José Marti: Notable Achievements of the Cuban Writer

José Julián Martí Pérez (also known as José Julián Martí y Pérez or simply José Martí) was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1853. Martí used his literary talents in the service of Cuba’s independence movement. At the early age of sixteen, Martí published his first poem, titled “Abdala,” in the political newspaper, La Patria Libre. Shortly after the start of the Ten Years’ War in 1868, Martí was arrested for his political beliefs, and in 1871, the Spanish government sentenced him to hard labor and deportation to Spain.

Martí continued to publish his anti-Spanish political writings while spending the majority of the rest of his life in exile. In Spain, Martí earned academic degrees at the University of Zaragoza and an institution in Madrid. After his time in Spain, Martí relocated to France and then to Mexico. Once in Mexico City, Martí joined a local artist group and met his future wife, Carmen Zayas Bazán. After Mexico, Martí traveled to Venezuela and Guatemala where he taught at universities. Martí soon fell out of favor in these countries for his political beliefs and decided to move to New York. From New York City, he established a successful network to help Cuban immigrants abroad and in the US, particularly Florida communities like Tampa, Miami, and Key West.

In 1895, Martí led the Partido Revolucionario Cubano (Cuban Revolutionary Party) in organizing a military coup. The coup aimed to overthrow the current Cuban government and establish an egalitarian system in its place. Spanish troops shot and killed Martí on May 19, 1895, at the Battle of Dos Rios. José Martí’s writing inspired future Latin American leaders, such as Fidel Castro. Many Cuban exiles and Cuban patriots remember Martí with the nickname “the apostle of Cuban independence.”

Although José Martí lived much of his life away from his home country, he worked to create change in Cuba through his writings and activism. As a result, some consider him a Cuban national hero and important figure in Cuban history. His most notable works include achievements in the areas of:

• Journalism: Martí published many articles and essays after his second exile from Cuba. His contributions to La Nación, a Buenos Aires newspaper, propelled him throughout Latin America. Martí also wrote essays that shaped modern Spanish prose, such as “Our America,” which illustrated his life experience and political critiques.
• Poetry: Martí produced a large body of poetry in his career. His collection Free Verses (Versos Sencillos) is perhaps his most influential contribution to Latin American literature. The prose from Free Verses inspired the lyrics of the famous Cuban song “Guantanamera.” Martí also wrote The Golden Age (La Edad de Oro), a collection geared toward teaching young Cubans about their country's history and to give them hope for the future. He also took inspiration from across the Americas. For example, “Tres Héroes” focused on the characters of Simón Bolívar of Venezuela, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla of Mexico, and José de San Martín of Argentina.
• Political activism: While living in New York, Martí served as a diplomat to the South American nations of Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. Martí’s political activism took a militaristic turn late in his life. In 1894, Martí joined forces with Cuban military leaders Maximo Gomez and Antonio Maceo, who advised Martí on his plans to invade Cuba by force in 1895. Although the unsuccessful coup led to Martí’s death, he became a symbol of the struggle for Cuban revolution.

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