TAMPA - Tampa's Ybor City is best known for its Spanish architecture, history, food and influences. 

African Studies Historian Walter L. Smith says it's also the epicenter of Afrolatinidad -- celebrating Latinos of African descent. 

Cuba is one of 19 Latin-American countries that imported slaves through the Atlantic slave trade. 

"Latin-America got the majority of the Africans that were brought over to the Western Hemisphere," said Smith. 

Over time, he says racial mixing occurred among indigenous groups. 

"You would have people that look like I do with blond hair," he explained. "You may have people who like I do with blue or green eyes or people who are lighter skinned with kinky hair. That is a part of what you will see throughout Latin America."  

Some of those descendants eventually migrated to Tampa. 

The Afro-Cuban Club also known as Sociedad La Union Marti Maceo was founded in 1904 during the Jim Crow era when segregation among Whites and Blacks was enforced by Florida law. 

"The club itself was developed to hold on to the identity of being Afro-Cuban," said former member Smith. 

"For the longest time of all, Afro-Cubans fought for the ideal of just being Cuban. It's like here in America, a lot of Black Americans just wanted to be Americans, but they couldn't get that status," he explained. 

Smith says many Afrolatinos place more importance on the nationalist aspect of their identity as opposed to race. 

"When you hear people say I'm Cuban and they're visibly Black -- they are not trying to deny their blackness but their trying to connect with the Cubanismo," he added. 

The Afro-Cuban club established for mutual aid is named after two leaders of Cuba's Revolution: Jose Marti and General Antonio Maceo. 

"General Antonio Maceo is one of my heroes," Smith says he is also an unsung hero. 

"Cuba was very unique for the fact that it had Black leadership in its Army." 

Several monuments and a park in Tampa honor his legacy.

"He fought and died believing in full independence for everyone in Cuba. He lead his troops from the front, never in the back, always from the front and carrying a machete," said Smith.

General Maceo was nicknamed, 'The Bronze Titan' not only for his heroism, but also an homage to his background. 

Smith says Genral Maceo is most respected for not settling; fighting for both Cuba's independence and freedom of slaves. 

"For Afro-Cubans especially it led to their freedom and the abolition of slavery in Cuba by 1883," he said.

Tampa cigar factories also played a significant role in the revolution. 

Smith says war plans and note were hidden in cigars -- helping General Maceo accomplish his historic mission.