Slide 2 Jesus Colon: A Writer Who Changed our World Written by
Carmen I. Mercado, Hunter College School of Education Slide 3 Jesus
Colon Slide 4 Questions to Think About How do Jesus Colons writings
reflect the times in which he lived? What writers share Jesus
Colons interests and ways with words? How can you use this
information to motivate student learning? Slide 5 Take double entry
notes Fold a paper in half. Jot down facts of interest in one
column and questions or comments in the other. Review your notes
and circle important ideas at the end. Slide 6 A Childhood Filled
with Words Slide 7 Jesus Colon was born into a working class family
in Puerto Rico on January 20, 1901. Puerto Rico went from being a
Spanish colony to being a colony of the United States. He was born
in Cayey, a tobacco growing area, three years after the Spanish
American War. Slide 8 As a young boy, Jesus was mesmerized by the
oratory of readers hired by cigar makers. The resonant voices of
skilled performers entertained and informed workers as they engaged
in the tedious work of rolling cigars. Slide 9 Tobacco Workers in
P.R. Slide 10 The words of Jesus first teachers made their way
through the windows of the Colon home and ignited a life- long
passion for the written word. Slide 11 Becoming a Man of Letters
Slide 12 As a student, injustices called Jesus Colon to action and
his use of words proved powerful in fighting all kinds of
injustices. Slide 13 Whether writing or speaking, Jesus Colons
simple, compelling prose won admiration from peers and respect from
teachers. Slide 14 It came as no surprise that he was named
director of the school newspaper and president of the schools
literary society. Slide 15 The Journey North Slide 16 After Puerto
Ricans were made U.S. citizens in 1917, many arrived on the south
Brooklyn waterfront aboard commercial steamers. Slide 17 Slide 18
Among them were some of the best artists and composers of the
island. Slide 19 Jesus Colon made the five day journey aboard the
S.S. Carolina, working all the way to New York. Slide 20 The Long
Journey North Slide 21 Jesus Colons Id Card Slide 22 Joaquin and
Jesus When he arrived, Jesus went to live with his brother Joaquin,
not far from the Brooklyn waterfront where the S.S. Carolina
docked. Slide 23 The Brooklyn Navy Yard Slide 24 It was here that
the first Puerto Rican community in New York was established and
where Jesus made his home. Slide 25 Letters to Concha Slide 26
Jesus wrote frequently to his sweetheart in Puerto Rico. Written
conversations between lovers give insights into their relationship
and family gossip. Slide 27 The letters also provide a glimpse into
what life was like in New York City at the beginning of the 20th
century. Slide 28 Today, these letters are part of the historical
record of how small town people from the tropics adjusted to a
large northern city, with an unfamiliar language and a different
way of life. Slide 29 Conchas Letter of July 26, 1923 Each time a
boat arrives, I wait to see your face coming home. Tell me, what
would you like for me to cook for you when that happy day
arrives?something you cannot get in New York City?Meanwhile you
encourage me to read as many things as I can. Slide 30 The San Juan
Harbor Slide 31 Do you know that I actually hate to read? I like
novels, love stories, stories about the lives of different men and
women but in general, I love to talk to have a discussion rather
than to read about it. Slide 32 Hard Jobs, Poor Wages Slide 33
During the Great Depression jobs were hard to come by and wages
low. This was also a time of intense racial discrimination and
violence. Jesus Colon worked at many menial and dangerous jobs
while attending night school at Boys High. Slide 34 Jesus Colon
learned about the dangers workers faced in the city. Slide 35 The
sketch, Easy Job, Good Wages, appears in A Puerto Rican in New
York. Slide 36 Making Time to Write Slide 37 It is always more
interesting to live than to write, said Jesus Colons friend, and
Colon did both with passion. He never earned a living as a
journalist but Colon wrote for several Spanish language papers in
New York and Puerto Rico at the same time. Slide 38 By 1950, Colon
had regular columns in English, in labor and community newspapers.
He wrote articles and news commentaries as well as poetry, short
stories and anecdotes. Slide 39 However, Jesus Colon was masterful
in the use of the cronica or chronicle to relate important events
to the community in an engaging and affecting manner. Slide 40
Translating a Way of Life Slide 41 Jesus Colon was bilingual by
circumstances of birth. However, he worked hard to develop his
writing skills in English. Colons bi-literacy allowed him to
chronicle how Puerto Ricans shaped and were shaped by the history
of New York City from his unique perspective. Slide 42 A Puerto
Rican in New York, the first book written in English by a Puerto
Rican about the NY Puerto Rican experience, was published in 1961.
Slide 43 A Puerto Rican in New York and Other Sketches is both a
collection of human interest stories and a social history of New
York. Slide 44 The Internationalist Slide 45 Jesus Colon was a
life-long advocate for the rights of all workers, inspired by early
experiences with cigar makers in Puerto Rico. Slide 46 Speaking at
a Rally Slide 47 He was drawn to internationally progressive
movements, especially in Latin America. He learned first hand that
workers in all parts of the world shared a common cause. Slide 48
He also knew that political power was key to creating better
opportunities. Thus, he ran for numerous public offices, including
comptroller, city councilman and assemblyman. Slide 49 Jesus Colon
and Local Labor Leaders Slide 50 The Nationalist Slide 51 Colon
wrote about many topics, but his constant concern was the social
and economic conditions of Puerto Ricans in New York City and on
the island. Slide 52 Colon was keenly aware that the migrants quest
for equality in the United States could not be separated from
Puerto Ricos ambiguous relationship to the United States. Slide 53
A Quiet Man with Strong Convictions Slide 54 Like many writers of
his time, including Langston Hughes, Jesus Colon was called to
testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee
during the McCarthy period. Slide 55 His response was simple: I
will not cooperate with this committee in its aim to destroy the
Bill of Rights and other constitutional rights of the people. Slide
56 Affinities with Other Writers Slide 57 Colons work is
reminiscent of Walt Whitman and Zora Neale Hurston. But it was
Langston Hughes, also a light-skin mulatto, who had much in common
with Colon. Slide 58 Langston Hughes and Jesus Colon Slide 59 1.
Were active in New Yorks Black and Latino communities. 2. Portrayed
the lives of ordinary people 3. Wrote about racial injustices. 4.
Wrote in English and Spanish. Slide 60 The Jesus Colon Papers Slide
61 Although he wrote more than 400 pieces in his lifetime, little
has been written about Jesus Colon. Unfortunately most of his
writings are not accessible in bounded form. Slide 62 Fortunately,
the Jesus Colon collection of the archives of El Centro de Estudios
Puertorriquenos at Hunter College makes accessible a collection of
documents about the life and times of this unassuming visionary.
Slide 63 Colons Inspiration Slide 64 One hundred years after his
birth, Jesus Colons legacy and his contributions to America live on
through his writings and his speeches. Slide 65 Slide 66 Colons
legacy also lives on through the Neo-Rican writers movement he
sparked as evident in the writings of Sandra Maria Esteves,
Nicholasa Mohr, and Piri Thomas. Slide 67 In his time, Colons
simple and incisive prose informed and entertained the masses.
Today, they give us a sense of historical continuity, connecting
our present to our past and our differences to a common
humanity.
