Hispanic communities inhabited Florida before English was promoted as the primary language, and the area became one of the 50 states of the country. Individuals that arrived from various regions of Latin America formed neighborhoods, and for the first several decades, they had remained isolated from each other both in terms of culture and mutual understanding. José Martí, who is primarily known for his participation in liberating Cuba from Spanish control, contributed significantly to Hispanic communities in Florida. Martí’s powerful speeches united Hispanic immigrants in the region and promoted the ethnic and cultural identity of local neighborhoods.
José Martí was born into a poor family of Spanish immigrants in Cuba. He committed himself to the cause of freeing the country from Spanish governance. Ironically, José studied at a Spanish university in Madrid before returning to the Americas (“José Martí”). Both when he was in Cuba and Spain, he wrote papers about the necessity for Cuban liberation (“José Martí”). He claimed that residents of Cuba had an identity and culture that differed from Spanish customs (“José Martí”). His commitment to revolutionary causes made Martí a national leader in Cuba. Little is spoken of, however, his contributions to Hispanic neighborhoods in the United States and particularly in Florida.
When he was in the United States, Martí mainly lived in New York. However, his arrival in Florida can be considered one of the most important periods both for the Cuban revolution and for Hispanic communities. Within three days after coming to Tampa, José was able to raise money from Cuban immigrant workers to support the revolutionary cause (Suarez). People were impressed by the fact that one man could organize previously divided factions of Hispanic immigrants. Martí’s journey continued with his Key West Speech in 1892, which made José famous throughout Florida (Suarez). He spoke of freedom, justice, and equality with genuine passion and sincerity, which sparked a plethora of emotions in his listeners. Martí emphasized the importance of retaining cultural identity and urged Hispanic immigrants to come together and assist each other (Waitman). Without José’s influence, it is possible that Hispanic heritage in Florida could have been lost.
Apart from giving inspirational speeches, José engaged in poetry and literature and wrote newspaper articles and essays. Some of his works were published in Key West and influenced the curriculums of schools where the majority of students was comprised of Hispanic immigrants (Suarez). Martí strongly believed that it was not enough to excel in scientific disciplines. He urged schools to put some focus on literature and poetry (Suarez). Eventually, José returned to Cuba to help the rebels fight the Spanish rule. Unfortunately, in one of the confrontations, José Martí was shot dead (“José Martí”). Despite his premature departure, Cubans were able to achieve their independence from Spain.
Martí is considered to be an important figure in the history of Cuba. His prominence as a national hero has made his contributions to Florida to be perceived as negligent. However, Florida could retain its Hispanic heritage partly because of José united isolated Latino neighborhoods. Today, the state of Florida can offer its visitors an opportunity to get acquainted with the culture, cuisine, and customs of Hispanic people. These elements would have been lost if immigrants had not united to protect their identity. Therefore, José Martí’s contributions to Florida communities are significant and should be celebrated.
Works Cited
“José Martí.” Library of Congress, Web.
Suarez, Dariel. “In Search of Florida’s José Martí.” The Florida Book Review, Web.
Waitman, Alixandra. “José Martí.” Tampa Historical, Web.