Sandro Castro, the grandson of the infamous dictator Fidel Castro, has once again turned the daily struggles of Cubans into a source of mockery. In a video shared on Instagram, the self-proclaimed "content creator" appeared in character as his alter ego, Vampirach, donning the Cuban ration book around his neck as if it were some absurd trinket, sarcastically dubbing it "a vampire's diary."
This grotesque performance was further embellished as the provocateur flaunted a pair of red underwear printed with a Santa Claus dog, whimsically called “Barbatruco”—one of the many nicknames of his grandfather, the man who implemented rationing in Cuba over six decades ago.
The image is stark: while millions of Cubans continue to rely on that tattered booklet for meager portions of rice, sugar, or stale bread, the grandson of the “creator” of the ration book turns it into a comedic prop. For families, this document symbolizes endless lines, heated exchanges at the local store, and the anxiety of food scarcity, yet to him, it serves merely as a theatrical accessory in his digital vampire skit.
Since 1962, the ration book has been a collective sentence. Each month, Cubans begrudgingly visit state-run stores, enduring the scarcity ritual: weevil-infested rice, poorly leavened bread, adulterated oil, insufficient sugar, tardy beans, and the almost mythical distributions of coffee, chicken, and fish that many haven't seen in years. Rather than ensuring equality, as Castro once claimed, this system delivers poorly managed deprivation. Thus, it's infuriating that his grandson, sheltered by the privileges of his lineage, mocks it with impunity.
Sandro doesn't wait in scorching lines, haggle with storekeepers over shortchanged goods, nor does he mark off months without receiving an item in his ration book. To him, it’s an exotic artifact, a relic with which to amuse his Instagram audience.
The contrast is harsh: while a Cuban mother strategizes how to stretch two pounds of rice to feed her three children, Sandro Castro records himself laughing and displaying the document that epitomizes their hardship. He does so with underwear named “Barbatruco,” mocking his grandfather and, more egregiously, the populace still suffering under that dictator’s legacy.
Sandro's social media presence is a testament to frivolity and provocation: lavish parties, luxury cars, mediocre songs, and outlandish antics. Yet, the video featuring the ration book transcends mere frivolity, verging on political obscenity.
It's a blatant display of the complete disdain of a family that has never queued for bread, never known the wait for a liter of oil, nor the struggle of concocting a child's breakfast with watery coffee due to a lack of milk. The tattered ration book remains the only guarantee of a meager food supply for Cubans each month. To make it a joke is a slap in the face.
That the grandson of its architect should ridicule it, transforming it into a "vampire’s diary" and wearing it like an accessory, is a cruel irony fitting only in today's Cuba: a country where hunger is a daily reality and the ruling elite's heirs laugh openly at it.
Sandro Castro's video is not merely grotesque; it underscores a profound divide. On one side, the majority of Cubans, bound to the ration book as a monthly burden. On the other, the elite's descendants, able to use it as a costume and mock the hunger of others, with no fear of repercussions or official censure.
In today’s Cuba, state-endorsed poverty persists, and the mockery of the privileged remains part of the spectacle.
Understanding the Cuban Ration Book and Its Impact
What is the Cuban ration book?
The Cuban ration book, or "libreta de abastecimiento," is a system introduced in 1962 to distribute basic food and goods to Cuban families. It provides limited quantities of essential items at subsidized prices.
Why is the ration book significant in Cuba?
The ration book is significant because it represents the ongoing scarcity and economic challenges in Cuba. For many, it is the only way to access necessary food and supplies each month, highlighting the country's enduring struggles.
How do Cubans view the ration book system today?
Many Cubans view the ration book system with frustration and resentment. It is seen as a symbol of mismanagement and inequality, as it fails to provide sufficient resources and perpetuates a cycle of dependency and scarcity.