A young Cuban woman residing in Spain has taken to social media to address the attacks she's faced for sharing her life as a migrant and highlighting cultural differences between the two countries. In a TikTok video, user @legmy_ expressed her frustration over recurring comments like “if you don't like it, go back to your country” or “you had no food there.”
“I'm tired of hearing these comments on all my videos,” the Cuban woman stated at the start of the clip. “When someone tells you ‘if you don't like it, leave,’ they aren't defending a custom, they are using your origin to invalidate your opinion. That’s not cultural debate; that’s xenophobia,” she declared.
Defending Her Right to Speak as a Migrant
She clarified that her social media content is simply a portrayal of her everyday reality, without intending to belittle or idealize any country. “I’m not saying one thing is better or worse; they’re just different,” she explained, while also acknowledging that “Cuba has a dictatorship, severe resource shortages... and we all know the current situation.”
Moreover, she defended her right to voice her opinions as a migrant: “For some, being a foreigner means you can’t express an opinion, not even on everyday matters.”
In the text accompanying her post, @legmy_ made it clear that those accusing her of "still voting for communism" in Europe are utterly mistaken. “No one who has suffered under communism votes for communism. We come from that mess, we’ve escaped from it… Do you think we want the same for the place we live in now?” she wrote in the video’s description. Her post, tagged with #CubanosPorElMundo and #ChoqueCultural, has stirred mixed reactions.
Responses from Support and Empathy to Discrimination
Comments range from support and empathy to outright discriminatory expressions. “What you have is called racism,” responded one user to another who disparaged Cubans as coming “from the jungle.” Others, however, stood by the young woman: “Don’t let those who can’t live or let others live silence you. Speak more every day. The good ones stand by you,” commented another.
“Cubans have an incredible adaptability... your content is respectful and it’s your opinion, and that is free,” another follower remarked.
Connecting with Migrants' Shared Reality
This isn’t the first viral testimony from the young Cuban. Days earlier, in another video, she recounted her grandmother’s illness in Cuba and her inability to travel to be with her. “It pains me to say this, but being Cuban is a misfortune that follows you everywhere,” she expressed at the time.
Both posts have resonated with dozens of migrants who recognize a common reality in her words: family separation, integration challenges, and the emotional burden of living far from the island.
The experiences of Cubans abroad are as diverse as their stories. In May, Cuban Franklyn (@franklyn_botanica) shared a markedly different account from Madrid. He stated that he has always been treated kindly in Spain and that “at least in my experience, it has been amazing.” His video also sparked discussion about the treatment of immigrants and the significance of personal attitude in the integration process.
In Mexico, other Cuban migrants have faced similar challenges. Young Maryfra (@maryfra.21) responded from Quintana Roo to those urging her to return to the island: “I love Mexico and couldn’t be happier here, so I’m not going back, not even to gain momentum.” Her video received strong support from Mexicans who defended her right to stay.
Likewise, Cuban Gleydis García (@gleydis_garcia23) condemned the offensive remarks she received after sharing a video about Mexican cuisine. “We’re not harming anyone here for them to say that to me,” she said. Her testimony shed light on the desperate situations many families in Cuba endure, urging respect and empathy for those compelled to migrate.
Such cases highlight the complexity many Cubans face in sharing their everyday experiences outside their homeland, amidst varied opinions on their presence and integration into other societies.
Understanding the Cuban Migrant Experience
What challenges do Cuban migrants face in other countries?
Cuban migrants often deal with cultural differences, family separation, integration difficulties, and at times, xenophobia and discrimination in their host countries.
How do Cuban migrants respond to accusations of communism?
Many Cuban migrants clarify that they have fled communism and do not support it. They emphasize that their migration is a means to escape the hardships experienced under such a regime and seek a better life.
Why do some people tell migrants to go back to their country?
Such comments often stem from xenophobic attitudes rather than genuine cultural debate, using a person’s origin to undermine their opinions and contributions to the host society.