Due to a lack of enforcement, segregation persisted in Panama (the Canal Zone) much longer than in the US itself. The following is an excerpt from an interview I did in the US. In this piece a Panamanian woman is recounting her first experience with US segregation. Interestingly, she places herself outside of Blackness and refers to her "European" style of dress as an exclusionary ingredient. Even more interestingly, she make no mention of the racial segregation that existed in Panama or the Blackness that is implied in her family's periodical choices. The "black and white" problem existed in the US (a class issue in other countries), and she learned about it through her brother's Ebony magazine. Her brother reads Ebony... interesting.... no?
I have a lot more to say about this excerpt, but that is what my notes are for :) As always, interested to hear your thoughts....
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I had an experience when I came to this country and I don’t know what part this would take in your questioning, you know if I say it. If it’s ok
Oh, of course.
Well of course, other countries knew about the black and white problem in this country. In many other countries I believe that class is what makes a difference of the top echelons in each countries. I knew about this from reading, especially Ebony magazine. From my brother I used to borrow them. And when I left Panama in 1966, when I came here there was an airline strike. Planes weren’t coming in or out from wherever around the world. I finally left July 9, 1966. when I came into Miami it was ____. This was the first time I had ever left home. I was 21 (laughing). I am 61 now so you know how long I am here. This is a little interesting thing and it never really took hold inside of me until a couple of years ago. We had to leave from the Miami airport and the bus was going to take us to south of Miami we had to catch the bus. You are young, so you don’t know about the Trailways bus. They had Greyhound, and there was Trailways.
That was from the south right?
Well, they come and go all around the country I don’t know if it’s still there now. I got on the bus and of course, don’t forget that 1965 was the Civil Rights. I came a year after that. And I got into the bus and I was in the middle. I sat in the middle of the bus. And I saw that the blacks were still in the back of the bus. I remember especially some black men that seemed so scared. And a Spanish lady and her son were across and he just glued on to me! I am telling you, now. He glued on to me and the mother and I started to talk. I told her my name and she said, oh my mother’s name is Clara* also. And then there was a white guy sitting right over there. And he says maam I have to tell you something. He said when we reach to Georgia, you know we have to stop at each point to get off and stretch you legs, he said they are not going to let you into the restaurant. I said yes they are going to let me into the restaurant. I kept looking to the blacks there and I thought, they are going to get off with me! And I think about what I was wearing now. We had started dressing like Europeans; I had on my hat and my gloves. And when I got down from the bus, I told them, about six or seven of them, I said, you are going to go in with me. And I will never forget the little carryout. I can remember the kind of counter that they had—a marble counter. I told them to sit down with me and I would buy them something to drink. And they were scared. That is what I will always remember. They were really scared. I wonder _____ the attendant were really calm, which was interesting. ‘Can I help you?’ they were young people. White. And asked what they could do for me and I told them that the gentlemen were going to tell me what they want. I had no problems. I was like, you are not going to do that! (laughing) And when we got back on the bus, they thanked me. And it is still to this day in my mind how scared these people were. And I did not understand how nobody said anything to me, you know? And somebody the other day said to me, oh they thought you were somebody big from another country! Since I was dressing the way I was. And I said, oh my goodness! And that is something that I think occurred in all conscious especially in the United States when it comes to classes and race. And it is something I might write a book about.
That’s interesting. That’s interesting that no one said anything to you.
No, they were kind to me! They were really kind, making sure that I am ok. That these guys are sitting there, I don’t want to upset them or say anything cruel to them. I was determined. I thought that that white man was ______ to tell me, but then I realized he was probably wanting to save me in case that anything happened that he was letting me know what could happen. It took a long time for me to look at that that way because of the other issue with black Americans...
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