Jose Marti Essay

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Highly idolized in Cuba Jose Marti became a figure of liberty and a symbol of the ongoing struggle to gain independence from Spanish rule. A poet, martyr, and a genuine patriot at heart Marti undertook the responsibility for political change not only through his vivid revolutionary writings, but through his daring strategic, organized, and unified the movement. A true native hero-- the Apostle of the Cuban Revolution, Jose Marti, dedicated his life to Cuban independence and a free and united America. Built and donated in 1958, but not erected until May 19, 1965 due to many political struggles between Cuban groups and American authorities, a statue of Jose Marti mounted on a horse now stands at a height of 37 feet in New York’s own Central Park. Made of bronze the equestrian statue was sculpted by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington; however, the monument’s dark granite pedestal, which was designed by the architectural firm of Clarke & Rapuano was donated by the Cuban government. Funds raised by Cuban-Americans from throughout the United States allowed the Central Park Conservancy to conserve the Marti monument in 1992. Greeting visitors to Central Park South at Avenue of the Americas Marti is depicted at the moment when he was mortally wounded in battle on the plains of Dos Ríos, Oriente province against Spain. Three years prior to his death Marti was elected “delegate” for he refused to be called president, of the Partido Revolucionario Cubano – A revolutionary party he took part in creating. Using New York as a home base for operations he began planning a Cuban invasion. Alongside the Cuban revolutionary leader Máximo Gómez and other compatriots Marti left New York on January 31, 1895 headed towards Santo Domingo. Finally arriving in Cuba to begin the invasion on April 11 Marti insisted on part taking in actual battle. Unfortunately Marti Died a month later
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