| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 242,035 (2022)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| English,Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| PredominantlyRoman Catholic | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Latin-Americans,Central Americans,Spanish-Americans,Native Americans |
Panamanian Americans (Spanish:panameño-americano,norteamericano de origen panameño orestadounidense de origen panameño) areAmericans ofPanamanian descent.
The history of Panamanian immigration to the United States is intertwined with thecomplex diplomatic relationship between the two nations, which formally began in 1903 followingPanama's separation from Colombia. Early migration patterns were significantly influenced by the construction and operation of thePanama Canal.
Panamanian Americans are the second smallestCentral American ethnic group in the United States as of 2010.
The Panamanian-American population in theUnited States grew significantly from 100,000 in 2000 to 240,000 in 2021, representing a 134% increase over two decades. Many Panamanian-Americans reside near army-based cities. As of 2021, Panamanian Americans are primarily concentrated in five states includingFlorida,New York,California,Texas, andGeorgia.
Panamanians settled in the United States before the19th century, however they were not required to be recorded inimmigration records.U.S. Immigration officials did not differentiate between Latin American immigrants at the time.[2] Early migration patterns show just 44 Panamanians recorded in the United States in the 1830s. Immigration gradually increased, reaching over 1,000 annual arrivals by the early 1900s, though these numbers declined followingWorld War I.[3]
The1940 Census recorded 7,000 Americans of Central American descent, with several hundred likely being Panamanian or of Colombian heritage from areas that later formed the Republic of Panama. AfterWorld War II, immigration from Panama to the United States increased significantly, with theCensus Bureau noting in 1960 that Panamanians were among the largest Central American groups in the nation.[2]
From 1962 onward, domestic service remained a significant occupation among Panamanian immigrants, comprising 15-28% of employed newcomers. The 1968 immigration preference system, which prioritized family reunification, facilitated increased immigration of homemakers and children. By 1970, Central Americans in the U.S. had grown to 174,000, with Panamanians emerging as one of the largest Central American immigrant groups. Substantial Panamanian immigration occurred after the1965 Immigration Act, which paradoxically imposed a 120,000-person limit on Western Hemisphere admissions.[3]
Approximately twice as many women as men immigrated to the United States, with many women finding employment inhousekeeping, service industries, or as low-levelwhite-collar workers, while sending remittances back to their families. As of 2013, about 20% of Panamanianmigrants were employed in the domestic sector.[2] Foreign-born Panamanian-American adults show a higher marriage rate of 46%, while their U.S.-born counterparts have a lower rate of 37%.[4]
By 1990, the Panamanian-American population had reached approximately 86,000 people.[3]
Panamanian Americans were the second smallestCentral American ethnic group in the United States as of the 2010 Census.[2] The Panamanian-American population in the United States grew significantly from 100,000 in 2000 to 240,000 in 2021, representing a 134% increase over two decades.[4] As of 2021, Panamanian Americans are primarily concentrated in five states includingFlorida (17%),New York (17%),California (10%),Texas (9%), andGeorgia (8%).[4]
As of 2021, the median annual personal earnings for Panamanian Americans aged 16 and above reached $36,000. For full-time workers, Panamanian Americans reported median earnings of $50,000. Foreign-born Panamanian Americans represent 36% of their community, with most having established long-term residence and citizenship in the United States. Panamanian Americans hold bachelor's degrees at nearly double the rate of the general Hispanic American population, and U.S.-born Panamanians show especially high rates of college completion.[4] In the same year, 118,301 Panamanian Americans were born in the United States (includingZonians), while 61,824 gained citizenship throughnaturalization, and 21,827 remained non-citizens. The 2022 US Census Bureau demographic data reported that over half of Panamanian Americans identified with a single race, while 42.7% reportedmultiracial heritage.[1]
A mass migration ofAfro-Caribbean Panamanians to New York City began in the 1940s due to Panama's1941 Constitution.[5] Immigration patterns show that over 10,000 non-US citizens departed from Panama for the United States between 1946 and 1949.[5] This constitution denationalized individuals with foreign-born parents from "prohibited races," which significantly impacted the Afro-Caribbean Panamanian community.[5]
ThoughHarlem was the initial home for many Panamanian immigrants, the expansion ofsubway lines connectingManhattan to Brooklyn in the late 1930s led more Afro-Caribbean Panamanians to settle in Brooklyn during the 1940s.[5] Brooklyn's residential patterns were characterized byracial segregation, with North and Central Brooklyn areas designated fornon-white residents.[5] These residential restrictions reflected similar segregation practices implemented in both theCanal Zone and Panama.[5] These communities maintained Panamaniancultural traditions while integrating intoNew York City culture.[5] Many participated in both Spanish and English-speaking social spheres, where they formed connections with broader Black diaspora communities throughout the borough.[5]
Las Servidoras was a scholarship-granting organization founded byAfro-Panamanian women inBrooklyn, New York in the early 1950s.[5] On April 20, 1963, on the tenth anniversary of the organization’s founding, all of its members became lifelongNAACP members.[5] The organization Las Servidoras promoted a broader concept of Panamanian identity (ser panameño) that included communities living outside Panama's borders, expanding the traditional nation-based definition of citizenship.[5]
A 1952Amsterdam News article documented the cultural practices of Brooklyn's Afro-Caribbean Panamanian community through its coverage of a birthday celebration.[5] The event featured traditional elements such astamborito dances and folkloric attire, illustrating how the community preserved Panamanian customs in their new urban setting.[5]
By 1970, New York was home to 17,000 Panamanians of mostly Mestizo, Black, and Indigenous descent.[3]
Panamanian Americans made significant contributions to the development ofreggaeton music, particularly through their work in New York during the late 1980s and early 1990s.[6] While the initialreggae en Español movement originated in Panama, the Panamanian-American music scene in New York played a crucial role in transforming it into early reggaeton through the incorporation of urban American music styles.[6] This fusion occurred primarily through production work in New York studios, where Panamanian-American producers and artists combined Caribbean rhythms with elements of hip-hop and house music, creating a distinctive sound that would later influence reggaeton's development inPuerto Rico and other regions.[6]
From 1904, thePanama Canal Zone fostered a distinct American community known as "Zonians", who enjoyed U.S.-style amenities and infrastructure. The Zone maintained a rigid social system dividing white"gold roll" workers fromWest Indian"silver roll" laborers, who faced discrimination and hazardous work conditions.[7] After the Zone's closure in 1979, former residents continued their community connections through yearly gatherings inTampa, Florida.[7]
The Panamanian AmericanChamber of Commerce was established inMiami during the 1990s to support Panamanian exiles who fled toSouth Florida during theNoriegadictatorship.[8]
As of 2010, there were 17,301 Panamanians living in Florida, withMiami hosting 13,529 andTampa with 3,772. This is due toMacDill Air Force Base inTampa, Florida.[2]
The Panamanian-American dance troupe named Orgullo Panameño fromHinesville, Georgia performed at the Fiesta Latina festival on River Street inSavannah, Georgia in 2013.[9] They performed dressed inpolleras and diablicos sucios.[9]
In 1970, there were a little less than 600 Panamanian Americans inSan Francisco, California.[3]
As of 2021, Panamanian Americans demonstrate higher rates of English language proficiency compared to the broader Hispanic population in the United States.[4] Among Panamanian-Americans aged 5 and older, 87% either exclusively use English at home or speak it "very well," while this figure stands at 72% for the general Hispanic population. Similarly, adult Panamanians show elevated levels of English proficiency at 85%, exceeding the 67% rate observed among the overall Hispanic adult population.[4]
Billy Cobham, born in 1944, is a Panamanian-Americandrummer,composer, andbandleader who played a pivotal role in developingjazz fusion music.[10] His 1973 debut solo album"Spectrum" became a landmark recording in the genre, blendingrock instrumentation withjazz complexity. Cobham is known for his drumming technique, including the use of twodrumsticks in each hand, and has collaborated with notable artists includingMiles Davis,John McLaughlin in theMahavishnu Orchestra,Carlos Santana, and theGrateful Dead.[10]
Nancy Ames is a Panamanian-American folk singer and songwriter known for her guitar performances and Spanish-language songs. She is the granddaughter of a Panamanian president,Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro. She gained attention in the 1960s for her musical performances incorporating romantic Latin American themes.[11][12]
Panamanian Americans made significant contributions to the development ofreggaeton music, particularly through their work in New York during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The most notable Panamanian-American figure wasproducerMichael Ellis, who worked from New York City to create fusions ofSpanish reggae,hip-hop, andhouse music that helped define the early reggaeton sound. Ellis's production work, particularly with Panamanian artists, was instrumental in introducing Spanish reggae to Puerto Rico and other parts of Latin America.
Jeff Buckley was an American singer-songwriter born to Mary Guibert, a classically trainedpianist and daughter of Panamanian AmericanZonian immigrants toAnaheim, California, andTim Buckley, a folk singer.[13][14]
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Singer and rapperAloe Blacc is Panamanian-American.[15]
Making Movies is aKansas City-based band formed by two sets of brothers; Panamanian-American siblings Enrique Chi (guitar) and Diego Chi (bass), alongside Mexican-American brothers Andres Chaurand (drums) and Juan-Carlos Chaurand (percussion/keyboards).[16] The band's personal experiences inform their work. Due to changes in U.S. immigration law, Enrique and Diego Chi held different citizenship statuses despite being born to the same American citizen father.[16] They have collaborated with the Panamanian singer, actor and activistRubén Blades.[16]
Los Rakas are a Panamanian-Americanhip-hop duo.[17]
Pop Smoke, born Bashar Jackson, was an influential American rapper of Panamanian and Jamaican descent who emerged from Brooklyn'sdrill rap scene. His stage name combined two childhood nicknames: "Papa," given by his Panamanian grandmother, and "Smoke," bestowed by friends. Raised inCanarsie, Brooklyn, in a middle-class duplex, he represented a significant breakthrough in New York's hip-hop landscape. His musical career, though brief, was marked by rapid success. His signature style featured a distinctive gravel-voiced delivery reminiscent of1990s New York rap. His debut album "Meet the Woo" (2019) established him in the hip-hop community, leading to collaborations with prominent artists includingNicki Minaj,Travis Scott, andQuavo. His second album achieved notable commercial success, reaching No. 7 on theBillboard 200 chart. Pop Smoke's life was tragically cut short at age 20 during ahome invasion in Los Angeles in February 2020.[18]
Quibián Salazar-Moreno, a Panamanian-American writer named after a 16th-century chief who resisted Columbus, immigrated to Denver as a child and navigated multiple cultural transitions including his mother's death, his grandmother's arrival from Panama, and his father's remarriage to an Italian-American.[19] Now living in Los Angeles, he maintains ties to his Panamanian heritage while raising his children to embrace their multicultural Afro-Latina background.[19]
Panamanian-American Debi Hasky is a visual artist that spotlights daily street harassment faced by women.[20]
Sabrina Shumaker is a Panamanian American visual artist based inCentral Florida. Born inTexas, she works across multiple mediums includingsculpture,oil painting, andillustration, with a particular focus onmurals.[21] One of her well-known works is "Night Owl," a 15-foot-tall mural located on Burton's Thornton Park inDowntown Orlando, Florida.[21]
Tatyana Ali, known for her acting role as Ashley Banks inThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is a Panamanian-American actress, model, andR&B singer. She is Afro-Panamanian andIndo-Trinidadian.[22][23]
Tessa Thompson is a Panamanian American and Mexican-American actress. She is Panamanian through her Afro-Panamanian father, who worked as an R&B and folk musician under the stage nameChocolate Genius, Inc. Her early exposure to the arts came through her father, who took her to the movie theater to seeAmelie, which was a pivotal moment that inspired her acting career. Thompson's mixed cultural background has influenced her career choices and advocacy for diverse representation in media, particularly in genres like science fiction and fantasy, in movies such asThor: Ragnarok, where such representation has historically been limited.[24]
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Sarunas Jackson's, a Panamanian-American actor, role as Dro on the television seriesInsecure initially called for a Black Mexican character. However, Jackson advocated for changing the character's background to Afro-Latino of Panamanian descent. This change represented a significant milestone in the representation of Afro-Latino identities in U.S.mainstream media.[25]
Liliana Damaris Pope is a Panamanian American apparel and accessoriesdesigner based inAustin, Texas.[26] She is known for discussing herAfro-Latina identity on social media, inspired by aGoogle Doodle featuring Ildaura Murillo-Rohde who founded theNational Association of Hispanic Nurses.[26][27]
Tyson Beckford is a model and actor ofChinese,Afro-Jamaican, and Afro-Panamanian descent. He is from New York City but lived in Jamaica for several years.[23]
Dr. Carlos Russell was a Panamanian-American scholar, activist, and diplomat, foundedBlack Solidarity Day in 1969 as an annual November 3 observance to unite African descendants across the Americas against racial oppression. He was an Afro-Latino intellectual and one ofMalcolm X's early interviewers following hisMecca pilgrimage. His pioneering work inPan-Africanism emphasized the interconnected nature ofBlack liberation struggles throughout the Americas, leaving a lasting impact on modernsocial justice movements before his passing in 2018.[28]
Dr. Victor Ricardo Alfaro was a Panamanian-Americanotolaryngologist who served asprofessor emeritus atGeorgetown University School of Medicine and senior attending otolaryngologist at the Washington Hospital Center. He is the son to the former Panamanian presidentRicardo Joaquín Alfaro, and he immigrated to the United States in 1922. After receiving his medical degree fromGeorgetown University in 1929, he served as a lieutenant colonel in theArmy Medical Corps duringWorld War II. He was a director of theDeafness Research Foundation. He was the father ofNancy Ames.[29]
Ildaura Murillo-Rohde was a Panamanian-Americannurse and educator who recognized a need for Latino representation in healthcare after moving from Panama toSan Antonio, Texas in her twenties. After earning her doctorate fromNew York University in 1971, she founded theNational Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) in 1975.[27] She served as its first president while working as a psychiatric nurse, professor, and dean to promote cultural awareness in healthcare. Her contributions to nursing and healthcare earned her a fellowship from theAmerican Academy of Nursing.[27]
Rolando Blackman is a Panamanian-Americanbasketball player who went toGrady Vocational High School inConey Island, Brooklyn.[30] Blackman played with theDallas Mavericks in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) and was named anNBA All-Star four times. He was the first Panamanian-born player in the NBA and never fouled out in his 865 games as a Maverick.[31]
Angela Spring, a Panamanian andPuerto Rican American entrepreneur, founded Duende District, a pop-upbookstore business inWashington, D.C. that operates through multiple locations and focuses on servingcommunities of color through curatedliterature and cultural programming.[32]
Linda Martín Alcoff is a Panamanian-Americanphilosopher of Panamanian andIrish descent who is acollege professor atHunter College, New York.[33][34]
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Gwen Ifill is a Panamanian-Americanjournalist,newscaster, and author. Her father was Panamanian ofBarbadian descent. She was the co-anchor and co-managing editor of thePBS NewsHour and moderated the2004 and 2008 U.S. Vice Presidential debates.[23]
Juan Williams is a Panamanian-American journalist and political analyst. He has written for theWashington Post,NPR andFox News.[23]
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