The English Language Newspapers- The Annals of the Silver People’s History and Culture-Part II

Original headquarters of the Panama America newspaper and its English edition, The Panama American. Image courtesy of EPASA

The Panama Tribune covered many stories of local or national interest that had great bearing on people’s lives. For instance there was the article of October 20, 1946 that ran “Will Admit Students of Panama of ‘Restricted’ Class:” A new decree for groups classified as ‘Prohibited Immigrants’ by the administration of Don Enrique Jimenez. Children of this group between the ages of 15-30 years, who desire to further their education in secondary school, will be admitted to enter Panama. This is due to the U.N. Charter and Article 21 of the New Constitution (of 1946) opposed to racial discrimination.” In upcoming posts we will get into the intricacies of the Constitution of 1941, in particular, that turned native born children of Westindian descent into “prohibited immigrants.”

There was also an announcement for candidacy to a seat in the Municipal Council of Panama by Fernando Bradley in the April 18, 1948 Sunday edition. Bradley addressed an audience of about 5,000 people in front of San Miguel Church the previous Tuesday night. Then there were the traditional protests by the Institutores, the students of the Instituto Nacional, known at the time for their nationalistic militancy. In the November 17, 1946 article it cited “Students Stage New Protest Walkout at National Institute.” On November 3, Independence Day parade, students broke ranks rather than be reviewed by the president, then held a meeting at Santa Ana. They alleged that the government failed to comply with promises and are demonstrating against the retention of United States Armed Forces on national territory.”

The Tribune also kept the Westindian community updated on the activities of Pedro Rhodes, the attorney who, along with the articulate Mr. George Westerman, was primarily responsible for overturning the notorious Constitution of 1941. “Supreme Court Ruling Is Smashing Victory for New Brief by Pedro Rhodes, Prominent Colon Attorney,” read the head line of December 22, 1946. He effectively fought to defend the rights of Panamanians of West Indian Parentage and had the court rule unconstitutional Executive Decree 819.

The Tribune followed the steps of the future Olympic champion, Lloyd LaBeach, when he declared he would run for Panama in the Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. He was attending the University of Wisconsin at the time. No one could imagine that he would be Panama’s first Olympic medal winner (Bronze medal) in the 1948 Olympic games in London. Panama’s first Olympic victory was won by this extraordinary Westindian.

There was also a small note that caught my eye in the same November 10, 1946 edition that brought back great memories of my Professor Carlos Grant. The note announced the presentation of a Christmas Musicale at the Methodist Church. Professor Grant would become my beloved choirmaster at Abel Bravo College in Colon years later when I entered secondary school in Colon. He was not only an excellent musician and choirmaster but he was a good friend and supporter of all the Westindian kids in the hostile environment of the public schools of the time.

The other widely read English language newspaper among Westindians in Panama was The Panama American, the English edition of El Panamá América newspaper which offered home delivery for five cents. Its motto just under the masthead was, “Let the People Know the Truth and the Country is Safe”- Abraham Lincoln. The paper was rather “zone”-centric but it also included many interesting stories about the happenings in the country and in the United States and was quite a popular read within the Westindian community.

In the April 17, 1936 edition (my birth date), for example, story #1 read, “Dr. Arosemena’s Party Recognized by Arias Government,” and under the photo of Arosemena the caption asked, “Will he succeed President Harmodio Arias?” The article revealed that a huge public demonstration was scheduled in Panama City on that Saturday evening. When the “Demostenistas” of Panama promised a show of voting strength unequaled in the history of Panama, the mayor De La Ossa finally issued a permit for the parade. It announced that Dr. Arosemena would come over from Colon in a special train. Colon, in fact, had always been regarded as a “Demostenista” stronghold.

Story #2 of the same issue announced that the Canal Zone Governor took strong exception to stories about the Panama Canal Learnerships (more about that later). He further denied that there existed a ban on employment of Zone children (Westindian Zone children), that the C.Z. Service Bureau did not oppose employment of Canal Zone “young people,” and that he took strong exception to stories in the Panama American regarding the opposition of some Zone officials to the employment of second and third generation Canal Zone children.

Story #4 briefly covered the release of Don Pedro Albizu Campos, Puerto Rican Nationalist leader, who had been recently indicted for conspiracy to overthrow the United States government, on $10,000 bail. Other stories covered themes like the “Peeping Tom” soldier from Ft. Sherman who had led the police on a manhunt and was finally sentenced to fifteen days in jail for his escapades, but not after causing one of the cops to fracture his arm in the ensuing chase.

You could also find all sorts of classifieds and the cinema directory in The Panama American. There was Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in the “Invisible Ray,” playing at the Teatro Cecilia, Pat O’Brien and June Froman in “Star Over Broadway,” at the Variedades, and at the Palace you could enjoy Jean Arthur in “The Public Menace.” Pages 6 and 7 were often dedicated to the classifieds like the “Sale of Santa Clara Beach Home Sites.” Two hundred lots sold for from $175 to $250 (quite a bargain by today’s prices) and the ad included a map of the roads to San Carlos and Anton on the Panama National highway.

There were also the ads placed by the Canal Zone government “Silver Personnel Bureau.” In one issue they announced, for instance, that the Bureau was receiving applications for “experienced butchers and two cooks and prospects for early employment of two maids and waiters.”

I even found a classified of my Aunt Lil’s Beauty Parlor which she operated from her home- an unexpected treat for me.

This story continues.