I’m a history enthusiast and one of the reasons I became interested in living in Panama was to study the history of Africans brought to the Caribbean, and Central & South America. In fact, two-thirds of those transported in the slave trade from Africa landed in places other than the United States.
With that in mind, picture ships, two to three football fields long, passing through the mammoth Panama Canal locks at Miraflores, just west of Panama City. Witnessing one of the greatest engineering feats in history, I was duly impressed.
The viewing tower, about eight stories high, allows you to look down on the locks in operation as ships of all sizes pass through the Panama Canal, which was completed in 1914, and will celebrate 100 years of operation in 2014.
But, who actually built it? The Spanish tried, and so did the French. By the early 1900′s the Americans stepped in during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt. The completion of the canal in 1914 helped elevate America’s status as a world power. But at an enormous human cost.
Early on, I was surprised to discover that a large number of those who worked on the Panama Canal, in the early 1900′s, were Caribbeans of African decent.
The canal project attracted workers from around the world, China, Europe, and America. However, the largest number of those who worked on the canal were Afro-Caribbeans, mainly from Barbados. These workers were among the greatest number to
die from the dangerous work, and were treated as cheap and expendable labor by the French and the Americans.
die from the dangerous work, and were treated as cheap and expendable labor by the French and the Americans.
But, it was the Americans, the French contend, who established an apartheid system for the Black workers. Whites lived in much better, healthier conditions with better food and health care. While Blacks endured conditions that were reminiscent of slavery. Shacks with no floors, inferior food, and working conditions, sub standard health care. More importantly, blacks were paid in silver while whites were paid in gold, which was more valuable.Thus, the blacks were called, the Silver Men.
President Roosevelt, himself, commented that better living and working conditions for blacks would increase production. But, the President’s comments fell on deaf ears. The American contractors would never pay blacks on an even par with whites.
This history is depicted in the Canal Museums. There is one at the locks and another in Casco Viejo. Whether your interest is historical, cultural or engineering the story of the building of the Panama Canal has something for everyone.
Also, Panamaian recording artist Ruben Blades, tells the story of the Silvermen in his song, “West Indian Man“. Hit the link below to listen.
For more info check out the book, The Silver Men: West Indian Labor Migration to Panama 1850-1914, by Velma Newton. Also, you can go to, www.thesilverpeopleheritage.wordpress.com.
Excellent post, Ken!
ReplyDeleteA not-so-surprising wrinkle to the Silver vs. Gold issue:
The Americans, from what I have read, at first tried to justify the difference on the basis that silver was being used to pay "foreigners" (forgetting that the North Americans were THEMSELVES foreigners in Panama). However, that charade was destroyed when some of the white workers complained that US Blacks who answered the call to come and work on the Canal were being paid the same as the whites!!! At that point, the US Blacks were put on the Silver Roll also.
Everyone should note that the Wiki pages on the Panama Canal make NOT A SINGLE MENTION of the Afro-Caribbean workers who comprised the largest segment of the work force. That error is in the process of being corrected.
Damani
Thank you for enlightening story.
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