Julia de Burgos
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Julia de Burgos (February 17, 1914 – July 6, 1953), born in Carolina, Puerto Rico has been considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico. She was also an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico.
Burgos was raised in a poor section of Carolina called Barrio Santa Cruz. This, however, did not keep her from developing a love for nature and her country. She was fortunate to be able to attend school since she was one of thirteen brothers and sisters.
Burgos graduated from the University of Puerto Rico (Universidad de Puerto Rico) with a degree in teaching at the age of nineteen. She became a teacher but her love for literature led her to write poetry. Among her early influences were Luis Llorens Torres, Clara Lair, Rafael Alberti and Pablo Neruda. Her inspiration came from her love of Puerto Rico and as noted in her first work "El Rio Grande de Loiza".
In 1936, she joined the Daughters of Freedom, the women's branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico). This was the independence party headed by Pedro Albizu Campos.
Burgos published three books which contained a collection of her poems. For her first two books, she traveled around the island promoting herself by giving book readings. Her third book was published posthumously in 1954.
She was married twice but it was her second husband, Jose Grullon, who was to become her great love. Many of her poems were inspired by the love that she felt for him. In 1939 Burgos and her husband traveled first to Cuba and then to New York. Their marriage fell apart and shortly after she went back to Cuba. Burgos returned again to New York, this time alone. Even though she had many admirers, this did not keep her from falling into a deep depression. She turned to alcohol, believing it to be the solution to her problems. Eventually, Burgos became an alcoholic and on July 6, 1953 she collapsed on a New York sidewalk and died of pneumonia at a hospital located in Harlem, New York, at the age of 39. As no one claimed her body and she had no identification on her, the city gave her a pauper's burial on Hart Island, the city's cemetery for the unidentified.
Some of her friends were able to trace and find her grave. They claimed her body and had her remains sent to Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, she was given a hero's burial and a monument was built at her burial site by the City of Carolina.
Among Julia de Burgos' important works are: "Rio Grande de Loiza", "Poema para mi Muerte" (My Death Poem), "Yo Misma Fui Mi Ruta" (I Picked My Own Oath), "Alba de Mi Silencio", "Alta Mar y Gaviota", etc.
On February 19, 1987, The Spanish Department of the University of Puerto Rico posthumously honored Julia de Burgos by granting her a doctorate in Human Letters and Arts. The proclamation was presented to her niece, Maria Consuelo Seaz Burgos. The City of San Juan, Puerto Rico has honored her memory by naming schools and avenues after her. There is A Casa Protectora Julia de Burgos in San Juan which protects mistreated women. In San Juan there is also the Julia de Burgos Museum of Arts and Sciences. The City of New York has honored her with a Julia de Burgos Latino Center in Manhattan and a Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center in Harlem, close to the spot were she died. The City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has honored Julia de Burgos by naming an elementary and middle school after her. The renowned Puerto Rican sculptor Tomas Batista sculpted a bust of Julia which is in the Julia de Burgos Park in Carolina. A documentary about the life of Julia de Burgos was made in (2002} titled "Julia, toda en mi..." (Julia, All in me...) directed and produced by Ivonne Belen.
See also
External link
- Fem-Biography (http://www.fembio.org/women/julia-de-burgos.shtml)