EDITORIAL: Martí’s Path

One hundred and thirty years after the death of José Martí in combat, there are still voices—often rooted in partial or misinformed interpretations—that claim the Apostle allowed himself to be killed. Such assertions overlook the extraordinary leadership of the man who was the principal architect of Cuba’s Necessary War. Martí was no armchair politician. He knew he had to validate with his presence and example what he had shaped in the realm of ideas and strategy. He could not remain on the sidelines while Cuba’s destiny was being decided. His commitment was absolute.

Martí’s death at Dos Ríos was undeniably a devastating loss for the cause of independence. Yet his legacy, forged in a noble passion for justice and freedom, transcended that physical loss. His ideals became a moral and political compass for future generations. In Martí, the highest values of the Cuban nation are embodied—not as a static symbol, but as a living force that has accompanied the most decisive moments in the country’s history.

Even today, Martí remains a guiding light. His principles, rooted in deep humanism and a clear-eyed understanding of the dynamics of power and domination, are as relevant as ever. His condemnation of imperialism, his defense of full human dignity, and his vision of a republic for all and for the good of all retain their full relevance. In a troubled world, Martí’s words and actions shine with renewed force.

Few nations can claim that their most revered political figure is also a creator of such exceptional cultural stature. Martí was a poet, essayist, journalist, diplomat, and educator. His literary work and political thought form a harmonious and profound whole. This multidimensional legacy makes him inexhaustible—a constant source of interpretation and reappropriation across disciplines and sensibilities.

Cuba holds a permanent debt to Martí. It is not enough to honor him on commemorative dates or to repeat his phrases like incantations. He must be studied rigorously, analyzed without dogma, and brought into the heart of contemporary debates. Martí cannot be reduced to a fossil or a statue. He requires a dialectical reading that projects him into both the present and the future. Only then will he continue to be our essential contemporary.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff