Fisherman
You raise a lot interesting issues that I will answer in due time, today due time constrains I will tell about just two of them.
The Diaz family, you are mentioning is the family descending from Rafael Diaz Balart, he was a prominent member of the Batista Government and his sister was married to Fidel Castro, his elder son came from that marriage. The Diaz Balart family has been dominant in Florida politics for a long time, at least two of the brothers were elected to he House of Representatives; Mario is still serving and the other one Lincoln retired from Congress and is heavily involved in trying to coordinate the changes that are happening in Cuba. His father Rafael died some time back and in the early stages of the Revolution he was a thorn in their side, he was a founding member of the Rosa Blanca; that was anti Castro Group and he went as far as testifying in front of the US Congress against Castro.
There was a race war shortly after Independence, like around 1912 or so since then race has never been an issue among the common people in Cuba, calling some one "negro, chino, blanquito" is not offensive unless it goes with another insult added. Now, as far as the high society that was a different history; in daily life they had to use and mingle with the common people and they showed one face, among themselves and in their inner circles it was a different deal. They had clubs like the Vedado Yacht Club with strict racial standards, even President Batista was not allowed to visit because he was a "mestizo".
In that respect in the early part of the Revolution the majority of the people were happy to see FC ending their privileges.