Rubén Martínez Villena
Encyclopedia
Rubén Martínez Villena was a Cuban writer and revolutionary
leader, born on December 20, 1899 in Alquízar
, in the La Habana province
.
Law School, Villena worked as a lawyer
, and published poetry
and short stories
in newspapers and magazines from 1917 until the late 1920s.
In 1923, Villena was one of thirteen writers and artists participating in the "Protesta de los Trece" (Protest of the Thirteen), denouncing the government of President
Alfredo Zayas. This led to the foundation of the Grupo Minorista, a group of artists and intellectuals who became influential in Cuban culture and politics..
After meeting Julio Antonio Mella
, founder of the Communist Party of Cuba
, he got more involved in the social struggle, against what was seen at the time as neocolonial
governments subdued to the United States interests. In 1925 he was Mella's attorney in the trial for "insulting" President Zayas.
After contracting tuberculosis
, Villena travelled to the United States
and the Soviet Union
, including to the Caucasus Mountains
. When he returned to Cuba in 1932 he was seriously ill. During 1932 and 1933 he organized the general strike
that ended Gerardo Machado
's government.
He died in Havana on June 16, 1934, in La Esperanza Sanatory.
A stamp was issued December 20, 1999 by the Postal Authority in Cuba commemorating him as a revolutionary. (Scott 2010 Stamp Catalogue p. 661)
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
leader, born on December 20, 1899 in Alquízar
Alquízar
Alquízar is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.The town is located in the south-west corner of the province, south-west of San Antonio de los Baños and west of Güira de Melena....
, in the La Habana province
La Habana Province
Havana Province was one of the provinces of Cuba, prior to being divided into two new provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque on January 1, 2011. It had 711,066 people in the 2002 census. The largest city was Artemisa .-Geography:...
.
Biography
After graduating from the University of HavanaUniversity of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
Law School, Villena worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and published poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
in newspapers and magazines from 1917 until the late 1920s.
In 1923, Villena was one of thirteen writers and artists participating in the "Protesta de los Trece" (Protest of the Thirteen), denouncing the government of President
President of Cuba
--209.174.31.28 18:43, 22 November 2011 The President of Cuba is the Head of state of Cuba. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, the President is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba...
Alfredo Zayas. This led to the foundation of the Grupo Minorista, a group of artists and intellectuals who became influential in Cuban culture and politics..
After meeting Julio Antonio Mella
Julio Antonio Mella
Julio Antonio Mella was a founder of the "internationalized" Cuban Communist Party.Mella studied law in the University of Havana until he was expelled in 1925 and is considered a hero by the present Cuban government. Some Cubans view him as a victim of the Stalin-Trotsky struggle...
, founder of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
, he got more involved in the social struggle, against what was seen at the time as neocolonial
Neocolonialism
Neocolonialism is the practice of using capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces to control a country in lieu of direct military or political control...
governments subdued to the United States interests. In 1925 he was Mella's attorney in the trial for "insulting" President Zayas.
After contracting tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, Villena travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, including to the Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
. When he returned to Cuba in 1932 he was seriously ill. During 1932 and 1933 he organized the general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
that ended Gerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado y Morales was President of Cuba and a general of the Cuban War of Independence...
's government.
He died in Havana on June 16, 1934, in La Esperanza Sanatory.
A stamp was issued December 20, 1999 by the Postal Authority in Cuba commemorating him as a revolutionary. (Scott 2010 Stamp Catalogue p. 661)