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About
Elma Payne
Elma Payne was born in 1929 in Panama. Her mother was from Trinidad, and her father from Barbados. As a child, she remembers the “gold and silver roll” established by the Americans in the Canal Zone; a system of segregation that permeated even the holiest of places: the church. Nevertheless, she is proud of being Black and thinks that Blacks should be proud of who they are. Elma argues that Black West Indians should work hard to maintain their culture, especially the English language. She thinks that it was important for Blacks to speak English, especially now that bilingualism is socioeconomically important; not only is it culturally conscious, but it is also important when getting a job and/or an education. Today, Elma Payne is a school director and teacher who still lives in Panama.
