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Martí Pérez
José Martí is one of Cuba’s most famous
historical, cultural and literary figures.
Born on January 28, 1853, to Spanish parents he later attended
school in Havana. It was not long before Martí began
writing about the Cubans’ struggle for independence.
In March 1870, he was arrested for his association with independist
groups and sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and hard labor
by the War Council. With his father’s intervention,
he was soon pardoned and the sentence was reduced to exile,
the reason for which he moved to Spain.
He completed his education in Spain and earned
a degree in Literature and Philosophy. He then traveled around
many European cities until in 1875 he leaves England for Mexico,
where he publishes works in several magazines. In 1877 he
goes back to Havana for a while, to then return to Mexico
and travel back and forth between Guatemala and Mexico. In
December of that same year, he married a fellow Cuban in Mexico,
Carmen Zayas Bazán, originally from Camagüey.
Returning to Cuba after the Zanjón Pact, he works as
a lawyer and obtains a permit to teach, before being arrested
again and deported to Spain, on charges of conspiracy. He
traveled often, going from New York, to Venezuela and back
again. He became involved in Cuban political and revolutionary
movements such as the Cuban Revolutionary Party, and all the
while publishing literary works and poetry.
He soon organized an independence process,
heading towards the island. Despite opposition by the United
States, Martí managed to make it to Cuba in an attempt
to lead the independence procession, only to by brought down
by troops upon his arrival. He had nevertheless, contributed
greatly to the struggle for independence of Cuba from Spain.
Martí is considered a national hero in Cuba and regarded
as one of the most important figures related to the Latin
American independence movements, along with other greats such
as Bolívar and San Martín.
Martí's ideals influenced generations of Cubans and
the famous "Guantanamera" song, considered the unofficial
anthem of Cuba, is actually based on one of Martí’s
poems.
