War had plagued the Americas from north to south for over a century. People were fighting for their liberation from European rule. In the northwestern region of South America, a nation was at war with Spain and itself. He fought to end both.
A man of humble beginnings, Juan José Nieto Gil was born into a country torn asunder. One side was more conservative, while the other was more liberal. They wanted freedom from Spain but couldn’t determine sovereignty. Some condoned slavery, while others wanted its end.
Gil desired peace, unity, and equity for everyone, including his fellow Afro-Colombians. He donned a military uniform to dispel the Spanish and again to unify the country. When the fighting ceased, he turned to politics, hoping for brighter days.
Gil waged war again to reunify the country. Though brief in his reign, he succeeded in creating the provisional government foundation that would become the United States of Colombia.
He spent his life championing the freedom of his people from oppression. The first and only Black president in its history, his legacy has been largely erased. The world jumps through hoops to erase our greatness, but our power and shine will ultimately not be diminished.