‘You need to be happy’: graffiti encourages Cuban self-reflection

A man walks past a graffiti reading “You need to be happy” by Cuban artist Mr. Sad in Havana, on December 12, 2024. Agence France-Presse HAVANA — Graffiti on walls around Havana telling Cubans “you need to be happy” has encouraged introspection and inspiration in a country where censorship has forced many street artists to emigrate or abandon their work. The simple but striking message that began appearing more than a year ago is the creation of “Mr. Sad,” a 27-year-old sociologist who, under the cover of anonymity, pushes the limits of rebellion on the communist-run island. Article continues after this advertisement “My intention is just to create a mirror so that people have the opportunity to take a moment to see what’s inside them,” he told AFP. FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION GLOBALNATION GLOBALNATION READ: Cuba’s enduring love affair with radio soap operas The artist said he was inspired by the tradition of visual propaganda that Cuba has cultivated in the decades since the revolution that brought the late Fidel Castro to power in 1959. Article continues after this advertisement Revolutionary slogans that have adorned public space on the island of 10 million inhabitants for years, such as “Homeland or death,...