Tag Archives: The-Panama-Tribune

The Christmas Reprobate and Scoundrel

Posted on July 15, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Image

“Georgie Porgie pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry.  When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away.”


My irritation and the rashness in my attitude made me take a step closer to her as she, becoming uncomfortable with my approach, started to say, “No, no!” Suddenly, it was done, I’d kissed her on the cheek and she started to cry profusely. Her tears immediately made me regret my thoughtlessness, as the rest of our committee came to see what had occurred. Continue reading →

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Posted in West Indian Panamanians

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News of the Colored Community

Posted on January 22, 2009 by | Leave a comment
Albert E. Bell, distinguished
editor and popular columnist
who was attached to several
leading Isthmian newspapers during
the 30′ and 40′s.

As the Westindian community grew the residents from the Barrios of Panama and Colon tried, as much as possible, to stay in touch as one community. The Westindians identified themselves as “The Colored Community,” with space assured in the locally available English speaking newspapers. For instance, they had columns written in the English pages of The Panama Tribune, The Panama American and The Star and Herald, today known as La Estrella de Panamá. Continue reading →

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Posted in Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

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Some Champions Emerge

Posted on January 10, 2009 by | Leave a comment
Above is a glimpse of the November 3, 1940
article in the Panama Tribune that describes
the passage of “Prohibited Immigrants” clause in the
New Constitution of 1941 despite the
protests of the WI community.

Most of my family’s behavior during those historic times was probably directly related to the Silver Men’s work environment. The Silver Labor movement in the year 1940 had not really gotten off the ground to organize and show a real strong united front after some 36 years of invested labor when my family was just trying to settle in their new home, Panama City. Continue reading →

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Posted in Silver People of Panama, West Indian Panamanians

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Scouting Amongst Panamanian Westindians

Posted on January 3, 2009 by | 3 Comments
Image is of the Canal Zone Boy Scouts meet of July 4th 1938
which, in that moment, was called The Isthmian Scout Council
which later changed to The Canal Zone Council and later on would
evolve into the International Boy Scouts Canal Zone.

 

Image is of Camp Chivo Chivo January 1964
International BSA
Both priceless images can be found at
www.scoutspanama.org

My previous posts were intended to give a glimpse of the childhood activity of Scouting which, I was sure, would have benefited not only me but my family and community for a life time. I can also assure anyone that I know not where I got those ideas from. However, the analysis by proven mental health professionals would be as much accepted as any one of us as humble pundits of today. Continue reading →

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Posted in West Indian Panamanians

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No One Spoke to Us

Posted on December 13, 2008 by | 4 Comments

The Panama Tribune masthead.

For me becoming literate would come during those times of feeling really isolated as a child, as I have mentioned in previous posts. It was also during these moments in my life that I’d lie in bed in the early mornings intently listening to the neighbors’ boys, all Panamanian Westindian, above our little room on Mariano Arosemena Street leave for their Canal Zone Silver School wishing I were one of them. We had known this particular family since arriving in Panama from the home of our grandparents in the City of Colon after the fire of 1940 which destroyed most of the Atlantic coast city. Continue reading →

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Posted in Panama Tribune, West Indian Panamanians

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Toward a Better Understanding

Posted on August 24, 2008 by | Leave a comment

The George W. L. Westerman Collection at the Arthur Schomburg Branch (in Harlem) of the New York Public Library.

In continuing our sojourn through the history of the English language press in Panama the editorial in The Panama Tribune of Sunday 28 July of 1946 merits a closer look. In this weekly newspaper, the only newspaper which published literary expressions by Westindians for Westindians in the history of the Panamanian community, we saw reflected in its pages the historic turn of events that were shaping the lives of the Westindian community. Continue reading →

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Posted in English language Press in Panama, West Indian Panamanians

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