Jose Julian Marti y Perez

The Marti ?rdom of Jose Julian

Jose Julian Marti y Perez was born to Mariano Marti y Navarro and Leonor Perez y Cabrera on January 28 , 1853 . He was baptized as a Roman Catholic on February 12th . He was born a citizen of Spain . His father was a first sergeant in the Spanish Royal Artillery . Jose had seven sisters . Two died as children1 . At age nine , Jose was a clerk for his father , who at that time was a policeman . This was Jose 's first witnessing of the mistreatment of slaves . At this

point , he desired the freedom of slaves . 2 Rafael Maria de Mendive was very instrumental in Jose 's future . He paid for his education when Jose 's father wanted him to give up school and get a job . Mendive was a teacher and Valdes Dominguez , a life long friend of Jose 's , was as devoted to education as he . They were classmates and received the highest grades possible However , he and Valdes ' jousting landed them in prison . They joked with some soldiers that took offense and later came back and searched the premises . A letter written by Valdes and Jose had them arrested . They were accused of treason . He was given the greater sentence (six years because he claimed to have written the entire letter . He was shackled at the waist and ankles and had to endure hard labor at a stone quarry in 18711 . They both were ill at the time and faculty members felt their health improve by a change of scenery

1Richard Butler Gray , Jose Marti , Cuban Patriot (Florida , University of Florida Press , 1962

2Robin Kadison Berson , Young Heroes in World History (Westwood , CT Greenwood Press , 1999

A few years later he returned to Mexico and discovered his favorite sister , Ana , died . Four years later , Marti spoke of Cuban Independence in the presence of the Spanish governor . Six years later , he was rearrested . He began writing letters to newss about freeing Cuba from Spanish reign . After Marti and Valdez were freed , they signed off on 27 de noviembre , a document that frowned upon the shooting of eight medical students . He was detained for conspiracy and yet deported once again . He went to New York in 1880 and joined the Cuban Revolutionary Committee . He was appointed interim head and at this point began organizing for the war . Under this role , he gave permission for the little war (La Guerra Chiquita , which lost momentum after a year . Two years later (1882 ) Jose wrote to General Maximo Gomez , one of the leaders of the ten year war , asking for support in the liberation of Cuba . He also wrote General Antonio Maceo , inquiring of his opinion of starting a revolution . In 1884 he was named Vice Consul of Uruguay and months later met with the generals to discuss war efforts .3 His father died three years later . An executive committee for the war was formed that same year by Jose . When the war began , Spanish forces in Cuba were approximately 80 ,000 . A quarter of these soldiers were enlisted and the rest were Spanish and Cuban volunteers . Rich land owners enrolled their slaves for this service . He was killed in 1895 in the war . He was survived by his son Cesar Romero , an actor and an alleged daughter Maria Mantilla .1

1Richard Butler Gray , Jose Marti , Cuban Patriot (Florida , University of Florida Press , 1962

3Joel Mathis , Jose Julian Marti y Perez (1853-1895

These policies implemented by Marti did not go unnoticed . His death was not in vain . In fact , Fidel Castro utilized these tactics for eventual freedom of Cuba in 1959 . 3 The Montecristi Manifesto was the policy for the war for independence . It outlined several points . The first point was that the war was to be for every nationality and race . It was critical to be victorious . Next , Spanish that did not interfere or object should not be held accountable in Cuba . They should not be killed or taken as prisoners . Lastly , this war should bring financial stability and /or growth to Cuba . 4 It was more so a philosophy that Marti held his vision of man . He formed La Liga with Rafael Serra , a Cuban Negro exile , to help slaves . This was a learning center to strengthen black Cuban exiles . He was very devoted to it and taught class there every Thursday . 3 He felt that freedom was justice for all . Jose was a very profound leader and visionary with impeccable oratory skills . He had all of the makings of a great leader . He was a visionary and his imagination came to fruition . There are numerous statues , libraries and the like named after him and with that being said it is no question that Marti was indeed a prominent leader in the independence of Cuba . He may not have been alive to witness it , but his spirit gripped the souls and hearts of those who fought so long for such a feat . He was fair and just and helped create a freedom that may not have been realized had he not organized this regime . Jose was terrified of the United States taking over Cuba . Cuba had sugar and the US wanted to own it

3Joel Mathis , Jose Julian Marti y Perez (1853-1895

4Jerry Sierra , The War for Cuban Independence

This is a commodity that made freeing of this island a little more difficult . Supporters of the war efforts were running out of funds and it was making it impossible to continue the fight . Yet the fight continued . The war had the spirit of Marti . He lost his sister , father and his life for this war effort . He loved life and freedom for others and never became stagnant despite his personal misery . He was a writer that definitely lived by `the show must go on ' mentality until his final curtain call . He convinced Cubans to give up one days pay for the war effort and whole-heartedly believed they could govern themselves . 5 He was a very fair man and sought cohesion . In fact , he postponed war efforts when Maceo and Gomez disagreed . 6 He practiced the concept of unity in his every day life . He united every walk of life for this cause and understood how critical unity was to success . He was well-loved and respected

The reason everyone comes to love Josy Martn is that without question he is the person we all dream of being , the man that in our moments of optimista , although the prospects may be disheartening and all common sense against us , the man we believe we will yet become . We love him because he keeps that vision of fulfill-ment alive in us--to be a whole man like him : a brave laining young rebel though the jailing he suffered broke his health , a loving father to his little son , a father to his nation (the very idea of Cuba being a nation seems his , a great poet , a great journalist , a superb prose stylist , an unexcelled organizer and teacher , an utterly sincere and honest and forthright friend and correspondent , one of the few major revolutionary leaders of modern times .7

The exiles were instrumental in further developing his political views as moving around to differing socio-economic and philosophical lifestyles lead him to a vision that came to be realized . Marti had a goal . He accomplished it . He has been posthumously recognized for his efforts and he died for his cause . Is that not enough to make him a hero

5 Pablo Medina , The Tampa Cubans and the Culture of Exile ' The Antioch Review , Vol 62 , Fall 2004

6 Hannah Caller , History of Cuba , Jose Marti , 1853-1895 and The War of Independence

7 Eduardo Gonzalez , Perez , Louis A , Jr , Ed . Jose Marti in the United States : The Florida Experience 'Perez , Luis A , Jr , Ed , Jose Marti In The United States The Florida Experience ' Arizona State University Center for Latnn American Studies , 1995

Bibliography

Richard Butler Gray , Jose Marti , Cuban Patriot (Florida , University of Florida Press , 1962

Joel Mathis , Jose Julian Marti y Perez (1853-1895

Jerry Sierra , The War for Cuban Independence

Pablo Medina , The Tampa Cubans and the Culture of Exile ' The Antioch Review , Vol 62 , Fall 2004

Hannah Caller , History of Cuba , Jose Marti , 1853-1895 and The War of Independence

Robin Kadison Berson , Young Heroes in World History (Westwood , CT Greenwood Press , 1999

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z , Luis A , Jr , Ed , Jose Marti In The United States The Florida Experience ' Arizona State University Center for Latnn American Studies , 1995 ...