In my forty years of life, Cuba’s freedom has always been an elusive dream that belonged to my grandparents and parents. But now the dream has become mine, and the rest of the next generation and diaspora that is lining the streets of international cities screaming, “…si Cuba está en la calle, nosotros, también! ( …if Cuba is in the streets, so are we!). The next generation of Cubans that have only ever lived in poverty, communism, and lack have had enough.
But now the dream has become mine, and the rest of the next generation and diaspora that is lining the streets of international cities screaming, “…si Cuba está en la calle, nosotros, también! ( …if Cuba is in the streets, so are we!).
On July 11th, the frustration of 62 years of communist oppression came to a head, and the island said, “no more.” Protests began and, as a result, violence. Black, brown, white, young, old, Cubans filled the islands broken streets with one word on their lips, “Libertar.” (Freedom). That cry has now poured into the streets of Miami, New York, D.C, and across the world. Social media, just like in the case of George Floyd, has been a catalyst for change; the world is now viewing the regime that has controlled every aspect of media! And what the world is seeing is a people abused, oppressed, and in need of basic human rights.
The big difference between this cry for human rights and perhaps everything else that has plagued our world in the last year is no one is talking about it. There are no blue or red squares lining social media. Celebrities, influencers, and even the church have remained silent? Why? I have no idea. I can’t tell you how many emojis people have commented on my posts over the last week to send their “love and light” my way.
But Cuba doesn’t need your prayer hands; it needs your voices; they need you to post their stories, their cries, and their truths. We need to bring awareness, and the change and freedom that Cubans will soon encounter won’t be because a famous actress posted about it; it will be because the children of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom will reciprocate the favor to those who were left behind. We will speak for them because they have no one else.
Patria y Vida,
Chari Orozco