A Cuban woman touched thousands on TikTok by answering a question that resonates with many: What would you do if Cuba were free tomorrow?
In a video shared by user @_____eli85, the woman tearfully reminisced about her father, whom she described as "one of the most anti-communist men" she had ever known.
"I would visit my dad's grave. My father was one of the most anti-communist people I've ever met, and one of his greatest dreams was to see a free Cuba. I would go there and tell him, 'Dad, Cuba is finally free,'" she said amidst tears.
She admitted to having mixed feelings about that imagined day. "I know that day is coming. I would be so happy, but a little sad too because I can't share it with my father," she added.
The video sparked numerous comments from Cubans both on the island and abroad, many expressing similar sentiments: visiting the graves of loved ones who passed before witnessing the end of the communist regime.
Comments echoed sentiments like "that day will come" or "the first thing I'll do is hug my family in a Cuba without fear."
This video joins a wave of social media posts where Cubans reflect on life in a free Cuba amidst one of the most severe economic, social, and political crises under Miguel Díaz-Canel's regime and the military control led by Raúl Castro.
What Would a Free Cuba Mean for Its People?
Why did the woman's video resonate with so many people?
The video resonated because it touched on a deeply emotional topic for many Cubans: the dream of a free Cuba and the personal sacrifices made by those who didn't live to see it.
What common themes are seen in the comments on the video?
Many comments express the desire to visit deceased relatives who yearned for a free Cuba, reflecting a shared hope that such a day is near, along with a longing for a future without fear.
How does the current regime affect the Cuban people's aspirations?
The current regime, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel and backed by Raúl Castro's military control, perpetuates economic, social, and political crises, stifling the aspirations for freedom among the Cuban populace.