"For years, I've wanted to have a glass of milk... and I can't." This simple yet powerful statement from a Cuban woman encapsulates what many endure in silence. It's not a metaphor but a reflection of daily life. The Spanish YouTubers from the channel Black Mango recently ventured into the heart of Havana, far from the luxury hotels of Varadero or the touristy Vedado district. What they uncovered was a more common Cuba: hunger, poverty, lack of medicine, oppression, and a resilient human dignity amidst the ruins.
During their exploration of the San Isidro neighborhood, the creators highlighted homes where six people subsist on just two pounds of rice per person each month. "This isn't going to change. We've been surviving for 37 years... but instead of moving forward, we're going backward," confessed a mother who resells lollipops and cigarettes on the street to feed her children.
In one of the most harrowing scenes from their video, an elderly woman reveals her refrigerator, which contains only chicken scraps and bottles of water. "I don't have any painkillers, not even a pill for fever. I've had numerous surgeries. It's chaotic," she says with a cracking voice. Her monthly pension is 1,500 pesos, which is less than the cost of a kilogram of milk.
Living Conditions and Daily Struggles
The scarcity extends beyond food. The footage shows homes without running water, where residents must carry buckets to bathe; houses without electricity, where cooking is done in the dark; and cramped spaces where two adults sleep head-to-toe in a single bed. "If you need to go to the bathroom at night, you have to navigate dangerous stairs without light," recounted one resident. Meanwhile, the ration book barely provides rice and raw sugar.
One of the most chilling accounts is from a young woman who was jailed for participating in the July 11 protests. "There's no freedom of speech here. If you speak, you have to swallow your thoughts," explain the YouTubers. They also exposed the healthcare crisis, where doctors must purchase medications out of their own pockets to treat patients. Medicines, they note, are reserved for those with power or access to foreign currency.
The Consequences of Speaking Out
The emotional peak of the video comes with a desperate man, crying on camera: "I'm scavenging from trash cans, sleeping in doorways, selling bags to eat, help us!" Another, visibly distraught, added, "I've lost everything. My mother is dead."
The impact of Black Mango's visit did not go unnoticed, as they were interrogated by Cuban State Security. Officers arrived at their accommodation to inspect their phones, social media posts, and passports. "We were being watched. We've traveled to many countries and never experienced anything like this," they shared. Although they were not detained, they admitted to feeling afraid until they boarded their flight back to Madrid.
In their podcast, they recounted how a mere 40-second story about poverty near the Capitol was enough to "trigger all the regime's alarms." They pondered, "If this is what they do to us as foreigners, what must they do to the everyday Cuban?"
Understanding Cuba's Socioeconomic Challenges
What challenges do Cuban residents face daily?
Cuban residents often deal with severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic utilities like water and electricity. Many live in poverty, struggling to meet even the most basic needs.
How does the Cuban government respond to foreign media highlighting these issues?
The Cuban government closely monitors and sometimes interrogates foreign media and individuals who highlight these issues, as demonstrated by the questioning of the Black Mango YouTubers.
What is the state of healthcare in Cuba?
Healthcare in Cuba is in crisis, with doctors often needing to buy their own medicines to treat patients. Medications are typically reserved for those with influence or access to foreign currency.