Edwin Reyes

An activist in favor of Puerto Rico's independence, Reyes was one of that island's top poets and a literary legend. Born in the town of Ciales, Reyes became involved in the independence movement as a teen, after witnessing the grave injustices the new U.S. territorial government were doing in the name of progress. As an editor/columnist of "Claridad," the newspaper produced by the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Reyes provided his viewpoints on the colonialism of his country. As an author of several books of poetry, Reyes was seen as one of the top poets in the island's history, ranking with local natives Julia de Burgos and Luis Lloren Torres in his gravitude and style. His only film role was in the Puerto Rican film. "Linda Sara" produced and directed by fellow "independista" Jacobo Morales. He died on January 10, 2001 in his beloved Puerto Rico after a lengthy illness.