Brenda Quesada

"After I arrived in America (Miami, Florida), I remember being up late at night as my parents discussed our immigration status. I turned on the television and "I Love Lucy" was playing. The first time I saw myself in television was in the form of Lucy's husband, Ricky Ricardo (played by Desi Arnaz), who was a Cuban singer and the leader of his band. Seeing a Cuban character, played by a Cuban actor, on television in America surprised me very much. I was used to watching Spanish cartoons back in Cuba, and I hadn't really seen "myself" in anything. Coming to America, I expected to only see white people and their struggles. I never really knew the impact of Desi Arnaz on television until much later in my life. 

Ricky Ricardo had a lively personality, cared deeply about his wife, and loved his Cuban heritage. Hearing him talk so fondly about Cuba, his love for both his parents (as well as arroz con pollo) and slipping into Spanish during heated moments, made me proud to be Cuban. Seeing his struggles as an immigrant trying to “make it” in America and live the American dream gave me hope as an immigrant that one day, I could be like Ricky Ricardo. I could contribute just as much as he did to making this new country my home by embracing my Cuban roots and using them to make my experiences in America richer. I could live out my own version of the 'American dream'."