- Juan Antonio Corretjer
Infobox writer
name = Juan Antonio Corretjer
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caption = Juan Antonio Corretjer
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birthdate = March 3, 1908
birthplace =Ciales, Puerto Rico
deathdate = January 19, 1985
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occupation = poet, journalist, activist for Puerto Rico's independence
nationality = Puerto Rican
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movement = Puerto Rican Independence
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website =Juan Antonio Corretjer (
March 3 ,1908 -January 19 ,1985 ) was born inCiales, Puerto Rico and was a well knownpoet ,journalist and pro-independence political activist opposing United States rule inPuerto Rico .Early years
Corretjer's father and uncles were involved in the "Ciales Uprising" of
August 13 ,1898 , against theUnited States occupation. When he was a lad, he would often accompany his father and uncles to political rallies. He went to elementary school in his hometown.Nationalist youth
Corretjer joined the "Literary Society of
Jose Gautier Benitez ", which later would be renamed the "Nationalist Youth", while he was still in elementary school. When he was in 8th grade, he organized a student protest against the United States in his town. He was expelled from school and he was not permitted to attend any schools in the municipality of Ciales. Corretjer was forced to go to school in the town of Vega Baja.In 1920, when he was only 12 years old, Corretjer wrote his first poem "Canto a Ciales" (My Song to Ciales). In 1924, Corretjer published his first booklet of poems. In 1927, he worked as a journalist for various
newspaper s and publications in Puerto Rico,Cuba and theUnited States .In 1935, Corretjer travelled to Cuba. In Cuba, he joined an anti-Batista group whose aim was to overthrow the
dictator . He also traveled toHaiti and to theDominican Republic looking for international support for Puerto Rico's independence movement.In 1936, Corretjer met and became friends with the nationalist leader
Pedro Albizu Campos . He was named Secretary General of thePuerto Rican Nationalist Party soon after. Corretjer was jailed in 1937, 1947 and in 1950 because of his political ideas.Poetry and essays
Besides being an outspoken pro-independence leader, Corretjer is considered by many as one of Puerto Rico's greatest poets of the 1930s era. The themes and inspiration for his poems and essays were derived from the love that he felt for his country. Among his poems are: "
Agueybana " (1932), "Amor a Puerto Rico" (1937) (Love of Puerto Rico), "Cantico de Guerra" (1937) (Song of War), "El Leñero" (1944) (Timberman), "Tierra Nativa" (1951) (Native Land), "Yerba Bruja" (1957) (Bewitched Grass) and many more.Among his essays are: "Llorens"; "Juicio Historico" (Historical Trial); "La Revolucion de Lares" (The Revolution of Lares); "Nuestra Bandera" (Our Flag) and many others.
Juan Antonio Corretjer died in
San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 19, 1985.ee also
*
List of Puerto Rican writers
*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*Puerto Rican literature External links
* [http://www.prcc-chgo.org/ PRCC]
* [http://pr.indymedia.org/uploads/2007/03/antonio_corretjer.avi Interview with Juan Antonio Corretjer - 1982]
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