Image Number

Rights

Collection

Geographic Term

Subject Term

Corporate Subject

Physical Description

General Note

Accompanying note: "Cigar-rolling is a traditional skill, learned in Cuba, that has enriched Miami's small industries. Rafael Martinez is perhaps typical of the many skilled craftsmen of 'Little Havana.'"

"'My name is Rafael Martinez. I was born in Havana, Cuba. My father was a cigar-roller in Cuba and I worked for La Carona Cigar Factory before I came from Cuba. I learned the art right there at the factory. The best cigars are made right now in Miami. Because we, the experts, the cigar rollers are here, and we have really tried very hard. My shop is very small. Some are very big and they are factories. But like mine, there are three or four in Miami.

In Cuba, the women stripped the leaves only. That was women's work and only women did that. My wife does this here. We sort the leaves by color and size. Then we have to wet it, it will be softer. A new cigar-roller has to sit down for many days with an expert and watch everything and learn how to pick each piece. That's the first thing you have to learn.'"