José Martí, a national hero in Cuba, writes about his country’s journey to independence. The time period he is living in is not a relaxing one where one is “sleeping in a nightcap,” but rather one of “weapons for a pillow” (1). Cuba is vying for its independence from imperialist Spain while trying to fend off America in the north. He begins his essay by condemning the Cubans who have turned away from their own country and its people, calling them “conceited villagers” (1). The Europeans who have been stationed in Cuba have created youth who only care about one thing: themselves. These members of Cuban society are completely unaware of what is to come with all of this imperialism; they believe the world is in a good place.
I found the contrast
I found the contrast