José Marti

José Martí, born on January 28, 1853 in Havana, was an outstanding poet, writer and revolutionary who is considered one of Cuba's most important national heroes.

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Cuba's voice of independence

José Martí was a Cuban writer and poet. He is considered a Cuban national hero and is a symbol of Cuba's struggle for independence. He is considered one of the personalities who shaped the idea of revolution and is one of Cuba's most important national heroes. A statue of him can be found in front of every school, at the entrance or in the schoolyard. This stands as a symbol for the education of all Cubans. Life-size statues of him can also be admired in many public places. He campaigned for the rights of the indigenous people in Latin America and became a national hero of Cuba. His thoughts and writings had a significant influence on the Cuban revolution and inspired many to fight for the country's freedom.

The life of José Martí

José Martí, whose full name was José Julian Martí y Pérez, was born in Havana on 28.01.1853 and died on 19.05.1895 in Dos Ríos in what was then the province of Oriente. He was the first-born son of eight children of Mariano Martí Navarro and Leonor Pérez Cabrera. His parents were both from Spain, but his father was transferred to Cuba as a non-commissioned officer in the Spanish colonial army, which is why the family lived in Cuba rather than Spain.

José Martí began to take an interest in poetry in his youth, writing poems and sympathizing early on with the idea of resistance against the Spanish occupying power. In his play "Abdala", he showed his militant patriotism quite openly. This play was the reason why he was forcibly deported to Spain in 1871 and sentenced to forced labor there.

He began his law studies in Zaragoza. He returned to Cuba in 1878 and was exiled just one year later. He initially lived in Mexico, where he studied Mayan culture. From April 1877 to July 1878 he lived in Guatemala. In 1881, he moved to New York and wrote several works there, including the volume of poetry "Versos Sencillos" (Simple Verses). At this time, he organized the political and military struggle against the colonial power Spain from exile. In 1892, together with Cuban tobacco workers in Florida, he founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party "Partido Revolucionario Cubano". He was also able to persuade the two most important military leaders of the guerrilla war from 1868 to 1878, Antonio Maceo and Máximo Gómez, to resume the fight against the Spanish colonial power.

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War of independence and end of life

In 1895, he returned to Cuba to take part in the War of Independence. However, he died that same year in one of the first battles at Dos Ríos in the province of Oriente. His tomb can be found in the "Cementerio Santa Ifigenia" cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. A changing of the guard ceremony is held in his honor every half hour.

Legacy and monuments

The legacy of José Martí lives on in Cuban history and culture. His image and writings are omnipresent on the island, and numerous monuments and places bear his name. The José Martí monument in the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana is one of the best known and serves as an important place of pilgrimage for Cubans and tourists interested in Cuban history.

Influence on posterity

José Martí is not only remembered as Cuba's national hero, but also as a visionary and tireless advocate of human rights and social justice. His thinking and literary work have had a profound influence on Latin American literature and politics. Martí is an iconic figure whose life and legacy continue to be studied and celebrated around the world.

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