His life and work:
Youth and exile:
José Martí was born in Havana, Cuba, on January 28, 1853.
As a teenager, he became involved in the struggle against Spanish coloniWho is José Marti? Not the Havana airport, but the person! sation espagnole. Because of his revolutionary ideas, he was arrested at the age of 16 and sentenced to hard labor.
Released, he was exiled to Spain, where he continued his university studies in law and philosophy.
Political commitment and exile:
After traveling to several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and the United States, he continued his fight for Cuban independence.
Martí founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party in 1892, an organization designed to organize and finance the armed struggle for Cuban independence.
From New York, where he lived for several years, he wrote speeches, articles and poems to mobilize the Cuban and Latin American diaspora.
An influential writer and poet:
José Martí was a prolific writer. His literary style blended poetry, prose and political commitment.
His collection of poems "Versos Sencillos " (1891) is one of his most famous works, and includes the poem that inspired the song "Guantanamera".
He also wrote influential political essays and literary criticism.
Return to Cuba and death:
In 1895, Martí returned to Cuba to take part in the insurrection against Spain during the Cuban War of Independence.
He died in battle on May 19, 1895, at the Battle of Dos Ríos, marking his sacrifice for Cuba's freedom.
José Martí's legacy:
Martí is a unifying figure in Cuban history. His thought has influenced generations of revolutionaries and thinkers, including political leaders such as Fidel Castro.
His humanist ideas, his vision of education and freedom, and his rejection of imperialism have made him a point of reference throughout Latin America.
Many monuments, schools and institutions bear his name, including Havana'sJosé Martí International Airport.
Famous Martí quote:
"Freedom is very expensive, and one must either resign oneself to living without it, or decide to pay its price."
Comments