He was born in Camagüey on July 10, 1902 and died in Havana on July 17, 1989.

Cuban journalist, poet and politician, considered for his work as the National Poet of Cuba. His revolutionary ideas kept him in exile during the last years of the Batista dictatorship returning to the island after the rebellious triumph of 1959.

In the socialist Cuba that came to power in 1959 he joined the Communist Party and was among the founders of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, being the first president of this organization. He deserved the Order Jose Martí in 1981.

His poetry is considered as the highest expression of the most legitimate and revolutionary popular aspirations in the historical period in which it occurs. He introduced the black theme in poetry in Spanish.

His work has been translated into many languages and has received praise and studies from prominent personalities of contemporary literature because it has been able to fully interpret the fighting spirit of human beings and their hope to conquer a better society.

Among his most outstanding literary titles are: Motivos de son, Elegía a Jesús Menéndez, Sóngoro cosongo, El son entero. For his work he won the Viareggio Award and the 1983 National Literature Prize.

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