Black ethnic characters

GROUP 5
CHARACTERS WHO WILL PERFORM IN GROUP 5:

Miguel Vega: Federico Escobar

Federico Escobar (1861-1912), carpenter and social poet, liked to call himself “El Bardo
Negro”. His poetry expresses concern about racial discrimination and social injustice.
Works: Dry Leaves (1890); The Renaissance of a People, Ode to Cuba (1902); Snapshots
(1907); Patriotic (1909); and, also, two plays: The Martial Law (1885) and The Natural
Daughter (1886).

Esteban Muñoz: Dr. George W. Westerman

Dr. George W. Westerman (1910-1988), journalist, athlete, historian, writer, civic leader
and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United Nations General
Assembly (1956). At the First World Congress of Sociology and Political Sciences convened
by UNESCO in 1950, in Zurich, Switzerland, George W. Westerman presented the
presentation "A Minority Group in Panama", the seed of his important work Antillean
immigrants in Panama ( 1980). George W. Westerman was a counselor and director of the
National Civic League, editor and director of the weekly The Panama Tribune (1959-1973,
the most important newspaper of the Afro-Caribbean community), founder and director
of "Westerman Concerts." As a posthumous tribute to the distinguished Dr. George W.
Westerman, a street bears his name in Pueblito AfroAntillano, Calle George Westerman in
the Pueblo Nuevo Township, George W. Westerman Training Center, and also the
Westerman Center, home of the Diggers Museum. , Afro Panamanian Response,
International Institute of Technological Exchange and Training and, also other important
organizations. (Taken from Cecil V. Reynolds).
Daniela Jiménez: Sara Sotillo
Sara Sotillo was an extraordinary educator who was born on April 19, 1900, on the island
of San Miguel, Archipelago de las Perlas. After studying at the Normal School of
Institutoras, based on efforts and intellectual brilliance, she graduated as a Teacher in
Primary Education. He served at the school in Garachiné, Darien province. Later he moved
to the Manuel José Hurtado school where he taught for twenty-nine years. Despite strong
government pressure against her, Sara Sotillo's ability allowed her to lead the protest
movements that mobilized Panamanian educators in the 1940s and defended her
principles and labor achievements. In 1944, together with other colleagues, he founded
the United Panamanian Magisterium, a fundamental institution in the approval of the
Organic Law of Education and the Law of Escalafón. As president and as advisor of the
United Panamanian Teachers, over several administrations, Sara Sotillo was a decisive
factor in the creation of the Educator Savings Cooperative, the Miraflores Neighborhood
(for teachers) and the Teacher's House in the Obarrio Urbanization.

Jania Correoso: Dra. Marion Clarke

Dr. Marion Clarke de Martin is a Ph.D. specializing in Microbiology, the science that
studies microbes. Dr. Martin is an Afro-Panamanian, daughter of George C. Clarke, who
died, and Sarah Anderson Vda. From Clarke, both children of Caribbean immigrants. Dr.
Marion Clarke de Martin's interest in research has focused on different areas, including:
bioaerosols in closed spaces (hospitals, schools, laboratories, libraries, public buildings,
residences); seroepidemiology of histoplasmosis and paracoccidioidomycosis;
epidemiology of cryptococcosis; microbiota in spices for human consumption; afthoxins in
food for human and animal consumption, and participated as manager in the first
isolation of the South American blastomycosis agent (skin disease) in Panama.

Lyan Matos: Dr. Carlos E. Russell

Dr. Carlos E. Russell, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Brooklyn College; He is a journalist,
playwright and poet; he was Dean of the School of Contemporary Studies at Brooklyn
College, New York, and later Director of the Division of Urban and International Affairs at
Medgar Evers College. Also, he was the founder of the “Black Solidarity Day” movement in
New York; participated with Dr. Martin Luther King in the preparation of the “Poor
People’s Campaign”; and founder of the African Diaspora Theater. Dr. Russell was
Ambassador of Panama to the United Nations and the Organization of American States.
Works: Miss Anna’s Son Remembers (1976); An Old Woman Remembers… (1995); Nat,
Pappyshow and Monkeyshines, Love Lies, The Reverend and his Flock, Momma’s Baby,
Ode to Panama; Are You Going To Cry (2003).