Golden exile

The emigration of Cubans, from the 1959 Cuban Revolution to October of 1962, has been dubbed the golden exile and the first emigration wave in the greater post-revolution exodus. The 1959-1962 exodus was referred to as the "Golden exile" because of the mainly upper and middle class character of the emigrants. After the success of the revolution various Cubans who had allied themselves or worked with the overthrown Batista regime fled the country. Later as the Fidel Castro government began nationalizing industries many Cuban professionals would flee the island. This period of the Cuban exile is also referred to as the historical exile, mainly by those who emigrated during this period.