Dead and Gone but Not Forgotten

The once manicured grounds, the ancient trees planted there more than a century ago, the beautiful and poetic inscriptions on the tombs, in fact, the tombs themselves, are falling into absolute and darkened abandonment. My heritage, that of the West Indian men and women who came to Panama more than a century ago to help mankind by building one of the greatest modern wonders of the world- The Panama Canal- is in grave danger of slipping into oblivion.

As a child I recall how some of the older people used to talk about their friends, former co-workers, and acquaintances and how they often used the term "Oh well, he dead and gone, man, dead and gone!" Even as a child the term seemed quite final and even cruel referring to someone who may have worked or lived alongside you for many years and had braved the perils of life in the Panama of those times- an extremely hostile place both physically and emotionally. I viewed everyone around me whether neighbors, friends or relatives on their own merits, with a past and a future and this "dead and gone" seemed too crass and final. This attitude, I believe, is what made me a lifelong student of culture, heritage and the way people think.

It wasn't enough for me to have pioneered Black Studies back in the 60's and 70's. In actuality there are only seven universities in the United States that offer a PhD in the speciality. Here I am again pioneering to recognize my history and culture, the Black West Indians of Panama, and I can't help but feel passionately about the great restoration and preservation job that we have ahead.

I embarked on the task of calling attention to the endangered Panama Canal Silver Roll Employees Cemetery at Corozal. It was and, perhaps for our time, continues to be the racially segregated portion adjacent to the Corozal American Battle Monuments Cemetery in Panama (controlled by the U.S. Army). The picture is a very graphic reminder of how life always was for the Westindians in the racially segregated Panama Canal Zone. As you enter the cemetery, on the right side is the gated and fenced, manicured and well tended burial ground of the American "Gold Roll" and military deceased. On the left side, however, is the sprawling forty six other acres of blackened "Silver" tombs, with no or inadequate care, a haven for swarms of dangerous mosquitoes, snakes and subject to incursions by unauthorized persons and grave vandals.

The Silver People Heritage Foundation, a Panama based non-profit organization, was started with the hope of rescuing this valuable heritage to humanity- the culture of a brave, intelligent people who were basically responsible for the building of the network of railroads in the country, the Panama Railroad since the middle of the nineteenth century and for the construction of the Panama Canal (1904-1914). Corozal Cemetery in Panama City and Mount Hope Cemetery in Colon (on the Atlantic side) represent the only actual and rooted physical evidence that these people ever existed and left their lives and blood for humanity.

I often remember hearing the old folk talk about how deeply they felt as they were laboring in the muddy trenches and blasting fields of Culebra Cut, that they were part of one of the greatest works for humanity and they were proud of their participation despite the low wages, the danger and disease that surrounded them and the lack of protection they suffered as laborers.

The Foundation seeks to restore these memorial burial sites to their optimum and dignified place as a cultural heritage to humanity. After restoration and conservation efforts are initiated we will place these sites on Panama's famed and historic Panama Canal Scenic Route spanning the fifty mile strip of land along the Canal from Colon to the Pacific side.

We invite you to help our Foundation in any way your finances and talents may permit. Contact us and become a part of this historic effort.