Panama in Black: Afro-Caribbean World Making in the Twentieth Century

Kaysha Corinealdi's book, Panama in Black, explores the multigenerational activism of Afro-Caribbean Panamanians who forged diasporic communities in Panama and the United States. It highlights how they created a diasporic worldview of the Caribbean that prioritized Black innovation and used various methods to navigate anti-Blackness, xenophobia, and white supremacy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her captivating book, "In Panama in Black: Multigenerational Activism of Afro-Caribbean Panamanians," Kaysha Corinealdi delves into the profound multigenerational activism of Afro-Caribbean Panamanians, who, throughout the twentieth century, forged diasporic communities in both Panama and the United States. Corinealdi's research is a testament to the rich tapestry of sources she has drawn upon, encompassing speeches, yearbooks, photographs, government reports, radio broadcasts, newspaper editorials, and oral histories. Through her meticulous analysis, Corinealdi presents the Panamanian isthmus as a pivotal site in the creation of an Afro-diasporic world that interconnected cities and towns like Colón, Kingston, Panama City, Brooklyn, Bridgetown, and La Boca.

Afro-Caribbean Panamanians in Panama cultivated a diasporic perspective of the Caribbean that prioritized the potential for Black innovation. Corinealdi meticulously maps this innovation by examining the longest-running Black newspaper in Central America, the emergence of civic associations formed to challenge policies that stripped Afro-Caribbean Panamanians of citizenship, the establishment of scholarship-granting organizations that supported the education of Black students, and the formation of national conferences and organizations that linked anti-imperialism and Black liberation. By unveiling how Afro-Caribbean Panamanians employed these strategies to navigate anti-Blackness, xenophobia, and white supremacy, Corinealdi offers a fresh and insightful mode of understanding activism, community, and diaspora formation.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of Afro-diasporic studies, shedding light on the complex and multifaceted experiences of Black communities across borders. It provides a rich and detailed account of the activism, resilience, and creativity of Afro-Caribbean Panamanians, who have played a significant role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of both Panama and the United States. "In Panama in Black" is a must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the intersection of race, identity, and diaspora in the modern world.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 228 x 152 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478018513