An activist and community organizer, Colón wrote poetry and stories about his experiences as an Afro-Puerto Rican living in New York.

His home was behind the town's cigar factory, which hired "readers" to read stories and current events to the employees whilst they worked.

He was exposed to the writings of Karl Marx and Émile Zola, as well as literary classics like Miguel de Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote.

The family moved to San Juan where he attended and continued his education at the José Julián Acosta School.

[4] Without much money, and not even a high school degree, Colón went to live with his older brother, Joaquin Colon, who was already residing in Brooklyn.

[5] When Colón arrived in New York, he often wrote letters to his fiancée Rufa "Concha" Concepción Fernández, who remained in Puerto Rico.

[7] In 1926, he helped to found the organization Ateneo Obrero Hispano which sought to promote cultural and educational growth.

Colón inspired other writers such as Piri Thomas, Esmeralda Santiago, Nicholasa Mohr, Pedro Pietri, and others.

[8] Colón, in addition to the organizations he founded and served with, sought to write in various newspapers to project his political and personal thoughts.

[7] Colón was also the president of "Hispanic Publications" which published history books, political pamphlets in Spanish, and literature.

In 1933, Colón decided to officially join the Communist Party USA, remaining part of the organization until his death.

[10] In the 1950s, during the McCarthy period, Colón was called to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee in Washington, D.C.

[5] In 1969, Colón ran for the "Office of Comptroller of the City of New York", running with Rasheed Storey, candidate for mayor on the Communist Party ticket.

In accordance with his wishes, his body was cremated, returned to Puerto Rico and scattered over the Río de la Plata, in Cayey; from there the river goes north and into the Atlantic Ocean.

[12] Edna Acosta-Belen, professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Albany and Virginia Sanchez Korrol, associate professor and Chair of the Department of Puerto Rican Studies at Brooklyn College, put together a booklet of Colón's writings called "The Way it was and Other Writings".

[13] Jesus Colon's niece (daughter of Joaquin), Olimpia Colón Aponte, is a retired writer who lives in Puerto Rico.