More than 20 years ago, filmmaker Roman Foster exercised tremendous foresight by interviewing and filming a very special group of senior citizens - some of the Caribbean workers recruited to build the mammoth Panama Canal in the early 1900s.
His resulting documentary “Diggers,” which aired nationally on PBS in 1985, continues to amaze audiences today on college campuses and at special events. Now, Foster is planning to bring the documentary’s powerful and enlightening message to younger audiences.
“I’m looking at schools,” said Foster, who is presently working on lesson plans and other materials that can be used in conjunction with the film.
The story of the canal workers is an amazing part of American and Caribbean history. However, unfortunately, their efforts - and the social, economic and physical struggles they endured - are not widely known. Foster tells the story using archival photographs and film footage and interviews with 12 canal diggers.
“We try and educate the people and let them know we did play a part in the building of the canal,” said the filmmaker, who admits he is surprised that the 22-year-old documentary is still appealing to audiences.
The remarkable story will be retold Saturday, January 12 when “Diggers” is shown at MoCADA (the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts), 80 Hanson Place in Brooklyn, from 2 to 5 p.m. Foster will be on hand for a question-and-answer session. Suggested donation is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and students (with valid ID). Children 12 and under are admitted free.
To R.S.V.P., send an e-mail to info@mocada.org or call 718-230-0492. And visit the museum web site: www.mocada.org .
Outstanding alumnus
Immigration expert Irwine Clare of Caribbean Immigrant Services will be getting an award from the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica this week - the council’s Outstanding Alumnus Award at the council’s annual conference in Jamaica.
Visit the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica web site at https://main.cccjamaica.org.
Good reception
Caribbean alumni of St. Francis College in Brooklyn will be attending a reception at the college’s Callahan Center, at 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights, on January 19 at 2 p.m. For information on the affair, call Dennis McDermott, Alumni Director, at 718-489-5362 or e-mail him at dmcdermott@stfranciscollege.edu.
Man and woman of year
Congressmember Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn), Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham and Councilmember Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn) are leading a host of recipients who will be recognized at the 2008 Caribbean Images Awards this week.
The 12th annual event - which will recognize a number of prominent individuals and organizations - will be held Friday, January 11 in Brooklyn at Paradise Manor, 51 Avenue U, beginning at 8 p.m.
Towns and Graham will be receiving Man of the Year and Woman of the Year awards, respectively while Stewart will get the Leadership Award, said Peter Pouchon, the host of Caribbean Images Television. Tickets are $100 per person. Visit www.caribbeanimagestv.com or call Caribbean Images at 718-693-0848.
Celebrating Haiti’s freedom
Through the creativity of Haitian artists, the Queens Museum of Art will be celebrating the independence anniversary of Haiti by hosting an art exhibition.
“Haitian Freedom & Liberty” - an exhibition presented by the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadows in conjunction with the Haitian Center for Arts and Culture, the United Haitian Artists, the Consortium for Haitian Empowerment, Doctors for the Arts Committee, Creative Steps, and Educators for the Arts Committee - started Sunday, January 6 with an opening reception.
The show will feature art works illustrating historical images, revolutionary heroes and battle scenes. With the anniversary of Haitian independence falling on January 1, this month has special significance for Haitians at home and abroad. For information, call Florence Hector at 718-304-6401.
Good food, good health
The “Eat Right, Live Healthy, Live Safe” event will be held in Brooklyn on Saturday at the Flatbush YMCA, 1401 Flatbush Avenue, from 2 to 6 p.m. Lunch will be served at the event, which is being presented by the Caribbean Women’s Health Association in collaboration with Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. Call Wendy Mitchell at the association at (718) 826-2942 for information.
Kwanzaa celebration
The Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Center of New York joined forces with Congressmember Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan) on Tuesday, January 8 to celebrate Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day by handing out holiday treats and gifts to needy families in Harlem.
In the spirit of giving, the center held its first holiday event for children living in homeless shelters. The event was held on Friday, December 7 in Richmond Hill, Queens at Calypso City/Rum Jungle Restaurant, which co-sponsored the affair.
The center has been aiding homeless children for 10 years. This holiday season the center also worked with Borough President Marty Markowitz to get gifts to needy homeless children. For information on the center, call 718-625-1515 or send e-mail to jpa369@aol.com.
Come on down
The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire will be getting a new resort - the chic Hilton Bonaire Resort and Spa. The unique 144-room resort - which will be built on a system of canals in the Bonaire’s capital city Kralendijk – is due to be open by July 2010.
This column is reprinted from the January 6 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have an item suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
