“Outta the Ballpark”: Impact of the 60s Cuban Influx

The experience of growing up on Miami Beach differed depending on an individual’s experience in school. Mitch Kaplan, owner of Books and Books, grew up on the Beach in the 1960s. For him, the influx of Cubans fleeing Casto changed the dynamic of his school years in unique ways. In the background is a mid-century postcard photo of Central Beach Elementary School.

This excerpt is from an interview shot in July 2012 as part of the Miami Beach Visual Memoirs Project.