"You Would Watch Men Shake Gentlemen": Chronic Malaria and West Indian Labor at the Isthmus of Panamá

Key Points

• The aim is to explore the impact of chronic malaria on West Indian laborers at the Panama Canal, emphasizing their experiences and resistance.
• Analysis of firsthand accounts from West Indian workmen
• Examination of the relationship between malaria and labor conditions
• Assessment of resistance practices against canal authorities
• West Indian men reported significant vulnerabilities caused by malaria affecting their ability to work.
• Laborers described various forms of resistance against canal authorities' demands despite illness.
• Findings challenge stereotypes about Black male hyper-ability by showcasing real struggles faced by these laborers.