Uncommon Knowledge From Havana to Yale: Carlos Eire on Cuba, Becoming an American—and Miracles | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge
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Oct 2, 2025 
Carlos Eire, a Yale historian and National Book Award winner, shares his gripping journey from Cuba to America. He reflects on the heart-wrenching separation from his family during Operation Peter Pan and the struggle of balancing his Cuban heritage with his life in the U.S. Eire discusses his recent book on miraculous testimonies and how cultural beliefs shape perceptions of the extraordinary. He critiques Cuba's decline under the Castro regime and contemplates the open-mindedness towards mystery in Hispanic cultures versus skepticism in Anglo societies.
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Childhood Exodus In Operation Peter Pan
- Carlos Eire recounts being sent to the U.S. at age 11 under Operation Peter Pan to escape Castro's Cuba.
- He lived in foster homes, feared permanent separation, and didn't see his father again.
Adopting 'Charles' To Assimilate
- Eire describes choosing the name Charles to fit into American foster families and burying his Cuban past.
- Reuniting with his mother and immigrant peers later pulled him back toward his Carlos identity.
University Reawakens Buried Identity
- Returning to Yale and meeting Cuban colleagues reawakened Eire's suppressed Cuban identity.
- Language and aging family ties acted as triggers for reclaiming his past.
