In recent hours, a heartbreaking dialogue between a mother and her young son has gone viral on social media, as they grapple with despair over the constant blackouts and the scarcity of basic food items.
The dialogue has become a symbol of the accumulated pain of thousands of families on the island.
In the moving conversation -shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón- the youngest child is heard sobbing and asking “Why does Díaz-Canel turn off the electricity?”.
"It's not him who cuts off the power; he's not the one who lowers and raises ‘el catao’. The only problem with him is that he is the president of the country, and he is the one who has to solve these issues, but they still haven't been resolved," the mother responds.
This scene, as domestic as it is symbolic, represents the struggle of thousands of Cuban mothers to explain the inexplicable to their children.
"Since when have you not had milk from the store?" the mother insists, and the child replies, "many days ago," revealing the harshness of his daily life.
To make matters worse, the milk that arrived was "curdled," and the mother promises to buy "powdered milk" if she finds it the next day.
"I don't know what explanation I'm going to give you, my dear, I don't know what to say so you won't cry and feel sad because I don't want to see you unhappy […] Don't be sad, darling, that's not something to cry about," the mother concludes with a promise to go to the park to ease the child's sorrow.
"This is the sad reality of mothers in #Cuba. How do you explain to your child that you've been without electricity for days and that the little milk available for breakfast is spoiled?" Pentón wrote alongside the images.
A Broken Nation: Mothers, Tears, and Contained Rage
The video has not only generated a wave of empathy, but it has also sparked a torrent of testimonials. Over two thousand comments are flooding beneath the post, each one voicing its pain.
"I couldn't finish watching the video because I started to cry, I'm a first-time mother and these things hurt me deeply." As one user, Lorena, expressed:
Most of the comments come from mothers.
Many not only shared the sentiment but also similar experiences, describing how their children “cry for milk, for a fan, for not being able to sleep due to the heat, the mosquitoes, or the darkness.”
“This no longer stirs the hearts of any of those in power. And it will continue to rain on wet ground…”, lamented Yailet L. G.; while Amaury V. drew a chilling parallel: “Weyler's reconcentration falls short compared to what is happening in Cuba. People and children experiencing a high level of malnutrition...”
Hunger, darkness, and stolen childhood
The scene is not isolated. It is the daily life repeated in millions of Cuban households.
As Zayli S. comments: "That video hurts because we have lived it. Children have no ideology; all they have is need. And they are dying of exhaustion and sadness, and that will mark them forever."
And the testimonies reiterate an alarming truth: childhood in Cuba is being shaped by deprivation.
From not having a simple glass of milk to losing sleep and spirit for whole nights without electricity.
Mothers recount how food goes to waste, how children go to school without sleep, without breakfast, feeling stressed and sad.
Resistance or resignation
Some voices are calling for a civic awakening: "When we love our children more than we fear this dictatorship, things will change," declares Martha V.
However, quite a few responded that July 11 showed that taking to the streets solves nothing and would only leave those children alone with their mothers in prison.
“What are we going to resolve? Only that they imprison us or make us disappear, like on July 11. Because of that fear, people don’t even go out anymore,” warned a commentator following that line of thought.
"I don't think that not going out makes them bad mothers; on the contrary, they value staying close to their children more than material things," pointed out another.
The echo of a country that cries out in silence
In this story, there is not a single voice. There is a multitude in tears. The comments form a desperate chorus that denounces, shares, and virtually embraces one another. The video has served as a catalyst for a collective mourning.
“What did we Cubans do to deserve such punishment?”, a Cuban woman states bitterly.
This video is not just a denunciation; it is an emotional snapshot of a fractured country. The tears of a child over his "milk" are the tears of millions of Cubans who have lost their faith, patience, and hope.
It is an urgent call to see the human face of suffering, beyond statistics or ideologies.
And although the answers are few, the message is clear: children cannot continue to pay with hunger and tears for the decisions of adults. Because if a country is unable to guarantee the well-being of its children, it has lost not only its present but also its future.
Cuba hurts. Cuba cries. And millions are screaming in silence.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy and Social Crisis in Cuba
Why are there constant blackouts in Cuba?
In Cuba, the energy crisis is due to breakdowns in several thermoelectric plants, scheduled maintenance, and a lack of fuel. This issue has led to constant and prolonged blackouts, severely impacting the daily lives of citizens.
How does the energy crisis affect Cuban families?
The energy crisis in Cuba impacts the daily lives of families, forcing them to face challenges in cooking, storing food, and carrying out basic activities. Cuban mothers, in particular, must find ways to care for and feed their children in adverse conditions, such as heat and the presence of mosquitoes during power outages.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to improve the situation by inaugurating new solar parks and announcing the start of new electricity generation units. However, the results have been insufficient to alleviate the energy shortages faced by the population, and blackouts continue to be a part of daily life.
What is the response of the Cuban population to the energy crisis?
The Cuban population demonstrates a widespread sense of resilience and struggle in the face of the energy crisis. Many citizens share their experiences on social media, showcasing both their pain and their ingenuity in coping with daily hardships. Additionally, there is a growing discontent towards the government due to the lack of effective solutions.
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