Monthly Archives: May 2008

The Fourth of July, Christmas, Crown Pilot Crackers and the Commissaries-An American Lifestyle Unfolds in Panama

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Roberto Reid | 6 Comments

In 1996 Nabisco dropped the cracker
and then revived it in 1997 in the face of a
concerted campaign from consumers.

A real Westindian 4th of July “Picnic”
in the community
of Gorgona (earlY photo)
courtesy of czimages.com

By the 1930’s and 40’s the US Interoceanic Canal Commission (ICC) would, once again in history and with the able assistance of Black Westindian labor, effectively transform the bankrupt economy of the U.S.A. into the booming advertising centered economy that would eventually emerge during the 1950’s and 1960’s; and they would achieve this from an obscure corner of the world called Panama. Continue reading →

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Posted in West Indian Panamanians

Tagged Christmas-in-the-Black-Canal-Zone, Crown-Pilot-Crackers, Fourth-of-July-in-the-Black-Canal-Zone, paraiso-cz, Silver-commissaries

A Widow and a Sack of Onions

Posted on May 24, 2008 by Roberto Reid | 4 Comments

My paternal grandmother, Fanny Elizabeth McKenly Reid.

Fanny Elizabeth Reid, my grandmother,
who was born in Jamaica and worked in the
Ancon Laundry for over 20 years.
In her interview she told us her side of the story.

My Aunts, Gwendolyn (left) and Berenice Reid,
the youngest and oldest, respectively, of Fanny Reid’s children.

As we’ve already established, the first two decades of the 20th century began a new era in Panamanian as well as world history with the monumental construction and the subsequent opening of the Great Waterway in 1914. We’ve also established the crucial role of the West Indians in this grand drama and how their role as players was not without an equally monumental price. Continue reading →

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Posted in Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

Tagged Ancon-Laundry, bag-of-onions, Fanny-Reid, widow

An Increasing Security Force and Tightening Racial Isolation

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Roberto Reid | 8 Comments

Ft. Clayton in Panama

Images: Top is an aerial view of “former” Ft. Clayton,
one of the largest military installations in Panama.
Bottom image shows Kenneth b. Clark,
American Black author, psychologist,
and civil rights activist.

The centralized Silver roll personnel administration offices, as we have noted, began implementing policies that would characterize what the Panama Canal Zone would eventually become, and so it would remain until some years before negotiations would begin for the transfer of the Canal and all installations to the Government of Panama. All these events, however, would occur much later in the 20th century. Continue reading →

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Posted in Racism in Panama, Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

Tagged Brown-vs-Board-of-Education, Kenneth-B.-Clark, Mamie-Phipps-Clark, racial segregation, U.S. Blacks

The Polemic History of the “Silver” Cemeteries in Panama

Posted on May 7, 2008 by Roberto Reid | Leave a comment

: Image shows the blatant neglect at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Colon. On our visit we also saw many old tombs destroyed, covered with garbage and almost unrecognisable.

The middle and lower images are from Corozal Cemetery in Panama City.
These two tombs were especially disturbing examples
of neglect and poor administration of the cemetery,
once a well kept “garden cemetery.”

During the month of May, the month in which Black people in the Caribbean and Central and South America celebrate their race- Celebración de la Etnia Negra- it is only fitting that we, the Black Westindians of Panama, make a conscientious pause to honour all those ancestors who worked and died building and maintaining the Panama Canal. We will pause here to relate some of the history of the Silver cemeteries and their unique beginnings. After all, it is where most of our ancestors were laid to rest. Continue reading →

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Posted in Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

Tagged Corozal Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery, Panama-Canal-Commission, Silver-cemeteries, The Silver People Heritage Foundation, The-Panama-Tribune

The Passing of a “Silverman”- Bobby Grant

Posted on May 2, 2008 by Roberto Reid | 3 Comments

“Bobby” Grant, William Evans Grant Lescano
1912-2008 Rest in the Peace of Our Lord

Bobby, my step father, and Me in our happy reunion after many years.

On the 18th day of April of 2008, Mr. William Evans Grant Lescano passed on and was laid to rest in Mount Hope Cemetery on the 21st of April of this year of Our Lord. He was lovingly known as “Bobby” Grant to all the people of the Westindian community of the City of Colon. Continue reading →

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Posted in Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

Tagged Bobby Grant, Calidonia, Colon, English-schools, Gatun-locks, Mount Hope Cemetery, Silver-men-of-Panama, Silverman, William Evans Grant Lescano