The White House confirmed President Barack Obama will visit Cuba in March, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the island in nearly 90 years.

White House Confirmation

The White House revealed Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will be on the island on March 21 and March 22, before the pair depart for a two-day stay in Argentina. According to the White House, Obama "will work to build on the progress we have made toward normalization of relations with Cuba -- advancing commercial and people-to-people ties that can improve the well-being of the Cuban people, and expressing our support for human rights."

Obama will engage in a bilateral talks with Cuban President Raul Castro, and he will meet with entrepreneurs and Cubans from different communities.

Renewed Benefits, Setbacks

Ben Rhodes, the White House deputy national security adviser for strategic communications and speechwriting, wrote in a post that U.S. policy, prior to the announcement of renewed diplomatic relations in December 2014, did not help the lives of the Cuban population, noting strained relations were making matters worse.

Since Castro and Obama announced the renewed relationship, the two countries have made agreements on greater travel and commerce. The rate of authorized Americans visiting the island has increased by 54 percent, and it is projected to increase further, following the latest agreement to allow approximately 110 direct flights daily. 

Cuba's private sector, ranging from shopkeepers and restaurants, has reportedly benefited from the increased travel. But Cuban businesses aren't the only ones reaping the benefits. Rhodes also acknowledged that U.S.-based companies have a stake in furthering the island's development.

Although private businesses are encountering a boom, the Cuban government still bears responsibility in advancing certain developments, including expanding Internet access, wireless hotspots and broadband connections. These steps, according to Rhodes, will increase the Cuban people's engagement with the world.

One purpose of Obama's trip is to offer more opportunities for American businesses to travel and engage with Cuba. He will also encourage the Cuban government to provide their citizens with similar opportunities. There's only so much Obama can do, however, which is why his administration is still calling for Congress to lift the Cuban embargo, which would remove other restrictions.

Insight From Latino Americans

Based on Gallup polling, Americans, regardless of ethnicity, have mixed opinions about Cuba. In February 2015, 48 percent had an unfavorable view of Cuba, while 46 percent held a positive opinion. The unfavorable rating has been on the decline since February 2006, when 71 percent had an unfavorable view of the island.

According to the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI), Latinos also indicated mixed views about improving diplomatic ties with Cuba. Polling results, released in February 2015, found Latinos with high incomes were most likely to support lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba with the hope it would lead to regime change in the island. While 33 percent of Latinos were undecided about lifting the embargo, 43 percent of Latinos were in favor of the embargo's removal and 24 percent wanted the embargo in place.

The FAU poll found only 24.1 percent of Latinos with an income under $25,000 opposed the embargo. As income increased, so did opposition to the embargo. Latinos earning between $25,000 and $75,000 favored lifting the embargo. Latinos earning more than $75,000 hit 67.8 percent in favor of the embargo's removal. The higher-income earners, with 64.5 percent support, were most optimistic about a Cuban regime change once the embargo lifts.

"A plausible explanation for the support of high income earners to lift the embargo could be the vision of investing in Cuba," said BEPI Director Monica Escaleras in a statement. "Young respondents as well as high-income earners might see lucrative opportunities, perhaps opening businesses in Cuba."

Age has also proven to be a factor in opinions about Cuba. Following the announcement the U.S. and Cuba would restart relations, American culture and sociology professor Silvia Pedraza from the University of Michigan told Latin Post that various divides exist "that make a difference" on U.S. and Cuban policies, but two were considered the most important.

"Younger Cubans oppose the embargo because they are young Americans who have not suffered what their parents suffered and more often identity with the Democratic Party -- as do other Latinos. They are Latinos, not just Cubans, and they behave as such," Pedraza said in December 2014.

Pedraza, who was born and raised in Cuba, acknowledged that older Cubans hold much different views than the Cuban youth.

She added, "Older Cubans, however, suffered the slings and arrows of being disposed of their homes, their jobs, careers, families, and of the humiliation that went along with being pushed out of their country by the sharp turn the Cuban revolution took towards communism. Many fought against this, many became political prisoners."

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