© Latinas in History 2008
The
author of La Borinqueña the island’s national
anthem Rodríguez de Tió lived the life of a sojourner
as she, her husband and daughters were ousted from the island on numerous
occasions for their political beliefs. Born in San Germán in
1843 into an educated family that traced its lineage to Ponce de León,
Rodríguez de Tió defied and re-defined the type of life
expected of women in her social class throughout the Americas. She
strongly believed in the solidarity binding Cuba and Puerto Rico in
their common struggles for liberation, comparing them to the two wings
of one bird, which received bullets and praise in the same heart.
Rodríguez de Tió lived in New York City from 1895 until 1899 –
a short span in terms of years, but a critically significant period in the movement
for Antillean independence. Here the eloquent writer collaborated with other exiled
insurgents, and moved in social and political circles that boasted key leaders
and community organizers. Rodriguez de Tió enhanced both the cultural and
political dimensions of the exile community. An accomplished musician, she gave
piano recitals, poetry readings and delivered fiery speeches calling for political
change, all of which enriched the coffers of the war efforts. An electrifying
performer with a sense of drama, she enthralled bohemian audiences.
She
became vice president and later honorary president of the Club Hermanas de Ruis
Rivera, considered to be among the first women’s club belonging to the section
of Puerto Rico of the Cuban Revolutionary Party. Named in honor of the Puerto
Rican general who engaged in combat in the Spanish-Cuban war, the club raised
money through a broad range of activities, including cultural events, pageants,
seasonal celebrations, picnics, dances, bazaars, and the staging of theatrical
productions. Its members also secured medical supplies and other much needed provisions
to send to Cuba.
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