Article Analysis: A Tribute to Antonio Maceo

Article Analysis: A Tribute to Antonio Maceo

Antonio Maceo is described as “the greatest hero of the nineteenth century” in the American Magazine in the year 1900. Also, he was referred to as “General Maceo, the greatest Negro soldier and general of modern times”. According to Arther, A. Maceo was an unmatched soldier for the last century; the noblest and the ablest of cavalry leaders born in America. These statements have been yet true even after forty years and it has still been impossible to find a single person like the Cuban black liberator, in the books regarding American history. However, the American presses reports about various events related to Maceo such as; exploitation of Maceo in his battles with the overpowering Spanish forces; refusal by Maceo for signing the “Pact of Zanjon end of slavery”; and issuance by Maceo for the notorious Protest of Baragua. All these reports added to his fame in the US. On his visit to New York for the purpose of fundraising, he was welcomed by the anxious reporters and the black community even established a guest house in his name as “Hotel Maceo”. Maceo acquired immense fame and popularity in the times of second war of Independence by Cuba due to his successful and remarkable military operations Foner & Syme-Hastings, 1970).

According to the report by an American reporter, Syme-Hastings, Maceo was a magnificently statured leader, having an influential personality. As per Maceo's discussion with Syme-Hastings, Maceo feared that their government might be ambiguous about the prudence of identifying their own belligerency. He also was aware of the fact that it was really challenging to pass such resolutions via the Chief Executive's office. Nevertheless, Maceo believed that the only result of the war could be the victory for the Cubans and it would be no later than the New Year. Maceo was murdered in the last month of the year 1896, in a battle against the Spanish troops. This news was spread so speedily that people in the US did not come to believe at first that he was actually murdered.

The tribute to Antonio Maceo by Syme-Hastings was published as the leading article in the “Journal of the Knights of Labor”. However, this tribute was marred by a bias. The reporter belonged to the Southern region and it was very hard for him to acknowledge that such a brilliant and courageous tactician could be a black man. Hence, he refuted this fact and claimed that the dark color Maceo carried was because of exposure to the sun. The racial prejudice, in this way, blinded even an incisive reporter to the veracity of Maceo's legacy (Fagen, 1976). The Knights of Labor strongly influenced the American labor movement and actively supported Cuba Libre, consistently stipulating that the US government acknowledge the belligerency of the Cuban Revolution. This would make the revolutionary soldiers of Cuba to be capable of purchasing the greatly required ammunition and arms in the US. The magazine was certainly a ...