It has been said by many a visionary that "KNOWLEDGE IS POWER." Your expose of the capitulation of our people to others vision for us and of us and how that has changed the economic landscape in Panama for young Afro-Panamanians is right on target. It's unbelievable to me that we allowed our children and our grand children to grow up in a situation that has not prepared them to take full advantage of all that the world has to offer. I'm one of those Black Panamanian Americans that believe to this day that the Canal take over and the subsequent benefits to the Country as a whole still elude those of us and our parents who built it with our sweat and our devotion to excellence. Black Panamanian West Indians for the most part have had to leave the country to achieve the dream, for some of us that became the American dream instead of the Panamanian Dream. Colon, is a living canvas of what happens when a people lose their way. Colon is a beacon to what happens when racial prejudice (it still exists in Panama) is allowed to flourish in a community, but as you so eloquently put it, WE CAN CHANGE ALL THAT. I remember the days as a youngster growing up in Colon when Afro-Panamanians were the envy of other cultures because of our association and our affiliation with the American Canal Zone. Multiple trips to Colon from California these days remind me of what happens when emotion rather than pragmatic purposeful planning and execution of treaties and contracts rule the day. The solution to the current crisis for Afro-Panamanian children resides in the development of a focused effort by affluent Black Panamanians worldwide, especially those in the United States, to develop institutions in the U.S. and in Panama, both for-profit and not-for-profit that are focused on addressing the plight of young Panamanians and infusing a great semblance of hope in the processes that are created to address this anomaly. It is not enough for a few of us to receive great jobs and influence with existing and future Panamanian governments, we have to be able to use these jobs and influence to address and solve the larger problem that we all know exist and that we all know preclude Black people in Colon from having a decent future. We need to organize politically and economically on both sides of the globe to get something done. For example, it is unbelievable to me to see the daily traffic of vehicles filled with workers from Panama City to the Colon Free Zone while hordes of Afro-Panamanian people of working age roam the streets of Colon hungry, it is unconscionable that while the Government and private Industry spend millions making Panama City a world class City that some of that investment and revenue does not find its way to Colon. It's an abomination that Afro-Panamanian kids of working age cannot find jobs because they can't speak ENGLISH the mother tongue of their immigrant forefathers and mothers. HOPE IS HERE, however, we who have done well at home and abroad have to organize and galvanize lasting economic and political solutions if we are to impact the future of the current generation. Many Panamanians of West Indian descent, myself included, have done extremely well in the United States and ironically, our success is directly proportional to the great education we received both on the Canal Zone and in Panamanian Public Schools like Abel Bravo and Artes y Oficios, perhaps it's time for us to give back aggressively. The current President, the honorable Omar Torrijos, Jr. was educated in the United States and at times seems to understand the plight and the promise of Colon, however, he has a legislature and local provincial governments to deal with. Perhaps the best solution is to organize and educate the Black community at large, both in the United States and in Panama so that we can speak to the government with one voice and so that we can vote as a community. We need to take full advantage of Panama's Democracy and make our voices heard as we also invest our time and our MONEY in the community. I propose that we form an Afro-Antillean, Afro-Panamanian Party open to ALL Panamanians in time for the next round of elections. I also propose that we form an Panamanian-American Hedge Fund based in the United States (I am working on one as we speak) where we can collectively invest in our country's economy to our own and to the current generation's benefit. I propose that we form multiple committees to address the plight of Colon and that we partner with the Torrijos Government to help the cities of our youth and our country truly achieve the world class greatness that we all know has always been right around the corner. "Knowledge is power," all we need from the Afro-Panamanian community now is COMMITMENT. tgraham@networldexchange.com California ////////////////////////////////////////////////// Thanks so much for the article on "Visions for Colon." My name is Richard Lovell. I reside in Sacramento California. My father Herbert Lovell was from Colon and, prior to his passing (way back in 1982), I learned so much about our history and culture through things that he passed on to me. After leaving Panama my father joined the US Air Force as did so many Panamanian expatriates to the U.S. Perhaps some research/data should be compiled one day concerning the involvement of persons of Panamanian descent in the U.S. military. I am very proud of my heritage and truly believe that our history is one that cannot be forgotten. I want you all to know that I stand committed and ready to assist in any way that I can. One point of interest/concern is what has been happening with the Church of Christ. I saw it in 2003 and it was in disrepair. I was so happy to see a grass-roots effort here in the states to collect money to assist in repairs. I also saw an article indicating that a government agency has finally decided to contribute funds to improve it
I believe that the most important part of your message is two-fold. First, we must ensure that the youth of Panama (particularly Colon) become educated about our proud past. This includes making sure that our youth in the U.S. also are able to maintain a connection and understanding of their heritage. I believe that it is important for our youth in the U.S. to at least visit Panama once during their teenage years.
Secondly, I concur with your assessment that socio-political-economic forces have caused Panamanians of WI descent to lose much of our inherent advantage in being bilingual speakers. Again, thanks for the resource and inspiration that you provide!
Richard Lovell
California /////////////////////////////////////////////
Thanks for the Newsletter Mr. Baptiste. I am so glad that the Newsletter continues to put forth the truth about our history. It has to continuously be told in order to reverberate.
At some point we should brain storm and find ways to come together in order to get the message to the youth. I wish that the Newsletter could be distributed to them in the U.S. and in Panama. Perhaps this can be done by linking up with administrators in the Panama schools and establishing some sort of mechanism for achieving this. Not sure how we do this in terms of the U.S.
Perhaps I am overreaching and ignoring practical obstacles-- I don’t know-- these are just my wishes / thoughts. Richard Lovell
California
/////////////////////////////////////////////// Cordiales Saludos a Todos, The sentence in the Vision/Mission Statement that carries the inspiration is "Making a difference towards a better future for ALL". The creativity, imagination and progressive ideas of ALL without regards to who, what, where, why, when or how is what will guaranty and propel visionary ideas an enlightened, self governing and self sustaining Negro/Black Community. The scholars/leaders should have the tools to structure, manage and stare in most cases, but we should make it clear, from the get go,that this is a vision/mission for All, with All, and of All.
Many have join and will continue to join community efforts/organization; and many have done a good job. But the question remain: is it enough, can we do more, are we determine and committed to do more, to do the extraordinary? The motivation is sometime loss and/or our goals/bench marks are such that they become routine.
Communication is a key or perhaps the key to success. The Internet is a great tool and is good to use it to our advantage, but lets not forget that All don't have access and we need to foster the ideas and participation of All. I am sure we could try to and achieve an objective of access for all via the Internet, but even when we do lets not forfeit the personal touch, el Cara a Cara and/or Voz a Voz (Radio Benba). We are one community and people and we have to communicate. The costenos, Silvermen, criollos, afropanamenos we are All one, and we need to keep that in mind and work as one black/negro people/community. Many have try to divide us, and they have had some success, but we have to be determine and have a clear mind set to the fact that we are ALL ONE people/community.
We have done great things over the years, one of which is considered one of "The Great Wonders of The World". That in it self should be motivation enough to go forward and achieve great things as a community, but for some reason we have decided not to be challenge, not to be bold, not to be fearless, not to be determine to Honor our forefathers, our ancestry, our rich culture. We have to set our goals high to achieve great and extraordinary things, we are a community that do great and extraordinary things; history is there to prove it.
I support the proposal and once again will help and participate in any and all way possible. Recordemos: EL NEGRO ES - TODOS LOS DEMAS QUIEREN SER! Quiero despedirme deseandoles a todos un Maravilloso Y Prospero Ano Nuevo 2008, lleno de Determinacion, Conviccion, Tolerancia, Entendimiento, Comunicacion, Salud y FE.
Saludos, AAM
mcl-family@msn.com
Hello and thank you, thank you and again thank you. I love your site and for me it is more than that, it is a connection. My grandparents (Cecil and Naomi (Wood)Cumberbatch)and great-grandparents (Thomas & Beatrice Wood and Charles and Isadora Cumberbatch) were afro-panamanians. Feel free to contact me if you know this family line. I did not grow up with my paternal family but, I have kept in contact as I got older. There is so many things I have always wanted to know about my family on this side and about the history of our people. I have always heard of the history of our families and their great major roll in the contruction of the Panama Canal. It was so wonderful to see the photographs and videos. Please continue to put more if possible they are greatly appreciated, trust me words can never say how much. I am not sure if anyone else has ever requested this, but it would be nice if you could have a genealogy section. I'm sure there is many peopl out here like myself dreaming of connecting with family from aboard from Panama. I have been doing my family tree for about 10 years and many records that I would need that would help in my quest, are located in panama, and I'm in the United States. I plan on visting Panama in the next year or so and read that Coco Solo is deserted and travelers cannot go there. Is there any places you could recommend for records for afro-panamanians? We'll don't want to wear out my welcome. Just wanted you to know that you have done a great job and thank you for giving a little bit more histroy of who I am and the great people I come from. Deborah Walker
You are welcome, welcome and welcome. We will continue to place info as we continue our research. You may go to www.pancanalalumni.com , which carries genealogy notes regarding CZ Records on birth, marriage, divorce, etc., on their website (Alumni Page). Hope that this may help. Hopefully someone will read this that may be of help with the Wood/Cumberbatch family tree. We have members with those surnames. Thank you for the favorable comments. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// Dear Oswald, Thanks to you and staff for reminding us, through your publication, of the journey traveled from the British West Indies to Panama. It also reflects on those who helped us to stay the course and pursue our dreams in the midst of almost insurmountable adversities. I am thankful for those who made an impact on my life and gave me the support to follow my dreams. I am also thankful to my immediate and extended family in addition to the choir of cheerleaders who believed in me and in my ability to do what was right for the children and adults in our school system. Our best always, Dr. Ruth Russell We again thank Dr. Russell for her heroism and guidance during our formative years. Like her uncle, Dr. George Westerman, we will cherish her legacy. Primera vez que visito la pagina web y me parece una extraordinaria y digna vision la que se han propuesto. Ya era tiempo (long overdue) y espero poder contribuir y ayudar en sus esfuerzos. Recordemos siempre que: "LA UNION HACE LA FUERZA" y si se logra eso el cielo es el limite. Con ver esta pagina web nos llena de orgullo y esperanza, les deseamos lo mejor de los exitos. Peace be with you. AAM We are pleased to know that you are in agreement with and proud of our efforts and will be willing to help when necessary. We will keep you updated/posted of our progress. Our hopes are high. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I had the privilege of enjoying your dedicated work, which speaks volumes into world history. I say world history; because that is really what it is! Thank you for your collective and visionary efforts in telling another chapter of the "untold story." I particularly like the historical approach of your website. I also think it is a very noble thing to recognize those who "endured to the end." The pictures are very helpful, not only for me to remember some of the "Pathfinders;" but that, those coming after me can put a "face" to the history being told. I appreciate you for what you are doing. May the Spirits give you continued energy until your endurance is transformed into a greater world purpose!
Terrence Layne-Paraiso High School
Thanks very much Terrence. We are especially pleased that our newsletter and website efforts are being recognized and highly appreciated by folks like you. We are happy to know you are enjoying our overall work/efforts. You powerful comments made our day!. Our warmest appreciation. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Hi Fellow Afropanamanians, Greetings from the Caribbean. While presently I am part of the Diaspora, my intentions is to return very soon to our patria to participate in some measure in the development of the country. My focus is to assist those who have been marginalized and are seeking some help to improve their lot. Good intentions abound and a lot of talk is heard around, but what is needed is concrete solutions in the form of projects to achieve particular goals. We need ACTIONS! I am inviting all those who are truly concern about contributing to the welfare of our compatriots to join me in pooling resources to achieve those ends. I already have set aside over $60,000.00 in assets to be pooled with others to develop an economic base with which we can work to achieve our goals. There are many compatriots who cannot compete with the oligarchy and the foreigners who are buying up choice properties all over the country. There are compatriots who have tried and some are still struggling to be entrepreneurs but need technical and financial assistance. Some of us have gained a wealth of experience in the business world that could assist them in growing their businesses. These are the concrete actions I am referring to that we can engage in. Everyone can contribute something according to their personal resources. When we pool resources we collectively are stronger because of the unity. The big help the small, everybody contribute something and everybody gain something. We are receptive to venture capitalists, since many of our contemplated projects are very viable and would render very good return on investments. If you are investing elsewhere you are invited to join with us, if you have not invested you can begin now. Every bit counts, your little bit with mine and the others can amount to a lot more then one person. The risk is spread wide so no one carry too much risk of their assets at any one time. Hope to hear from you compatriots, time is of essence, they are buying out Panama, let us buy some too. Let us put our resources where our mouth and heart is, in Panama. J. J. Estemac estemac65@msn.com FYI
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Greetings: We wish to advise you of the upcoming 10 year anniversary and Reunion Celebration of the largest gathering in the world or any women anywhere: The Million Woman March. Black women form the entire African Diaspora will be joining together in the spirit of "respect and love" and Sisterly Affection for the African Women's Leadership Summit (Oct. 12-29, 2007 the MWM X Mass Reunion Assembly (October 27, 2007) taking place in Phila. PA USA. We invite you and your readers to join us for the exciting official initiation of the first global Movement for women and girls of African descent worldwide, the Million Woman Movement and Pan African Women's Federation. For those who cannot make it to Philly, have a celebration event in your country. With technology today, why not via satellite your message of support and solidarity. Hope to hear from you soon, and also please consider advertising on our website, internet radio program, or in our international publication. Thank you MWM mwmsistahood@apl.com
FYI ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Afro Panamanian community is scattered all over the United States. This is the time for us to channel our expertise, knowledge, experience, and talents to help build a new horizon for our people here and in Panama. This leads to an important question: Is this forum created simply to make us feel good about our past; or are we courageous, and bold enough, or fit, as were our ancestors in braving, and trekking the unknown, and rocky paths into the dynamic world of history? Anita Cumberbatch Brooklyn, NY Well said, Anita. We believe our Editorial comments speaks well to your commentary, as well as that important question of yours regarding our will to unite behind a cause.
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It is important that I state that I fully support your efforts. In this connection, I have just read the subject screen and focus on the last paragraph. Am I being defensive if I say that the last paragraph begs a similar statement that could be made in the African American community such as, "The generation of the Civil Rights Movement have drifted away from the heritage of success achieved during the era of legal segregation." What I mean is that during segregation Black people had their own restaurants and communities and Historically Black Colleges etc. As the result of integration we have "drifted away" into integrated communities and now we stay at Marriott Hotels and enroll at Universities like Duke. Do you feel me? It has to be put in greater context of opportunity to expand and travel and discover new worlds. It is not abandonment and I do not think you mean to say that we have abandoned what we inherited from our courageous and heroic predecessors. Do you? That's what I think.
Also, I just read the last paragraph in "About Us". Do you happen to know of any Afro Panamanian leaders among the youth in Colon? Grassroots leadership can be most effective. They can tell us how we can help. Perhaps trying to establish some kind of contact with Afro Panamanians currently living in Colon is a goal we should strive for. It won't be easy. I find that our people who happen to live on the Pacific side are literally afraid to go to Colon. They are fearful of even driving through the city never mind parking there. It's a tragic state of affairs and in my view, the government is responsible for the neglect, crime and extreme poverty that exists.
Further, I am forwarding a newsletter fyi to show you what others with origins similar to ours are doing to help their "brothers and sisters" back in their homeland. Specifically Jamaica. This monthly newsletter is produced by a cousin of mine through marriage, who live in Atlanta. His name is Glen Laman and the family call him Skip. As you can see, the focus is the high school(they call it a college) from which he and others currently living in Atlanta with chapters in other US cities and Canada are graduates. They raise money at various events and send to their college to help with infrastructure and services. I hope you find the newsletter to be of some interest. I am interested in getting your reaction. I find what I have seen so far quite impressive regarding the website. Many thanks for your dedication and good works regarding our heritage and history. I am glad to know you are there and hope that perhaps one day I'll have the pleasure of meeting you. Sydney Myers Sid, we first thank you for your support and kind words. We feel you, and agree that a similar statements would apply throughout the Diaspora. Your point of view is well taken. Abandoned is a tough word; We believe its more a lack of understanding of the situation in our community or perhaps, as Anita alluded to above, us lacking the courage to fend for ourselves.
The Colon situation is a long debate and needs a forum of its own. Yes, it has its reputation, but more than likely it has more innocent and neglected individuals than it has crime. We do not know of any grass root leaders in Colon, to fall back to, but we sure hope that this forum will help bring such individuals forward for the appropriate dialog. We found the newsletter site you forwarded of interest. We would love to see such a format, which displays a sense of unity and caring, adopted among us. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I just made a visit to your new website and I was mightily impressed with much of the content on (about us). Great scholarship my brother! I have a few suggestions for future subject matters. If you are open to this notion, let's keep the connection going. There is a monograph written by George W. Westerman entitled "URBAN HOUSING IN PANAMA-and some of its problems." This expose was written May 1955. You may have seen it already; if not, I can shoot a copy. Its the kind of info, I believe, that fits nicely with your mission statement. On another note, there is some info on Marcus Garvey in Colon that we can share with the audience.
Thanks for your continued work on our behalf . Keep up the good work
Wendel (Joe) Franklin
Washington, DC ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// I have recently consulted with Bruce Codrington of the Rescate Juvenil Afro Panammeno. It is an organization aimed at helping the Afro youth staying in school and in job preparation, etc. His organization is mainly for the youth in Panama City and I think maybe Bocas. He is to visit New York City this coming July, and I plan to meet with him because they have in mind to open a chapter in Colon. You see, many of the Colonenses have migrated, not only to the States but to different parts of our beloved Panama. I hate to say this, but many have forgotten that the port of entrance of the West Indians into Panama was Colon. Colon belongs to all of us. Colon was once "La Tazita de Oro", yes the exquisite golden cup. I visit Panama twice a year, and I still have nieces and nephews living in Colon and Panama city, and I plan to start a group, even if it is to groom folks to groom others. One of the big problem for many of us over here is we do not know who to go to, or trust because we have been away for such a long time. I have dealt with Mucec in Colon, and with a friend of mine who is a nun at a convent, helping Aids victims in Colon. I believe in the old Chinese principle, "It is better to teach a man how to fish, than to give him a fish". I am a high school history teacher here in New York city and it is very important for me to start helping the Panamanian youth, because I have dedicated a lot of my time and energy to a large international body of young people here in New York City. If we start somewhere or join those who have already boarded the train or ship, maybe we could reach our first port or stop on our journey into fulfilling the legacy of our ancestors. Anita Cumberbatch Brooklyn, NY
Hi Anita, first, our apologies for the delayed response, but I just returned from Panama on what was for the most part personal, but tried to do some research on the situation in Colon at the same time. Our research, however, turned out to be more from observations; as it was hard to find the right individual to contact to discuss these matters. Thus, most of our personal thoughts regarding the situation in Colon remain theoretical at this juncture. We are still trying to figure out most of the questions leading up to answers/solutions. What we have concluded, however, is that there are many children/ students in Colon who have the potential to learn, to be as productive and successful as any of us. The challenge is for us to tap into their psyche to find the right keys/ tools to motivating them to want an education, thus changing their mind set to want a better life and future. We are happy to know that you are willing to use your experience and expertise to helping the youths in Colon. We agree with you, we need to get started. We are decades behind and our efforts have consisted more of platitudes and rhetoric, even pity, than serious rigor and solutions to the problem. We Cory A. Booker’s programs in the City of Newark for improving conditions for the youths in the ghettos. We believe we could attempt to apply and implement, where feasible, some of those programs to fit the needs of our young paisanos. We also attempted to establish contact to get some understanding of the issues from the educational community, we were unsuccessful, but will keep trying. Let us know more of your plans to form a group. We are willing to promote/support/work together for the common good of helping to narrow the gap between the children of Colon and us. Let’s keep the dialogue going. Also, we would love to hear more about Bruce Codrington’s need to provide counseling and education to many teenagers in Colon who may turn to crime because they don’t see a way out. As to our observations of Colon, and while our short visit proved in no way to be scientific, I believe that the crime situation is as bad as everywhere else, but a bit overblown/exaggerated in some cases, but has the potential to get worse as everyone, including the law enforcers, stays complacent. Crime especially armed robberies may be on the rise but it would appear that most of these crimes are gang violence and don't really affect the general public directly. Example: we heard gunshots two of the four nights that we (two other brothers of mine) hung out in Colon and to our surprise the general public (women and their children) were walking along as if they did not hear the shots (I guess they were used to it.) One one occassion weobserved the police patrol van going the other direction of where the gunshots were coming from (So much for law and order). We were told that this is normal and that members of two rival teenage gangs were responsible and that they were just "popping shots" in the sky for the fun of it Anyhow, it appears that an awareness of the WI culture, for the most part, is non-existent in Colon. There are still a few of the “old time” Colonenses around playing dominoes or cards and “hanging out” at the Sabeb Club. We note that in the other bars/clubs where the young people gather, the Congo culture music and dance dominate, for the most part, giving the impression and suggesting that the Costeños now have a larger influence and predominance in Colon. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Querido Amigos Colegas, Quiro unirme entre las multiples felitacion y demas, para darles la bienvenida a este medio periodistico y defensor de las causas de nuestros compatriotas en Panama y en el Exterior. Junto a ustedes, PRESENCIA PANAMANA E HISPANA NEWS IN USA, nos sentimos reforzados en seguir informando a nuestra comunidad. Att. Lic. Antonio Roberto Morgan CEO/Editor. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Afro-PanaVisions.com, Congratulations!! I will share with the officers and members of the Panama Canal International Alumni Association, Inc. Keep up the great work.
Laura P. Thomas James PHS Class '65
President of PCIAA, INC.
Brooklyn, NY //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// THANKS FOR SHARING THIS GREAT MASTERPIECE AMIGO. HAVE ALREADY PASSED IT ON TO OTHER EMAIL BUDDIES
Celia Reid ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Oswald, I enjoyed looking through the website. I found it quite interesting. You all did a great job of preserving our history. I saw some of my classmates.
Ann Jones
St. Louis, ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Beautiful job, Oswald! I like the looks of the new site-- it should make our newsletter more accessible to a lot of folks. Nice work!!
Peace and love,
Jacquie king
Selkirk, NY
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