Celia Cruz: Black History Month and Recognizing Notable Black Immigrants and Refugees

In honor of Black History Month, we will recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of influential black immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape the vibrant tapestry of America. Today, we spotlight Cuban American and Grammy Award-winning singer, Celia Cruz.

Known as “The Queen of Salsa,” Cruz’s globally acclaimed career spanned from the 1940s into the 2000s. She played a major role in creating and establishing salsa music in mainstream culture.

Celia Cruz, born in Havana in 1925, showed musical talent early, winning a local radio contest in her 20s. She briefly studied education before enrolling in Cuba’s National Music Conservatory in 1947. Her early career spanned genres from rumba to guaracha, sowing the seeds of innovation. In 1950, she became the lead singer and found international success with the band La Sonora Matancera. The group’s gold record opened doors in the U.S.

In the early 1960s, the group signed with Tico Records and began collaborating with other Latin artists. Drawing from many genres, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, they helped create what is now known as salsa music.

Soon, Political tensions, fueled by the Cold War and Cuban Revolution, made Cuba unstable, affecting Cruz’s career and life. Fidel Castro’s regime imposed strict censorship in the arts, requiring all musicians to co-opt and endorse him. After a trip to Mexico, the group was banned from returning. Though considered a political exile, Cruz remained steadfast in creating music for everyone.

In 1965, Cruz forged a solo career, debuting the catchphrase “AZUCAR,” meaning “sugar,” to express moments of joy. The phrase also underscored Cuba’s economic history of exploitation of black Cuban workers in the sugar industry.

Despite Celia’s raw talent and charisma, she faced discrimination as a dark-skinned Afro-Cuban woman throughout her career, though her authenticity never wavered. Her music represented the many intersections of her Identity. Considered a luminary, she was a rare female performer in the Salsa genre, with deep tones typically reserved for male artists. One of her hit songs, titled “Quimbara,” reflected her roots.

A trailblazer in both music and culture, Cruz embodied her Afro-Cuban femininity through fashion. She performed in outfits that paired traditional Cuban dresses with popular styles, inspired by Black American culture and Africa.

In 1997, Celia became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 2002, she launched the Celia Cruz Foundation to offer scholarships to Latino student musicians and to fund cancer research and advocacy. Through her 23 gold albums, Cruz took home three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Celia Cruz passed away in 2003 in her home in New Jersey. In 2016, she was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.