José Martí 1853-1895
The Writer Who Helped Free Cuba
As a schoolboy in Havana, Cuba, José Martí wanted freedom for Cuba. Cuba was a colony of Spain at that time. At 16, Martí founded a newspaper and wrote about freedom.
Spanish officials punished Martí for his support of Cuba's independence. They put him in prison, and then forced him to leave Cuba. He lived in different countries, including the United States. From 1881 to 1895, Martí lived in New York City. There, he wrote poetry, essays, and newspaper articles about Cuban independence.
Martí traveled to places like Ybor City, Florida. Many Cubans who also had to leave Cuba lived in Ybor City. Martí gave two speeches there in 1891. He wanted people to help free his country. In 1895, Martí returned to Cuba with a small army that included men from Ybor City. Martí did not survive the fighting. Three years after Martí's death, however, in late 1898, Cuba won its independence from Spain.
Critical Thinking
In what ways would you describe José Martí to someone who did not know about him?