The Cuban TikToker Thalia Mazola, residing in Sevilla, published a viral video on TikTok denouncing the loss of empathy and humanity among Cuban emigrants themselves. In her testimony, she points out that some compatriots, once they arrive in other countries, feel superior to their fellow citizens, trample on them, mock their problems, and even profit from their needs.
Mazola does not speak from hearsay. According to his account, he has personally experienced the phenomenon with friends he held in high regard. His complaint touches on an open wound within the Cuban community abroad, which exceeds two million people according to UN estimates.
This is not the first time a Cuban public figure has highlighted this problem. Recently, La Dura criticized Cubans who changed their attitude after emigrating abroad, pointing to the same pattern of acquired superiority that Mazola denounces.
The phenomenon is not limited to attitudes of contempt. Some established Cubans have warned about the lack of gratitude from family members they helped to emigrate, while others directly denounce the mistreatment of newcomers. A Cuban in the U.S. denounced humiliations and mistreatment towards compatriots who are just beginning their adjustment process.
Racism among Cubans is another dimension of this problem. A Cuban in Miami was involved in an episode of racism on a bus against a Latina teenager, highlighting how certain discriminatory behaviors continue to manifest even outside the island. Mazola states explicitly: "The Cuban is the only one who is racist toward his own compatriot."
In response to criticism, some emigrants have chosen to respond firmly. A Cuban gave a strong response after receiving mockery from compatriots on social media, in an episode that reflects the growing tension within the diaspora.
The experiences of tension and lack of empathy are not isolated cases. Cubans in the U.S. have shared their experiences about how bonds of solidarity fracture once the border is crossed, in a pattern that repeats itself in various host countries and that Mazola's video has brought back to the forefront.
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