Cuban actress Judith González recently shared a poignant video on Instagram, capturing the raw emotions she felt after a phone call with her 75-year-old sister living in Marianao, Havana.
In the video, the comedian is visibly emotional as she reflects on the stark contrasts between her own life and the harsh realities her sister faces daily in Cuba, a nation beleaguered by shortages and economic hardship.
A Harsh Reality Check
Judith initiated the conversation by sharing her own challenges: a sore foot, a cold, her ears clogged, a sick child, and a hectic workday. However, when she inquired about her sister’s well-being, the conversation took a somber turn.
“The power just came back after 40 hours without electricity, but now we have no water,” her sister explained from the crisis-stricken neighborhood suffering prolonged blackouts and water scarcity.
Daily Struggles in Cuba
The conditions were even more dire than her sister's words conveyed. Judith’s brother-in-law, aged 78, had resorted to carrying water bucket by bucket to fill a cistern due to the lack of running water. Furthermore, the absence of gas forced the family to cook with a charcoal stove, a dangerous task for her asthmatic sister.
It was this image—her elderly sister cooking with charcoal despite her asthma—that deeply moved Judith, making her own complaints about a sore foot seem insignificant.
Emotional Support Across Borders
“I felt ashamed to tell my sister about my foot pain, my blocked ears, or my busy day,” Judith confessed in the tearful video.
In a touching reversal of roles, it was Judith’s sister, from her challenging circumstances, who offered comforting advice: “See a doctor, use menthol, remember how mom used iodine for everything, take vitamin C, take care of the boy,” she advised before ending the call.
A Shared Cuban Experience
This role reversal, with the one suffering more providing solace to the one living in better conditions, struck a chord with Judith’s audience. Her video garnered over 24,000 reactions and more than 1,500 comments, as many Cubans in the diaspora shared similar stories about their family struggles.
Comments from her followers echoed this sentiment: “That call is the same for thousands of Cuban families”; “We all carry the guilt without being guilty, our Cuba hurts”; “Cuba is painful... I cried for you and for all those in your sister's situation, what is happening in Cuba today is indescribable”; “We can't overcome the lump in our throats from this side. It's painful, very painful”; “Because of things like this, I'm learning not to complain but to be grateful. There's always someone worse off.”
Judith’s heartfelt testimony reflects the severe crisis gripping the island. Cuba has experienced nationwide electrical system collapses, with blackouts lasting over 20 hours a day in many areas, while water shortages persist. In Havana, power cuts also disrupt water supplies, affecting over half a million residents since July.
This wasn't the first time Judith González publicly broke down over Cuba's dire situation. In October 2024, during a nationwide blackout, she criticized the government for the island's ongoing crisis. Her recent video, however, touches on a deeper wound: the silent guilt of those living abroad while their loved ones struggle to endure with what little they have.
Understanding Cuba's Crisis
What challenges do Cubans face due to blackouts?
Cubans experience severe disruptions in daily life due to frequent blackouts, which can last over 20 hours a day. These power outages often lead to water shortages, as the electricity is needed for water pumps, leaving many without essential resources.
How are families in Cuba coping with the lack of resources?
Families in Cuba are adapting to the scarcity of resources by finding alternative ways to access necessities. For instance, some resort to using charcoal for cooking due to the lack of gas, and they often carry water manually when it doesn't flow through the pipes.