Jesus Colon

1. Jesus Colon: A Writer Who Changed our WorldWritten by Carmen I. Mercado, Hunter College School of Education

2. Jesus Colon

3. Questions to Think About • How do Jesus Colon’s writings reflect the times in which he lived? • What writers share Jesus Colon’s interests and ways with words? • How can you use this information to motivate student learning?

4. 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.

5. A Childhood Filled with Words

6. Jesus Colon was born into a working class family in Puerto Rico on January 20, 1901. He was born in Cayey, a tobacco growing area, three years after the Spanish American War. Puerto Rico went from being a Spanish colony to being a colony of the United States.

7. 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.

8. Tobacco Workers in P.R.

9. 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.

10. Becoming a Man of Letters

11. As a student , injustices called Jesus Colon to action and his use of words proved powerful in fighting all kinds of injustices.

12. Whether writing or speaking, Jesus Colon’s simple, compelling prose won admiration from peers and respect from teachers.

13. It came as no surprise that he was named director of the school newspaper and president of the school’s literary society.

14. The Journey North

15. After Puerto Ricans were made U.S. citizens in 1917, many arrived on the south Brooklyn waterfront aboard commercial steamers.

17. Among them were some of the best artists and composers of the island.

18. Jesus Colon made the five day journey aboard the S.S. Carolina, working all the way to New York.

19. The Long Journey North

20. Jesus Colon’s Id Card

21. 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.

22. The Brooklyn Navy Yard

23. It was here that the first Puerto Rican community in New York was established and where Jesus made his home.

24. Letters to Concha

25. Jesus wrote frequently to his sweetheart in Puerto Rico. Written conversations between lovers give insights into their relationship and family gossip.

26. The letters also provide a glimpse into what life was like in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century.

27. 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.

28. Concha’s 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.

29. The San Juan Harbor

30. 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.”

31. Hard Jobs, Poor Wages

32. 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.

33. Jesus Colon learned about the dangers workers faced in the city.

34. The sketch, Easy Job, Good Wages, appears in “A Puerto Rican in New York.”

35. Making Time to Write

36. “It is always more interesting to live than to write,” said Jesus Colon’s 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. Translating a Way of Life

40. Jesus Colon was bilingual by circumstances of birth. However, he worked hard to develop his writing skills in English. Colon’s bi-literacy allowed him to chronicle how Puerto Ricans shaped and were shaped by the history of New York City from his unique perspective.

41. “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 .

42. “A Puerto Rican in New York and Other Sketches” is both a collection of human interest stories and a social history of New York.

43. The Internationalist

44. Jesus Colon was a life-long advocate for the rights of all workers, inspired by early experiences with cigar makers in Puerto Rico.

45. Speaking at a Rally

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. Jesus Colon and Local Labor Leaders

49. The Nationalist

50. 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.