Summary Of Our America By Jose Marti

José Martí’s “Our America” is socio-political critique that aims to unite the American people and invoke a sense of nationalism that has been lost during the imperialistic time period in the late nineteenth century. The only way that the America people can stand up to these large imperializing nations is by creating a cultural bond and increasing the pride they have in their native traditions. In the America that Martí is describing, there is an increasing rejection of national culture and traditions among the youngest generation. The young people are “ashamed of the mother that reared them” and the “country that nourishes them” (1). Martí deplores their ungrateful attitudes toward the country that has given them everything they have needed in life. He views their lust for traveling to Europe for education and a new life as betrayal to their home country. The young Americans are rejecting their traditional identity and seeking everything from education to pride in other countries and cultures. The Americans are seeing more developed

In a time period when the United States and other European countries are colonizing areas at each corner of the Earth, the American people must stand strong against these impeding world powers. While they were still a colonized area, the people of America were never taught to speak up against the wrongdoings performed by the imperialistic nations; Martí knows this is why many people went to Madrid, Paris, and other European nations to learn and become modernized. It is important, however, that the people not be ashamed of their identity; they must have strength in numbers and unite in the face of adversity. There is a “pressing need of our America is to show itself as it is, one in spirit and intent” (5). Without showing the world that the people of America have united, there is no way for this country to stand strong against other