Cameron Díaz and his Cuban roots for his twisting great -grandfather

The history of Cuban roots of Cameron Díaz is deeper than many imagine. Although she was born in San Diego, California, the actress has proudly declared that she comes from a Cuban family that emigrated to Tampa, Florida, at the beginning of the 20th century.

There, his great grandfather was part of a tradition that marked Cuban American culture: the artisanal elaboration of cigarettes.

From Cuba A Ybor City: The route of their ancestors

In an interview with Jack Rico, the actress explained that her father, Emilio Díaz, had Spanish ancestry that went through Cuba before settling in Tampa.

This family movement occurred during the Spanish -American war, when many Cubans emigrated to the city looking for new opportunities.

«Yes, my father was Cuban, Spanish via Cuba to Tampa, Florida, where my family arrived many generations ago, at the beginning of the 20th century, during the Latin American war. They went to Tampa and were cigarette twisting,» Cameron said.

Tampa, and especially the Ybor City neighborhood, was for years the main Cuban settlement in the United States, even before Miami.

There a working community flourished that brought its traditions, its language, its food and, above all, its trade: twisting tobacco.

Tobacco as a family legacy

What makes this story special is that Cuban roots of Cameron Díaz are not just an anecdote; They are a tangible legacy.

The actress commented that she still retains original tools used by her great -grandfather in the manufacture of cigarettes: «I have all cigarette presses of my great -grandfather, chopper and everything.»

This connection with their ancestors gives an emotional and cultural weight to its personal history, and directly links it to the identity of many Cuban Americans.

In Ybor City there are still tobacco factories, and some twisting keep this tradition alive. Cameron knows it: «They still have some cigarette factories there to this day, and some twisting continue to work there.»

Culture, language and sense of belonging

Despite not speaking Spanish fluently, Cameron says that it grew surrounded by Cuban culture: food, music, energy. His connection with the island is not based on words, but on experiences.

«I grew up with Cuban inheritance, Cuban culture, food, language. Although I do not speak Spanish, honestly, I can barely speak English, but you know, from there all that comes, ”he said with humor.

This statement shows how, even with the barriers of the language, Cuban roots of Cameron Díaz are still alive and present in their identity.

And, incidentally, highlights a reality that many second or third generation Cubans share in the United States: the pride of their origin, beyond the language.

A cultural bridge between generations

For Cubans living in the United States and have family on the island, stories such as Cameron Díaz are a powerful reminder of the value of the roots.

His example shows how it is possible to keep the legacy of the grandparents alive, although it is born away from Cuba. The tools of his great -grandfather are not only old objects, but symbols of struggle, work and pride.

Cuban roots of Cameron Díaz not only define it as a person, but also help to make visible an essential part of Cuban American history.