A young Cuban named Javier Guerrero has struck a chord with his fellow countrymen through a Facebook reel that boldly challenges the notion of mere survival as the only foreseeable future for his generation. In a passionate message, he dismisses the idea that enduring hardship should be the defining trait of Cuban identity.
“I’m Cuban, and I refuse to let survival define who I am. Lately, when you talk to someone, it's all about ‘power outages, food, making do, the dollar.’ Sure, those things matter, but if you spend every moment consumed by these issues, you forget how to truly live,” Guerrero asserts in his video.
His thoughts go beyond mere observation. “I honestly refuse to believe we were born just to endure. I want to create, learn, improve, and dream big... why not? Life is tough enough without having to give up your dreams so young,” he adds.
The question Guerrero poses—“why not dream big?”—challenges a longstanding reality that has attempted to convince Cubans for decades that mere survival is enough.
The video has garnered over 21,700 views, 1,672 likes, and 58 comments, indicating a strong resonance with those who see their own daily struggles reflected in his words.
Backdrop of Crisis
Cuba is currently facing its most severe crisis in decades. In 2026, power outages have lasted anywhere from 20 to 87 hours in various parts of the country. On July 14, for the third time in just eight days, a massive electrical failure left millions of Cubans without power, underscoring one of the most severe energy crises the island has faced in 67 years.
Compounding the situation is the chronic scarcity of food, medicine, and fuel, along with an exchange rate that reduces a minimum pension to less than $10 a month.
In this context, Guerrero’s words gain significant weight: his list of “power, food, making do, the dollar” is not just rhetoric but a stark inventory of the daily conversations that dominate life on the island.
Voices of a New Generation
The video is part of a wave of content that young Cubans have been sharing on social media this year, challenging the normalization of suffering as a national identity. In June, TikTok creator @keki_mami suggested that choosing not to display pain doesn't mean denying it, but rather choosing “not to make suffering your personality.”
This movement has a clear generational component. Young people who have grown up amid the crisis feel pressured to abandon their aspirations at an early age, and social media has become the platform where they collectively process this burden and seek to redefine Cuban identity beyond scarcity.
Understanding the Cuban Crisis
What is the current situation in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing one of its most severe crises in decades, marked by prolonged power outages, scarcity of food, medicine, and fuel, and a devalued currency that renders pensions nearly worthless.
How are young Cubans responding to the crisis?
Young Cubans are using social media to voice their frustrations and challenge the normalization of suffering, seeking to redefine what it means to be Cuban beyond enduring hardship.
What impact is social media having on the Cuban youth?
Social media has become a crucial outlet for Cuban youth to express their discontent, share their aspirations, and collectively process the challenges they face, making it a powerful tool in redefining their identity.