My ancestors dug the Panama Canal

Donald Trump mentioned yesterday in one of his speeches that the Americans dug the Canal of Panama. It is indisputable that the leadership and funding of theUnited States were the key elements for the success of the waterway.

For the construction of this great work of engineering, the United States employed a workforce of 56,000 people, some 30,000 of the Antilles, in particular Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucie, among others. The workers from the Antilles dug the Panama Canal while American workers performed administrative and engineering duties.

I consider that Donald Trump’s words did not adjust to the reality and dismissed the importance of Afro-Caribbean workers. As a granddaughter of two West Indians who came from Jamaica and the Virgin Islands to Panama, I want to express my opinion. (Mr. Trump, if the Americans dug the Canal as you mentioned yesterday, I would have blue eyes and blond hair).

Once again, Mr. Donald J. Trump displayed a negligent behavior by negating the contributions of people of color. Hopefully, I can go back and pay tribute to my ancestors who worked very hard to dig the Panama Canal.