A Cuban published a video on TikTok this week in which he ranks Cubans on a scale from one to five based on their connection to the culture, language, and identity of the Island, and the reaction from the diaspora was swift.
The video from @realfloridajit8 proposes a scale where level one corresponds to those with little or no connection to Cuban culture, while level five represents the "purebred" Cuban: born in Cuba, fully Spanish-speaking, and immersed in the entire culture. Within hours, hundreds of people jumped into the comments to identify their level with a mix of humor and pride that speaks volumes about how the Cuban community in the United States experiences its identity.
Most claimed level five without hesitation. "Proud to be level five," wrote one user. "Cuban at level five right here," noted another. And there was no shortage of those celebrating it in capital letters: "LEVEL 5!"
But the funniest comments came from those who found themselves in no man's land. One explained his situation with complete honesty: "I'm like a level 3.5; I understand and speak, but I can't write it." Another declared himself level five with an important caveat: "I'm level 5, but with an accent that drops me down to level 3." And there was someone who refused to be left out of the elite group: "I'm level 4.5! Almost 5!"
There was also room for familial nostalgia. “My dad was level 5,” someone remarked, hinting that he himself belongs to a generation further removed from the Island. In contrast, a mother wrote with three hearts: “My son is level 5.”
That the majority of the comments are in English is not a coincidence: the video is aimed directly at second and third generation Cubans born in the United States, who often feel a partial connection to the culture of their parents or grandparents and find in this type of content a way to measure themselves and identify.
This phenomenon fits into a sustained trend on TikTok where Cuban creators from the diaspora produce viral content about identity, Cuban culture, and cultural pride. In recent months, videos have surfaced showing Cubans creating casino wheels in airports, young people dancing in the rain, and reflections on whether Cubans are vulgar or not, all receiving thousands of reactions.
The classification by levels of cubanidad touches a very particular nerve: that of those who grew up between two cultures and have spent years wondering how much of their Cuban identity remains. The answer, at least in the comments, is clear: most feel that they have it all.
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