Assessment for Blacks in Panama

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Risk Assessment | Analytic Summary | References

Risk Assessment

Afro-Panamanians lack most of the risk factors for rebellion, although they do face societal discrimination, especially in the economic realm. Protest beyond verbal protest is also unlikely given their lack of political organization and mobilization. Despite being nearly 15 percent of the population and the presence of societal discrimination, there is very little information on Black Panamanians in public discourse.

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Analytic Summary

Black immigration into Panama dates to two separate periods. The first was during the early 19th century, when African slaves from the Antilles were brought as a labor source for the Panamanian Railroad and an early attempt at a trans-isthmus canal. Most of this group returned, but a small group remained behind. The construction of the Panama Canal at the beginning of the 20th century brought another wave, which became a part of Panamanian society. Antillean Blacks who entered during the 20th century were subject to discrimination from both North Americans and from Panamanians -- North Americans exploited them as cheap labor, while Panamanians pressured them to leave. Many did, but a large community remained behind in the Canal Zone (GROUPCON = 1). The United States' canal policies placed the Antillean workforce at a lower pay scale; the effects are said to still be felt today in the poverty of most Antillean Blacks in the Canal Zone. These Antillean Blacks built up an insular culture that stressed maintenance of their individual, traditional lifeways and advancement through education. Their distinct Caribbean cultures persisted (LANG = 1) because of the racism and ethnic hostility Panamanians held toward them. However, there are reports that recent generations of Antillean Blacks are assimilating, especially linguistically. Afro-Panamanians are also racially and religiously distinct from other Panamanians (RACE = 2; BELIEF = 1).

Legal protections of all racial and ethnic groups in Panama have been enacted, but racial and ethnic discrimination has not ended. Formal segregation in the Canal Zone ended in 1979, and laws have been enacted to ensure equal treatment of almost all ethnic communities. However, Black Panamanians are underrepresented politically, especially in senior leadership positions (POLDIS04-06 = 3). In addition, Black Panamanians still face social discrimination both economically, with preference given to light-skinned workers, and culturally, being singled out for their ethnic styles and traditions (ECDIS04-06 = 1).

Three "Black Panamanian congresses" were held throughout the 1980s; the last mainly addressed the task facing all Panamanians in rebuilding after the American withdrawal, but all three have pointed out that Panamanian society continues to treat them as second-class citizens. Grievances in the political, economic and cultural realms revolve around desires for an end to discrimination (POLGR04-06 = 1; ECGR04-06 = 1; CULGR05-06 = 1).

There is no evidence within the past 10 years of political activism on the part of Antillean Blacks (PROT00-06 = 0; GOJPA06 = 0). There are at least two political parties whose platforms are anti-Black, the Arnulfista Party and the Authentic Panamanian Party, both formed in the 1980s. However, no violent intercommunal conflict has been reported in recent years (INTERCON04-06 = 0).

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References

Lexis-Nexis. Various news reports.1995 - 2006.

Minority Rights Group International. 2005. "Afro-Panamanians." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. http://www.minorityrights.org/?lid=4210.

U.S. State Department. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Panama. 1999-2006.

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