Cuban comedian Javier Berridy has once again stirred laughter and provoked thought on social media with a satirical video. In this piece, he transforms Raul Castro's famous 2007 promise into a poem, made in Camagüey, that every Cuban would have access to a glass of milk. With a mocking tone, Berridy portrays a "pioneer" who pens verses to the absent glass of milk, now emblematic of the regime's unfulfilled promises.
“The milk never appeared, it was all talk and hangover, and yet some still naively believe in the farce of this great revolution that provides neither milk nor cows," recites Berridy in a passage that has sparked numerous reactions among his followers. The poem skillfully blends humor, irony, and social critique, reminding of the children fainting in classrooms due to the promised milk that never materialized, and it mocks Cuban leaders: “What I know for sure is that the children of Díaz-Canel, Raúl, and Fidel drink milk like mules.”
Berridy's work directly connects with a phrase that has left a lasting imprint on several generations of Cubans. In that July 2007 speech, Raul Castro declared: “We have been saying for fifty years that milk must be produced so that anyone who wants a glass of milk can have it. And there is land to produce it here.”
Eighteen years later, this statement is still remembered with irony in a country where milk shortages have become a daily struggle for millions of families. Berridy’s poem not only entertains but also reflects the Cuban people's wit in exposing with humor the shortages and broken promises that have shaped life on the island for generations.
Understanding Raul Castro's Milk Promise
What was Raul Castro's promise about milk in Cuba?
In 2007, Raul Castro promised that every Cuban would be able to have a glass of milk, emphasizing that there was enough land to produce it. This statement became infamous as milk shortages persisted.
How does Javier Berridy's poem critique the Cuban government?
Berridy's poem uses humor and irony to highlight the unfulfilled promises of the Cuban regime, specifically targeting the leaders by suggesting that their children have ample access to milk, unlike the general population.