Instructor
Luis Martínez-Fernández, Pegasus Professor of history and member of the

When is it offered?
Spring, summer and fall semesters

How many students are in a class?
About 35

Prerequisites
EUH 2000 and EUH 2001

From the Professor

How would you describe this course?
This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the historical trajectory of the Caribbean. The word multidisciplinary is key because even though it is a history course we read works from literature, anthropology and other fields.

For example, many people have a perception of the Caribbean as an island paradise, beaches and rum. So when I start the course I show students a video from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and it presents a perfect view of everything. Then I ask them to read A Small Place by Jamaica Kinkaid and they get a completely different view of Antigua, where the legacy of slavery and colonialism is still pretty much alive.

The course begins with the pre-Columbian era and ends with the present and it covers topics such as the Amerindian societies, European colonialism, the struggle for freedom and nationhood. More contemporary topics such as U.S. expansionism, dictatorships, revolution and challenges to socio-economic development are also discussed.

Why should students take this course?
I start this course talking about why the Caribbean matters. If you measure the areas of the various islands and continental components of the Caribbean it’s not enormous, but this is a [region] where so many first events happened that relate to modernity.

Slavery goes back to antiquity, but in the Caribbean, there was a new form of slavery that was closely related to race, particularly Africans. We also see the beginnings of modern colonialism. Some of the islands, Puerto Rico and maybe a couple more are still colonies. That’s where we find the development of the plantation system, things that were later repeated in the colonies of the U.S. South. So for being a relatively small area of the world it has played a significant role in what we call globalization, colonialism, the exchange of staple products and modern slavery.

This course is part of the Africana Studies program. How does African history and culture relate to what is taught in this course?
The Caribbean is not monolithic, but every island has been touched to some level by the experiences of slavery, resistance, and emancipation and we study common experiences, for example, the slave trade. I like to teach cultural history, so we see the impact of West African culture is still alive in the islands. Haiti is the biggest example of that kind of influence. Haiti can be seen as an African country that was chipped off the coast of Africa and moved to the Caribbean because it has a much stronger African influence. An island like Puerto Rico has that influence but to a smaller level.

What do you hope students learn?
I have three major objectives. The first, that students learn about the developments and the very rich history and cultures of the Caribbean. The second is to learn the historiography of the Caribbean. That means they don’t just learn what happened [through readings] but they also study the people who wrote about it and therefore understand [what they’ve read] is a particular individual’s point of view and they need to be critical of those sources. And the last one is they learn skills that they will use later in life, whether they pursue a career in history or not. For example, reflective reading, not just reading to get done with the reading but actually think in-depth about it, and the ability to put together ideas and arguments in written form.

What does the coursework entail?
There are several course readings and class discussions. Every student also needs to make an oral presentation on some subject related to the Caribbean. They also need to identify a primary document about the Caribbean and analyze it. There are two essay exams, I’m a strong believer in essay questions. Lastly, there is a final discussion paper that’s about 5-6 pages where students must select one writing from the course and they need to connect it and contrast it with another writing they find on their own. Over the years, students have come up with some very creative selections and sources, such as songs sung by slaves in Jamaica.

From the Student

Janine Galindo, public history master’s student

Why did you take this course?
I’ve always been into history, but specifically public history because I think that the main point of knowing history is to teach it to others. It’s really important for people in general to understand history, where we come from, where we are now and where we are going.

I want to become a museum curator and Caribbean history is one of my areas of interest. I’m interested on Caribbean history because my family is from Puerto Rico and I feel like the Caribbean is kind of marginalized. Many people [in the U.S.] don’t really know much about it even though it’s right there next to the U.S. They have a lot of strong ties historically, so I really wanted to know more.

What did you enjoy most about the course?
I liked the readings and learning about the many close ties between the United States and the Caribbean. They have a lot of shared history and it was really interesting to read more about that. But I really liked an assignment we had that required us to look at a painting, analyze its symbolism and elements, and write about it. We wrote about our feelings, contextualized the painting, and applied it to historical events and culture.

What was the most challenging aspect of the course?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in animation at another university in 2008. So getting used to being a student again — especially in 2020 — was my biggest challenge. Not only are things done differently now because of COVID, just getting use to digital learning and meeting on Zoom. It was a little difficult, but once I got the hang of it, it was fine.

What were some of the lessons you took away from this course?
There was a god named Ogun from the Yoruba culture in West Africa and he, like many other gods and goddesses from that region, were transferred over to the Caribbean and transformed in a way that slaves could still worship them under the guise of Catholicism. To this day there are celebrations, rituals and paintings in his honor.

The process these African gods underwent is called syncretism, which is the blending of certain characteristics of different cultures to create something new — in this case, Santeria and Voodoo.  It was interesting to see how African slaves living in the Caribbean had to be creative so they could hold onto certain aspects of their culture.

As someone whose family is from the Caribbean, having a country of origin that is a tiny island feels pretty insignificant compared to someone from France, Scotland or [other European countries]. Being in this class made me realize that not only is Caribbean culture very rich, but it does have an impact and significance to the world even to this day.

The group of Pegasus Professors crosses all disciplines from playwrights who captivate audiences, to scientists who explore the planets, to storytellers who keep history alive. They are selected by the president and provost, and are given a $5,000 award.

The men and women who are Pegasus Professors leave a lasting impact on students, their colleagues and our world. In a year where a global pandemic has changed how we live, �鶹ԭ�� faculty have been at the forefront of research to improve lives.

The 2021 Pegasus Professors are first-generation students, immigrants, groundbreaking researchers and embody what makes �鶹ԭ�� a great university that changes lives and livelihoods.

This year’s recipients are:

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Issa Batarseh might be an accomplished engineer but he has fought a bull in Spain, where he was kicked airborne. He says that may not have been his wisest decision, but coming to �鶹ԭ�� nearly 30 years ago was.

After earning a small grant to open a lab, Batarseh began his research to discover how to take forms of energy and make them usable. That small lab is now the Florida Power Electronics Center. Batarseh has created devices that allow us to use solar energy in our homes. His has created products that are cost-effective, safe and reliable, and he and his team have been called on by NASA to help fix power issues on the International Space Station.

Michael Georgiopolous, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, says Batarseh goes for his goals with determination until he reaches them.

“He has done things I never thought were possible, and yet he accomplishes them,” Georgiopolous says. “Because of this, he inspires people around him and makes them better.”

If there is one thing Batarseh loves more than his research, it’s his students. Many of them have gone on to lead companies and create products that Batarseh has helped influence. He says the young students inspire him with their bright attitudes and willingness to learn.

“Being a faculty member is the greatest thing in the world for me,” he says. “It is an opportunity to impact the lives of thousands of students.”

College of Medicine

Cristina Fernández-Valle left Cuba as an infant and moved to Miami with her sisters and parents to escape communism. Even though her father had been an attorney in Cuba, they had to rebuild their lives from the ground up in the United States. She remembers rolling newspapers with her mother for a paper route in the predawn hours. Her father put himself through law school again while working full time to support his family. The perseverance of her parents shaped her life.

“I had the example of hard work and that you can achieve anything,” Fernández-Valle says. “You can have everything taken from you, but you can never lose your education.”

She researches neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves and in the brain. It’s extremely painful and debilitating, and there is no cure. She is trying to find a therapy that can stop tumors from growing. Recently, a drug that she has been working on began a clinical trial —which is “like going to the Super Bowl,” she says.

“What she has done is given hope to people who have a chronic disease that is deforming and painful,” says Deborah German, dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for Health Affairs.

Fernández-Valle doesn’t take her work lightly and says lives depend on her and what she discovers in her lab. She mentors students and scientists and tries to create opportunities for everyone.

“I never stop learning,” she says. “I want to help our students become the best ‘them’ they can be. I open the doors to everyone I can. Having the opportunity to walk through an open door is the first step to building a successful career as a scientist.”

College of Arts and Humanities

Luis Martínez-Fernández fell in love with history from listening to stories told to him by his grandmother, an immigrant who left Spain at the age of 15.

“My life has had historical complications,” he says. “I was born in Cuba, we fled to Peru in exile but then had to leave again after a military coup, to Puerto Rico. So from an early age, I have seen the power of history.”

It was his professors at the University of Puerto Rico that kept him in academia. He says they were true role models, and he knew he would be a historian and pass on what he had learned to future generations. He says he loves the curiosity that students bring to the classroom.

Since coming to �鶹ԭ�� in 2004, he relaunched an academic program and has written two books. His work goes beyond the walls at �鶹ԭ��, working with teachers in K-12 schools to give underserved students more opportunities, and he serves on the College Board and the National Council for History Education.

“My perspective in academia has been marked by my background as an immigrant,” he says. “There is something we call immigrant’s work ethic and not taking anything for granted. We know we have to work hard to excel.”

College of Business

Marshall Schminke grew up in Iowa as one of six children. He is a proud first-generation college student, who also owned a bar at age 24. Paul Jarley, dean of the College of Business, says Schminke has had a life and a career of purpose and impact — and he is one of the sincerest people you’ll ever meet.

Schminke left school twice before picking his path of business ethics. He and his wife, Maureen Ambrose (also a Pegasus Professor), came to �鶹ԭ�� in 1999 to build the doctoral program in the College of Business.

“When you can influence doctoral students, you’re shaping their professional life for the rest of their career,” he says. “You make sure when they leave, they are good researchers, good professionals, good mentors and that they care about students.”

He says his role models are his parents, who both grew up on farms. In one generation they raised six children who now all hold at least a master’s degree. His parents stressed that education was an important track in life.

His field of business ethics is making sense of what is right and wrong, and continuing to enforce what is right in the workplace. Schminke says people sometimes lose sight of what is right when faced with difficult decisions. He’s worked in the private sector with Fortune 500 companies, but his real interest is working with students.

“A lot of success comes in life from tenacity,” he says. “Many people are smart but not eager to work towards something. If you want to accomplish something meaningful, put your head down and work.”

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Jeffrey Stout had an expectant feeling twice in his life: when he first discovered the field of kinesiology, and when he was introduced to his wife. In those instances, he knew what his career would be, and who his life partner would be.

Stout, a first-generation student, didn’t know what kinesiology was until he was an undergraduate and a professor told him about the field. It has now become his passion.

“It’s all-encompassing,” he says. “It includes sports medicine, physical fitness, nutrition, movement and it applies to any age. Men, women, elite athletes, children and even the elderly.”

Stout’s latest research has been to find ways through nutrition and exercise to improve the quality of life for older people who have lost muscle tone and movement. Stout says he also has a passion for teaching, and he has served in various leadership roles, including as interim dean.

“Being a first-generation student has made me more aware of the students who are like me,” he says. “I was probably a little behind other students who had parents who went to college. So I look for them and try to mentor them.”

Christopher Ingersoll, dean of the College of Health Professions and Sciences, says one word describes Stout: humble.

“Jeff is the most widely published, frequently cited scholar in our college, but very rarely talks about himself,” Ingersoll says. “He is more interested in holding people up and supporting them. He is a natural-born leader who leads from behind.”

For Stout, his advice for success is simple.

“Stay passionate and keep family first,” he says.

Creators Syndicate released his first few columns late Tuesday, which coincided with the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 15. The month runs through Oct. 15.

For the 60-year-old professor who specializes in Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies, the timing was just right. For years he has been contributing columns that have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Orlando Sentinel and Globe Post, but with the pandemic hitting last winter and the birth of his second grandchild, he said he felt moved to see if he could do more to contribute to the national dialogue.

“I hope to surprise people by not only sharing my distinct voice, but also infusing my historian’s perspective and my Cuban humor.”

Martínez-Fernández started to write and contribute columns more often, and late this summer Creators Syndicate, one of the largest such companies in the United States, offered him syndication, which means they are distributing his columns worldwide. The columns can also be found on the Creators Syndicate website. The company launched in 1987 and represents more than 250 writers and artists around the globe, including Pulitzer Prize, Reuben Award and Peabody Award recipients. The company boasts 44 million readers through 2,200 publications.

“I’m so happy about this opportunity,” Martínez-Fernández says from his home, where he is teaching remotely this semester. “There was just so much going on in the world when the pandemic started — still is, and I realized there weren’t many voices like mine represented in the media.”

Let’s clarify terminology here. Latino and Hispanic are interchangeable terms, Martinez Fernandez says. Latinx is a more recent term, but less than 5 percent of the Hispanics use it, he explains in an upcoming column.

More than 60 million Latinos who live in the United States impact everything from the fresh food supply for America’s supermarkets to presidential elections, he said. That’s why Martínez-Fernández was especially interested in helping give Latinos another voice in the national conversation. Despite Latinos making up 18 percent of the national population, only a few write nationally syndicated columns, Martínez-Fernández said. For example, Ruben Navarrette of The Washington Post Writers Group writes about politics. Esther J. Cepeda, perhaps one of the most well-known columnists among Latinos, stopped writing columns for the group in May.

“I feel that where I am in my career, it is my responsibility to help give a voice and that’s what I hope to do through my column,” he says.

Martínez-Fernández grew up in Lima, Peru, and Puerto Rico after his family fled Cuba in the 1960s. He has multiple degrees including a doctorate from Duke University. He has published several books, including Revolutionary Cuba and edited an award-winning encyclopedia of Cuba. He is recognized as one of the most prolific and influential scholars in the field of Caribbean studies, according to �鶹ԭ��’s College of Arts and Humanities. He joined �鶹ԭ�� in 2004 and teaches a variety of courses. Aside from serving on a several educational boards, he was a trustee of the College Board for several years and in 2019 he joined the board of directors of the National Council for History Education.

Martínez-Fernández says he will cover many topics in his columns, including politics, culture and education.

“I hope to surprise people by not only sharing my distinct voice, but also infusing my historian’s perspective and my Cuban humor,” he says. “I’m having a lot of fun writing them and I hope readers will enjoy them.”

�鶹ԭ�� honored 39 such faculty members during �鶹ԭ��’s second Authors Celebration on Feb. 5 at the Live Oak Ballroom. The , and co-sponsor the affair every two years. Interim Provost Michael D. Johnson also attended to cheer faculty on.

“As a kid, I used to jump on my bicycle and pedal to the library as fast as I could just so I could borrow books,” says Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for Research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies. “Books are incredible. They open up whole new worlds. It is no easy thing to publish a book. That’s why what you do is so cool and we wanted to recognize you.”

The celebration included a reading by one of this year’s honorees, Professor of writing and rhetoric Martha Catherine Brenckle. During her talk she spoke about the steps necessary to writing poetry and read excerpts from her book Hard Letters and Folded Wings.

She shared many of her poems, some that rhymed and some that did not, to weave a tapestry of colors and shapes that evoked emotions. Brenckle concluded with perhaps the most important lesson: “There is no one way or right way to write poetry. Commitment, lots of hard work and to get [started] writing is what is needed.”

About 80 people attended the event, including some previous honorees. They shared conversation and food while browsing tables that showcased some of the books written by the author honored.

The collection included works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and textbooks. They covered a variety of topics including: women’s contributions to journalism in the post-World War II era, invasive plants in Florida, spacecraft Cassinis’ voyage to Saturn, sports heroes, and marketing for tourism and hospitality, among others.

This year’s recognized authors are:

• Jonathan Beever,

• Steven Berman,

• Martha Catherine Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities

• Cheryl Briggs, College of Arts and Humanities

• Sarah Bush,

• Michael Callaghan, College of Sciences

• Ilenia Colon Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities

• Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences

• Sai Deng, John C. Hitt Library

• Tyler Fisher, College of Arts and Humanities

• David Fukuda,

• Alan Fyall,

• Martha Garcia, College of Arts and Humanities

• Edward Gonzalez-Tennant, College of Sciences

• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities

• Micah Dean Hicks, College of Arts and Humanities

• Nathan Holic, College of Arts and Humanities

• Aubrey Jewett, College of Sciences

• Anthony Pak-Hin Kong, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Richard Lapchick,

• Julia Listengarten, College of Arts and Humanities

• Humberto Lopez Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

• Luis Martinez-Fernandez, College of Arts and Humanities

• Rudy McDaniel, College of Arts and Humanities

• Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

• Beatriz Reyes-Foster, College of Sciences

• Kyle Riding,

• Fernando Rivera, College of Sciences

• John Solow, College of Business

• Nancy Stanlick, College of Arts and Humanities

• Michael Stawser, College of Sciences

• Stella Sung, College of Arts and Humanities

• Gunes Murat Tezcur, College of Sciences

• Kimberly Wilmot Voss, College of Sciences

• Linda Walters, College of Sciences

• Ross Wolf, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Melissa Worley, College of Medicine

• Margaret Ann Zaho, College of Arts and Humanities

• Richard Zraick, College of Health Professions and Sciences

“Revolutionary Cuba” examines the rebellion that started in 1952, the Soviet influence through the years, and the struggle to survive after the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s.

As publisher University Press of Florida says in its promotional materials, Martinez-Fernandez’ work is a “survey of the history and themes of the socialist revolution that forever changed Cuba and the world.”

The author said such a comprehensive history of the revolution is long overdue, and what makes his study different is its balanced approach of the subject that has been a hot potato.

“Academic studies of the revolution have been mostly praiseful of the revolution and have failed to denounce its shortcomings and failures,” he said. “What makes this study new, different and unique is its fair and honest approach. At the same time it recognizes the social accomplishments of the revolution during its early years and sheds light on its failure, particularly over the last 20 years years. Precisely for this reason, it will likely enrage extremists at both ends of the political spectrum.”

Martinez-Fernandez said there have been just a handful of scholars who have looked at the entire sweep of the revolution and the interconnectedness of various aspects of that history.

“The history of the revolution is an extraordinarily controversial and politicized field of study,” he said.

“The body of works on the revolution is also polarized, with one pole holding a romantic view of the revolution and its leaders; the other pole passionately critical of the revolution.”

The book also analyzes U.S. policy in the context of the past 55 years.

“Until U.S. policy makers realize that bullying will not work against Cuba and its people, a policy of mutual respect is necessary for any significant improvement,” he said.

Martinez-Fernanadez has been at �鶹ԭ�� since 2004 and teaches Cuban history. His research interests are Latin America, the Caribbean, Cuba and Puerto Rico, and Latinos in the United States. He also previously served as senior editor of Encyclopedia of Cuba: People, History, Culture.

This historical assessment is a remarkable achievement, said Jorge Duany, author of “Blurred Borders: “It is “the most comprehensive, synthetic, and systematic appraisal of the Cuban Revolution to date.”

“Revolutionary Cuba” can be ordered from University Press of Florida at , Amazon and other online vendors.

As part of the history center’s lecture series, he will discuss the factors that attract Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics here, including job opportunities, better schools and more affordable housing.

Martínez-Fernández, an expert on Hispanic/Latino history and culture, says that while the Puerto Ricans coming to the area have assimilated into the community, they have been able to hold onto their cultural traditions and establish organizations and institutions similar to those on the island .

The History Center lecture will be 7-8:30 p.m. at 65 E. Central Blvd. Admission is $5 for nonmembers of the history center. Snacks will be provided.

Martínez-Fernández also recently was interviewed on the relevance of the Hispanic vote in Florida for the PBS “Need to Know” program airing Oct. 19.

Another event by a �鶹ԭ�� historian will take place the following day. As part of �鶹ԭ��’s Department of History Authors Book Series coordinated by Martínez-Fernández,  Dr. Brendan Lindsay, an adjunct instructor, will present his new book, “Murder State: California’s Native American Genocide, 1846-1873.”

The free program will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room 401 of Colbourn Hall.