José Rafael Simón Agapito Serra y Montalvo (March 24, 1858 – October 24, 1909) was an

Afro-Cuban Afro-Cubans () or Black Cubans are Cubans of full or partial sub-Saharan African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba associated with this community, and the combining of native African a ...

intellectual who played a large role in supporting the

Cuban War of Independence The Cuban War of Independence (), also known in Cuba as the Necessary War (), fought from 1895 to 1898, was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) and the Litt ...

. He worked as a writer and editor for Spanish-language newspapers in the United States. He advocated for working class Cubans of color. He was a key figure in New York City, contributing to a larger movement for Cuban Independence happening across the

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Early life

Rafael Serra was born José Rafael Simón Agapito in the Monserrate neighborhood of

Havana Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

on March 24, 1858. His surnames were Serra and Montalvo. He was born while slavery continued in Cuba. At age thirteen, his father died and he was forced to abandon his studies to help support his family. He found employment as a cigar factory

apprentice Apprenticeship is a system for training a potential new practitioners of a Tradesman, trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study. Apprenticeships may also enable practitioners to gain a license to practice in ...

. He later married María Gertrudis Heredia in 1878, and they had four children, including a daughter, Consuelo. A short time later he moved from his hometown to

Matanzas Matanzas (Cuban ; ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas Province, Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-American religions, Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Mat ...

. At the age of 21 he established the Harmony Society for Instruction and Leisure, where he taught classes to children in the day and day laborers at night. The school offered, among other activities, free classes to 48 black and white children.

Career

Rafael Serra played a prominent role in raising awareness and support for the efforts that led to the

during the 1880s and 1890s. Working alongside

José Martí José Julián Martí Pérez (; 28 January 1853 – 19 May 1895) was a Cuban nationalism, nationalist, poet, philosopher, essayist, journalist, translator, professor, and publisher, who is considered a Cuban national hero because of his role in ...

and other Cuban Americans in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, Serra was a political journalist who wrote for and edited several newspapers in the United States, including ''La Doctrina de Martí''. On August 5, 1883, an organization called El Club de los Independientes was formed by several Afro-Cuban migrants. Rafael Serra served on the Board of Trustees along with pro-independence and pro-labor revolutionaries Justo Lanigua, Martín Morúa Delgado, and Vicente Diascosmas. They organized themselves so that they could aid in the efforts toward Cuban Independence, hoping to use their experiences to inform Cubans about the harsh realities of life in the United States. Racial inequality persisted while Serra lived in New York City. Afro-Cubans experienced harsh discrimination and segregation and were often left to work difficult, labor-intensive jobs at restaurants and cigar factories. Serra once wrote that, "through no fault of their own, Afro Cubans remained the poorest and most uneducated element of Cuban society." Devoted to promoting the interests of black Cubans, Serra emphasized the importance of education founding educational institutions such as La Liga de Instruccion.

Life Work

La Liga de Instruccion

La Liga de Instruccion was an educational institution founded by Rafael Serra, designed to "elevate the character of men of color born in Cuba and Puerto Rico". La Liga held its first official meeting on January 22, 1890. Black Cuban and Puerto Rican men living in New York City came to study, where they learned how to fight for social justice, equality and labor rights. Serra's goal was to provide black Cuban men with the proper tools to defend themselves.

''La Doctrina de Marti''

Serra founded ''La Doctrina de Marti'', inspired by his friend

. The first volume issue was published on July 25, 1896. The newspaper circulated throughout

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Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

, and

the Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America to the west, a ...

. It was noted as "an important newspaper for all Cubans" by José A Malberti, the president of El Club Político Cubano Bartolome Masó, based in Mexico. The paper had a central focus on educating the working class on political and cultural justice issues.

Selected works

* 1886 – ''Ideas y Pensamientos'' * 1886 – ''Album Poético, Político y Literario'' * 1892 – ''Ensayos Políticos'' * 1895 – ''La Doctrina de Martí: La República con Todo y Para Todos'' * 1895 – ''La Verdad''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Serra, Rafael 1858 births 1909 deaths Cuban journalists Cuban independence activists People of the Cuban War of Independence Cuban activists 19th-century Cuban writers