"If I wanted to continue experiencing hunger and need, I would have stayed in Cuba." This was the candid response from a Cuban woman residing in the United States, known as ✨Jessinailartist✨ on TikTok, after being labeled as "selfish" in a comment. The message claimed that, living abroad, she has access to basic necessities like food and healthcare, while Cubans on the island face a vastly different reality.
Without holding back, the content creator delivered a strong message: "You call me selfish because I can buy food and see a doctor here. Well, my dear, if I wanted to keep living in misery and need, I would have stayed in Cuba. That's exactly why I left Cuba and did everything I could to get out of there."
She further explained her confusion over criticisms directed at those who emigrate in search of a better future, reminding everyone that many risked their lives to escape. "What's the point of leaving Cuba? To come here and support others? To come here and take care of someone who's not working? No, my dear. First and foremost, I came for myself, for a better future for myself, and so my child could be born in this country," she stated bluntly.
The Debate Over Responsibility
The reaction of @jessinailartist sparked a heated discussion in the comments. One user defended her stance, emphasizing that in Cuba, people don't understand that those who emigrated shouldn't feel guilty for their achievements: "We shouldn't feel guilty for what we have here because we've worked and fought for it, and we came for freedom." Jessinailartist replied, "Exactly, and many of us even risked our lives."
Another comment questioned why those who leave should bear the financial burden of those who remain: "Where does it say that those who left are obligated to support those who stayed? Everyone should fight for themselves with their own resources, but they've become accustomed to being supported."
Family Obligations and Political Views
The discussion also touched on family obligations back in Cuba. "If you come from Cuba and have your children here, you must have your parents there, so pay your parents for the average 18 years they supported you," a user wrote. The creator responded sarcastically, "Hahahahaha, it's never enough, and if they don't work, it's impossible."
Some comments highlighted that helping does not equate to supporting, a point the creator made clear. "It's true, we should help, but not support those who are lazy, because I know people who prioritize money for nails and hair over food, and they don't work."
The debate also veered into political territory. A follower stated that the Cuban Communist Party is chiefly responsible for dividing so many families, to which Jessinailartist replied, "My president is Trump, who I voted for. In Cuba, it's just someone appointed."
She concluded her message by reaffirming her position and recalling the sacrifices of those who emigrated: "That's why I struggled and left Cuba. That's why all the Cubans here got on boats, crossed countries, married foreigners they didn't love just to leave Cuba. How many things have Cubans done to achieve what you claim makes me selfish? If I wanted to continue experiencing hunger and need, I would have just stayed in Cuba."
Understanding the Cuban Expatriate Experience
Why did Jessinailartist decide to leave Cuba?
Jessinailartist left Cuba to escape poverty and lack of basic necessities, seeking a better future for herself and her child in the United States.
What sparked the debate around her TikTok video?
The debate was sparked by a comment accusing her of being selfish for having access to food and healthcare in the U.S., contrasting the situation of Cubans on the island.
How does Jessinailartist view her responsibilities towards those still in Cuba?
She believes that while helping is important, it should not mean supporting those who do not work, as everyone should strive for their own success.