A Cuban woman who has been living in Spain for five years took to TikTok to share a distressing encounter with racism in a supermarket. The incident occurred when an older woman, upset because she wasn't allowed to cut in line, approached her after the purchase and spitefully remarked, "Just so you know, you're in my country."
On July 24, the user known as MAI (@bbosstel8) posted a video recounting the experience, which left her stunned, as she had never faced anything similar during her time in the country.
"I've been living here for five years, and I've always felt incredibly welcomed," she explained. She added that whenever asked if she had faced racism, her answer was consistently negative: "I always said no, I am blessed."
The incident began when the older woman tried to skip the line at the supermarket checkout, and MAI politely informed her that she couldn't because there were others waiting.
As MAI finished her shopping and was packing her bags, the woman approached and made the hostile comment.
The woman's husband immediately responded by apologizing profusely: "I'm sorry, please forgive us," as MAI recounted in the video.
MAI emphasized that this behavior does not represent most Spaniards and used the situation as a teaching moment for her children: "To show that there are good people and that not everyone represents the majority of Spaniards."
At the end of the video, she explained her reason for sharing the incident online: "I'm here in my little corner to vent. I don't see a psychologist, you all are my therapists."
MAI's account joins a growing number of similar complaints from Cubans in Spain who are tired of xenophobic remarks, particularly phrases like "you're in my country" or "if you don't like it, go back to your country." In August 2025, another Cuban creator, @legmy_, bluntly labeled such remarks as xenophobia.
These instances of discrimination against Cubans in Spain are not always limited to verbal exchanges. In March 2026, a Spanish court sentenced a man to six months in prison, ordered him to pay a 2,700 euro fine, and awarded 3,000 euros in damages to a Cuban woman living in Barcelona, after he was found guilty of racist insults and threats sustained over more than a year.
Understanding Racism and Discrimination Against Cubans in Spain
What prompted the racist incident in the supermarket?
The incident was triggered when an older woman attempted to cut in line at the checkout, and MAI politely informed her that she could not skip ahead.
How did the Cuban woman respond to the racist comment?
Although stunned by the comment, MAI shared her story on TikTok to vent and to express that such behavior does not reflect the majority of Spaniards.
Are such incidents common for Cubans in Spain?
While not all Cubans face discrimination, instances of xenophobia and racism do occur, as highlighted by various testimonies and legal cases.