same beliefs. (Being free).

How did you adapt to your new environment?

I was able to go with the flow of everyday life and that was my way of adapting, for example, Cuba only has 1 climate ( hot ) and here we have several. People in Cuba are told how to dress and here we are free to choose our clothes.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

It was worth my freedom because every human being deserves a right to have dreams and goals to be able to accomplished.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Before I came here I was able to learn how to read and write 3 languages ( Spanish, French, and Italian ) and while being here I have learned to speak English, read it and somewhat write it. I have also received my G.E.D.

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not?

No, I don't regret moving because now I am free to do and think as I please. I don't have a dictator making my life decisions for me.

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

No, I don't think I would ever return. I don't have the desire to go back to a country where I have to be restricted.

Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?

My first job here was in construction and I liked it. The reason that I liked it was because it made a difference between not having anything to eat ( like in Cuba ) or being able to eat and afford what ever I desired to eat at the moment.

Is there anything you would like to add?

No, there is nothing else I desire saying. I think I have said more than enough.