Uncommon Knowledge From Havana to Yale: Carlos Eire on Cuba, Becoming an American—and Miracles | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge
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Sep 29, 2025 
Carlos Eire, a Yale historian and National Book Award-winning author, shares his incredible journey from an 11-year-old Cuban refugee to a prominent academic. He discusses his painful separation from family, his cultural struggles in America, and the reasons his books are banned in Cuba. Eire also explores themes from his latest work, They Flew, diving into historical reports of levitation and miraculous events while challenging prevalent materialist views in academia. His insights into Cuban history, the complexities of American identity, and advice for young Hispanics are captivating.
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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 expected a short separation but never saw his father again and could not return after being declared an enemy of the state.
The Carlos vs. Charles Identity Split
- Eire describes a lifelong split between becoming "Charles" (American) and remaining "Carlos" (Cuban).
- He deliberately buried his Cuban past as a teenager but later reawakened that identity at Yale and with aging family ties.
Miracle Testimonies As Historical Evidence
- Eire argues 16th–17th century miracle testimonies are credible historical evidence because they were sworn under oath in formal canonization inquests.
- He contends historians dismiss such records due to modern biases, not lack of testimony quality.
