The Other Panama Canal

The beautiful Caribbean coast of Panama displaying Bocas del Toro.

Image: bocasdeltorotravel.com

By Lydia M. Reid

Bocas del Toro elicits many things to worldwide travelers: spectacular white sandy beaches, a breathtaking array of flora and fauna unequaled anywhere else in the world and a variety of places to go for the traditional forms of entertainment.  Unknown to many tourists, however, are some historical facts that identified Bocas at one time as a trend setting spot in Panama.  For one, Bocas del Toro was the first province on a national level to have a race track (equestrian), to have consulates from various countries, to have offered the most modern hospital of its time to particularly the workers and their families of the banana plantations, and to have hosted the first drawing of the National Lottery.

The Ice Truck

The gift of ice in the tropics and the ice man was a welcome sight.

The following story was sent in by a good friend and classmate, Aubrey “Tito” Johnson, Jr. and it recreates a character, place and time in the history of Colon and Panama well known to the Silver People of those times.

By Aubrey Johnson, Jr.

I had some great times helping my friend Reds, aka Poroto, (r.i.p.) His only dream was to get to the US as soon as was promised by his friend Pancho Brown, (also r.i.p.),who was leaving and who would send for him once there. He talked incessantly about that great day, this great trip. Many a times arriving on the corner he would start a conversation with: “Last night I dreamt I was in New York, well lammed down and in his Florsheim……blah, blah, etc,” until the guys told him not to repeat that stuff anymore. He had a wicked curve ball- our iron horse pitcher whenever we competed in Mariano Bula Stadium against Penon, Corsarios, etc., and even against Angelini, in Panama ’s Santa Rita Stadium.

Marlon Reid, the Rising Star in Panama’s Comedy World, Has Died

Marlon Reid, (1965-2009)

Marlon Reid Bailey “el Pepito Colonense,” the winner of the Buscando a Pepito Comedy Contest has shocked us all with his untimely death last Saturday, May 30, 2009. Marlon, one of my many nephews, has shown an inborn talent that at times has truly surprised us all. Marlon apparently suffered a tragic fall last Saturday in his residence and he was taken immediately to Manuel Amador Guerrero Hospital.  But, due to his condition, he was then taken to Panama City where more lab tests were conducted and then he was transferred back to Colon. His medical condition did not improve, however, and in spite of the medications that he received he died at about 10:30 a.m. in the City of Colon.

Early Beginnings of Silver Literature

Oldtimers at an intense game of checkers.

The early writings amongst the Silver People of Panama could have started when correspondence was sent back home to the West Indies by, primarily, Westindian men who served that purpose during the mid 19^th century and would continue to serve as message bearers for the working class Silver Men far into the early decades of the 20^th century. We as researchers, however, would not get a glimpse of those writings until much later in our lives, although they were published in the newspapers of their times in Panama during the late 1930’s and up until the late 1950’s.

In the meantime as we “watch and pray” that our request unfolds giving us complete access to all records left by our Silver People on the former American Canal Zone, we are pleased and elated to have friends who were of the Gold Roll who are in sympathy with our plight and do not hesitate to send us anything they themselves come in contact with that sheds some light on the subject and the purpose of our studies.

Nevertheless, the reader should be aware that our interest in Panamanian Westindian Literature has never waned since our times of childish adulation.  As a child of only three years of age I recall listening to my maternal grandfather’s syntax and inflexions as he read the daily newspaper. On the other hand, I would also experience discouragement upon suddenly seeing my recently discovered words such as slaves, free slaves, etc. associated with the name Simon Bolivar all in the same pages of my composition notebook torn to shreds before my very eyes by a suddenly enraged Spanish school teacher who could not believe that a little Chombo student like me could write so eloquently about the Libertador of Latin America.

Later, during the 1950’s I would come to join the working class Black youths of the American South who were happy to have escaped into the freedom of the old “underground railroad” of the North. With them I would continue my first “Black American Studies” experience as they loaned and exchanged reading materials that were, for me, more than just reading matter to help me stay interested and alert on my graveyard shift at work. It would be in the utility closets, elevators and hallways of that world famous Cancer Hospital in New York City that we would have the most engaging discussions about Black authors and their writings.

During the highlight of my college days I, along with many young Blacks, got caught up in the wave of the Cultural Revolution, as we hungered for our own studies to fill the void we all felt deep in our souls. Compared to today’s Black college youth, however, we were the real “Renaissance Men and Women,” which Dr. Robert M. Franklin, President of Morehouse College, must have been referring to in his recent speech about “mystique,” soul and “Mythical bond” of April 21, 2009.

At any rate, the following letter is what one might classify as reminiscent of the old Panama Canal Zone. The linguistic nuances are representative of the way in which the people of the Silver Roll spoke and for me it is priceless.  But, I will leave it up to the reader to correct my enthusiasm.

From Ray:

I brought this one back from the old Canal Zone. The creator is unknown to me, but he/she sure did a good job. Those were the days:

Bed #3

Gorgas Hospital

Ancon, Canal Zone

Dear Mr. Safety Director

Pan Canal Company

While working in de vicinity of de Tivoli Hotel dismantling project, I had occasion, to be de linehandler for de loadin’ plataform. On de day

which is in question, de victim, which is I truly, was holding de rope for the plataform which was about 50 foots in the air by de rafters of de buildin.

My bwoy, was loadin de plataform wit old wood and nails an tings. Well when de plataform was jest about full up, and ready to come down, my bwoy say, “Ole it jest a second”, an he grab a big block of wood or sometin an tro it on de plataform. Now the plataform is heavier dan I.

All of a sudden, my boty is ascendin rapidly and de plataform wit de old wood an nails an tings, is comin down fast. Just as I holla “Ho Lord “!!, de plataform lash me on de head an de shoulda an back and knee as I pass by it. I keeps ascendin until my hand which is holdin de rope, pass tru de pulley.

Den I ears a big crash as de plataform hit the ground. I look down an sees de old wood an nails  an tings fallin an flyin off de plataform an all over de place; now I is heavier dan de plataform. My hand come out from de pulley an I is  ascendin rapidly. I look down an I sees  de plataform ascendin towaeds me.

Just before I could holla “Cheese an rice!”, de platform lash me on de knee; den it catch me between de legs an scrape up my front side an box me chin an head as I pass by it agains. I lash de ground in de prone position an luckily my head hit de ground first an brake de fall.

De rope fly out me hand an now de platform is heavier dan I. When I chance to look up I see de platform desendin towards me. Just before I could holla “Ras”!! De platform lash me head an brake in two piece jest lay dead an de odder one fly up soinnin and turnin an come down an lash me knee again twice.

I respectfully submits dat dis truth happenin to de best of my recollectin abilities.

Sincerely’

Braithwait Brown

Line handler for de

Loadin platform

P.S. De doctor says I I can fine a co-signer fo de hospital bill, I can mabey works again next week, Monday. But I can only wirks on de left side, because dat is de way my neck is bend.

(I saw Braithway last week  at the parque de los olvidados and he was playing checkers on his left side.) Jenri

Compiling a Library of the History of Blacks

This is the place where I spent long and fruitful hours full of exciting discoveries, the New York Public Library reading room in the heart of Manhattan.

Practically all of my experiences at gaining information regarding Blacks in this continent of the Americas have been fraught with frustrations. Some of the most famous and reliable libraries and archives have no registry for the history of Blacks or of people of African descent. So it has continued to be until our day here in a country like Panama where Blacks have been the virtual source of labor since the 16^th century.

The Shaping of Black Literature and Culture

Gabriel de la Concepción Valdés, or Plácido, as he preferred to be called.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg or Arthur Schomburg, as he was known on the mainland.

The academic community in most countries of the Americas continues to shy away from integrating into their universal educational systems or even their Institutes of Black or Ethnic Studies, such studies that would make up the core curriculum of disciplines that would inform and shape their students regarding the distinctiveness of people of color and their cultures in the world. To even dream of the day when the old school of tenured professors would see in their given disciplines a change of view that would correct the idea that people of color are today viable citizens and, contrary to their fixed notions, are no longer the former “slave class,” seems to be too much to ask.

The Road to Westindian Literature- Some Thoughts

The Black Studies thinker and Writer.

The road to the placing of real Black Literature in the hands of Black and Latin American children has been paved with much difficulty and many disheartening experiences, at least in my own experience. The age for our people, the Panamanian Westindian, to gain that realization of the harm that such deprivation causes, like not having literature depicting our own stories and our own experiences available from early childhood, is something I have been observing, and lamenting, since I was a young child.

Black Ethnicity Day Celebration in Panama

The Celebration of the Diablitos and Congos in Porto Belo, Colon.

The Afro-Antillean Museum in downtown Panama City in the District of Calidonia.

The fact that Black Ethnicity is being celebrated yearly on the 30th of May in Panama has now a permanent place in our culturally diverse country. There is, however, a special history behind the development of the recognition of our ethnic identity which for so long was denied. The person responsible for the events being celebrated until now hailed from the Province of Chiriqui and the historical background behind the celebration of this national holiday has made it possible to highlight the abolition of slavery in 1851 in our country of Panama during the period in which it was united with the country of Colombia, then called Nueva Granada.

Belated Honors from the Country He Loved

Recent 400 meter run (men) at the Bolivarian Games

Lloyd La Beach had come to rely upon his own resources since his performance at the London Olympic Games of May, 1948. The Immortal Hero of the Barrio of Calidonia, by now a recognized Olympic superstar and University of California graduate, the sole representative of the country of the Panama would subsequently, in the year of 1951, bring glory to his beloved Roxy Athletic Club. Regrettably, however, for the rest of his countrymen his glory would not shine or reach recognition as he competed without assistance or acknowledgment from highly respected international athletic organizations.

Panama’s Glory Returns Home a Twofold Victor

Awards ceremony at the 1948 London Olympics 100m competition

This is an early shot of the Roxy Athletic Club in Panama. About 1933.

That day in 1948 on the running track, the World Summer Olympics in the historic city of London were not quite over when the Panamanian, Lloyd La Beach, would, once again, offer the expectant crowd another exciting race to the finish line as the crowds stood in awe to applaud the lone Panamanian runner. The boy who had importuned his parents in Jamaica for them to let him return to his country of birth had yearned to follow other youngsters of Panamanian “Westindian” descent who would travel between the countries of the Caribbean, England, the United States and Panama to declare to the world their humanity as well as their athletic excellence.

The Olympic Games were not yet over for most athletes at the London Track and Field Stadium, for the next day the participants in the 200 meter race appeared at the starting blocks for another round of seeing some of the fastest sprinters in the world.