A Cuban woman, known on TikTok as @my.hope2023, has touched the hearts of thousands with a poignant message. Expressing both pride in her Cuban heritage and disappointment in the regime that forced her to leave, she resonates with many. In her video, she boldly states, "I'm not ashamed to be Cuban; I'm ashamed of the government that pushed us out." She reflects on growing up in "a system that makes you feel like a foreigner in your own country."
She explains that even outside the island, she still bears "the burden of the Cuban passport," to the extent that "my driver's license isn't enough at the bank just because it says I was born in Cuba." With a calm yet resolute voice, she emphasizes that she doesn't need "repatriation to know who I am" because her story is "in my voice, my accent, and every sacrifice that brought me here."
Despite leaving nearly four years ago, she asserts that "Cuba is still with me, in my memory and my food," and in how she teaches her daughter "to be strong." She declares that she left behind "fear, the habit of silence, and resignation," and is now building "a new life, one where my daughter can dream without asking permission."
Her message concludes with a powerful statement shared widely among users: "The government took away my rights, but it can never take away my pride in being Cuban." The video has sparked numerous supportive comments from fellow Cuban emigrants who relate to her experience. Phrases like "You are a warrior," "Our roots are never forgotten, Cuba is in our hearts," and "I also feel connected to you" are among the most notable reactions on TikTok.
Under the name HopefulVlogs, the creator has gained recognition for sharing her everyday life and the challenges of living in exile. In a previous post, she revealed her first significant lesson upon arriving in the United States: understanding the real value of money while working at a taco shop. "Every dollar here requires work and sacrifice," she acknowledged, recalling how many in Cuba believed "money was easy to come by."
In another post, she discussed her immigration process with an I-220A, a document given to Cubans under U.S. immigration supervision. "Going through immigration court didn't break me, having yearly appointments hasn't broken me, and it won't," she stated, while cooking a Cuban stew and dreaming of the day she would receive her legal residency.
Her latest story adds to a series of reflections on displacement and hope. In another video, she showed how she is rebuilding a mobile home from scratch, asserting that "you don't always start from the top; sometimes you start from the ground, but with a heart full of dreams."
Through her posts, @my.hope2023 has become a voice embodying the feelings and challenges of Cubans who have emigrated, without forsaking their identity or pride in their roots. Her final message encapsulates the sentiment of many: although the regime stripped away her rights, as she says, it can never take away "the pride of being born Cuban."
Understanding the Cuban Experience in Exile
Why does the Cuban passport create challenges for emigrants?
The Cuban passport often subjects its holders to additional scrutiny and limitations, as some institutions and countries have specific restrictions or biases against Cuban nationals, complicating matters like banking and travel.
How does @my.hope2023 maintain her Cuban identity abroad?
@my.hope2023 preserves her Cuban identity through her accent, culinary traditions, and by teaching her daughter the values and strength inherent in their heritage.
What challenges do Cuban emigrants face in the United States?
Cuban emigrants often grapple with cultural adaptation, legal processes like immigration court, and the economic realities of building a new life, which can be starkly different from their expectations.