A Cuban resident on the island, identified on TikTok as @ruthdiazq, has gone viral after posting a video in which she reflects on poverty and the attitudes of some Cubans towards the current crisis in the country.
"Cuba is in extreme poverty. A teacher or a doctor earns barely enough to buy a dozen eggs," begins the young woman in her video, where she states that she doesn't like to talk about politics, but decided to respond to the criticisms from those living outside of Cuba.
Díaz acknowledged that the situation in the country "is worse than during the Special Period," but he also stated that there are many Cubans who do not make an effort to improve their situation.
"You can't walk the streets without seeing people fanning themselves, playing dominoes, or just doing nothing, waiting for those in the United States to support them," he expressed.
The young woman, described as a digital entrepreneur, explained that she has found ways to generate income from Cuba through online work.
"I manage a restaurant account over the phone and I take payments that way. I learned a skill and looked for ways to get ahead in a country where nothing is working," he said.
Díaz clarified that her intention is not to defend the regime or downplay the crisis, but to highlight the differences in attitude between those who strive for progress and those who, in her view, settle for less.
"I'm not defending Cuba, I don't agree with what is happening here. But I'm talking about the people, not the country," he emphasized.
Her testimony has sparked intense debate on social media, with opinions divided between those who support her for “speaking the truth” and those who accuse her of not grasping the depth of the crisis faced by ordinary Cubans.
The video has amassed thousands of views on TikTok, where users inside and outside the island have shared their own experiences regarding poverty, migration, and the inequality that defines daily life in Cuba.
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