About José Martí
José Martí (1853–1895) was a Cuban poet, essayist, journalist and leader of Cuba's independence movement. He spent most of his adult life in exile, from 1880 mainly in New York, where he wrote for newspapers across Latin America and founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party (1892). He was killed in battle at Dos Ríos in 1895.
Works by José Martí
2 essays to practice
Nuestra América
Martí calls on the peoples of Latin America to know themselves, to govern from their own realities rather than imported models, and to stand together.
Intermediate · Medium
About 1 hr 46 min to type
Mi raza
Martí argues that no race has special rights, and that whatever divides people by race is a sin against humanity and a danger to a free Cuba.
Intermediate · Short
About 30 min to type
José Martí’s writing style
Martí writes in compact sentences charged with metaphor, often opening with an image and then stating the idea plainly. He favors antithesis and repetition, and his essays read like speeches meant to move readers to act.
How to write like José Martí
Pick one of José Martí’s essays and retype it word for word. Copying slows you down enough to notice how each sentence is built: where it starts, how long it runs and which words carry the weight. Keep the style notes above in mind as you type, then write a paragraph of your own in the same voice. New to this? Read what copywork is and how to do it.