Through Each Other’s Eyes

About this episode

The episode explores the theme of family separation through the personal story of Ada Ferrer and her family's experiences during and after the Cuban revolution.

In the final episode this season, Peniley reflects on the throughline of the Elián story: family separation. In an extended interview with Cuban American historian Ada Ferrer, we share her family’s story of separation and reunification. Her mom left Cuba when she was pregnant with Ada in 1963, soon after the revolution. They left behind her 9-year old brother, Poly, or Hipólito, playing in the yard without telling him they wouldn’t be returning. She tells us how years later he would eventually come to the U.S. too, and be reunited, but that the wound of abandonment would prove deep. To read Ada's family story, here is her New Yorker article, My Brother's Keeper . This season's cover art by Ranfis Suárez Ramos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Peniley

Guest: Ada Ferrer

Topics covered

• family separation
• Cuban American history
• reunification
• personal stories
• Cuban revolution

Keywords

• Elián González
• Cuba
• family reunification
• historical narrative
• Cuban American

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Yorker, Ranfis Suárez Ramos

More episodes of Chess Piece: The Elián González Story

• Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York (hosted by Rosie Perez) · June 2, 2026 · 40 min
• The First Time The Men’s World Cup Came to the U.S.A. · May 29, 2026 · 27 min
• Introducing – La Brega: Season Three · February 11, 2026 · 36 min
• "Crazy Cubans" · November 20, 2024 · 23 min
• Being Home · November 13, 2024 · 31 min
• The Punishment Vote · November 6, 2024 · 36 min