Panama Canal and Caribbean migration to New York in the early twentieth century

Panama Canal and Caribbean Migration to New York in the Early Twentieth Century Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Panama Canal and Caribbean migration to New York in the Early Twentieth Century In the early twentieth century, major migration began from the Caribbean to meet the demand for labor for the building of the Panama Canal. Workers from the Caribbean, mainly Jamaica, and Barbados, traveled to Panama and then to the United States looking for better opportunities. The migration was a result of desperation, colonial exploitation, and the hope of better living standards. That historical moment can be defined by themes such as unique migration patterns, the idea of Panama as a Caribbean space, the rationale of migration, and the impact of the Caribbean community in the society of New York. Caribbean migration was driven by a combination of labor needs, social struggles, and aspirations for upward mobility that left a complex socioeconomic imprint on both Panama and New York. Distinctive Characteristics of Caribbean Migration During the early 1900s, Caribbean people migrated due to labor demand particularly during the construction of the Panama Canal. Workers brought in were mostly from the British colonies and numbered thousands of Caribbeans. The temporary nature of the migration and that it was directly associated with the construction of the canal (Watkins-Owens). At first, workers came to the area as laborers for the canal. Many of them intended to come back home after the job. But, soon, the exodus became a long term or permanent farewell to the home islands, drawn there by the squalid conditions and higher wages abroad. The movement was also influenced by socio-economic conditions in the Caribbean. Many of the British-controlled islands had a colonial system in place that limited employment options for the working class. The working conditions in the West Indies were predatory and the upward mobility was scant (Watkins-Owens). For some, migration to Panama or New York promised escape from colonial systems of domination, and the opportunity to make a better life. In addition, the Caribbean migration there was not uniform. Though many laborers hailed from Jamaica, Barbados, and other English-speaking Caribbean islands, workers also arrived from other Caribbean countries like Cuba and Puerto Rico. These laborers, with various cultural backgrounds, had some common experience, namely that of being exploited workers in a foreign land. The economic hardships they endured, however, forged unity, and such unity would be realized in New York culture too. Is Panama a Caribbean Space? The question of whether Panama is a “Caribbean space” is a difficult one bearing a range of factors. Primarily, Panama is geographically situated on the southern edge of The Isthmus of Panama and is not part of the Caribbean, but a part of Ce...