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Image of George W. Westerman meeting Congressman Adam Claton Powell (Panama) 1949.
Courtesy of Schomburg Library
Probably one of the greatest stars in the Westindian galaxy of outstanding men and women was George W. Westerman (1910-1988), who was at once a historian, journalist, diplomat, sociologist, community leader and businessman. This proud and resourceful “Renaissance Man,” of the Westindian community in Panama exemplified (along with just a few others) the long list of achievements of the first generation Panamanians of West Indian descent.
An excellent article about his life and achievements can be found over at Afro-Panavisions and I have taken the liberty of posting it here in two parts to give you just a glimpse into the life and works of this remarkably talented man.
“George Washington Lionel Westerman was a distinguished, multi-talented West
Indian Panamanian. A journalist, editor, sociologist, historian, diplomat, community leader and impresario, he was an ambassador in the Panama delegation to the United Nations from 1956-1960 and publisher and editor of the Panama Tribune. He had previously served as a sports editor, associate editor, and columnist for the Panama Tribune as well as a columnist for the Panama American and special correspondent for the Miami Herald and Dix Papers of Ohio.
As a civic leader, Westerman was the principal leader in many breakaway groups in the Panamanian West Indian communities. His voice won growing respect, from the native Panamanians and the “Zonians” (Americans) as well, as he sought to carve out an identity for his generation (known as “Criollos” — first born Panamanians of West Indian Descent). Of the numerous battles he spearheaded, the two most notable were the struggles to reverse the country’s Constitution Amendment to deny most West Indians born in Panama their citizenship and having the “Zonians” remove the “gold” (whites) and “silver” (blacks) signs on public places on the Canal Zone. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Civic League, modeled on the NAACP, that helped strike down the objectionable features of the 1941Constitution.
Westerman is also credited with having effected basic changes in the segregated Canal Zone schools system through his direct appeal to Attorney Thurgood Marshall, head of the legal department of the NAACP, who as you know, became a Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He also helped sponsor the Isthmian Negro Youth Congress (INYC), a Canal Zone youth club to serve as a bridge from their generation to the teenagers (now known as Afro-Panamanians) just finishing school. The INYC slogan was “Progress Through Education” that created a spirit of pride in Negro history and in the West Indian communities.
Most significant, Westerman was the one leader in the community who did the most to define and to carry out Alfred Osborne’s integrationist philosophy (see Profile in Wisdom) from the classroom and disseminated it throughout the community. He would also raise funds to purchase 1,000 books emphasizing black studies and got the canal to open a public library in La Boca for colored students. Westerman also obtained autographed photos of fifty prominent black Americans, which he personally hung on the walls of the library.”
This story o continues.
Excellent!