Dying to Better Themselves

Focusing on the post-emancipation generation of the 1850s, this narrative explores the migration of West Indians to Panama, driven by the promise of economic opportunity. Olive Senior highlights how this early wave of migration set the stage for a lasting pattern of circular movement that significantly impacted the Caribbean islands' economic, social, and political landscapes, well into the twentieth century. The book provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of West Indian migration, moving beyond the well-trodden stories of the Windrush Generation.