Black Ancestry | Tracing Ancestors Back to the 1860s

Discover how to explore your African, Caribbean, and American ancestry and find your roots.
About this Event

Paul Crooks is a seminal figure in African Caribbean genealogy, initiating vital research in the 1990s. His groundbreaking publications catalyzed the field, leading to a burgeoning industry devoted to these ancestral studies. Today, he is celebrated as a preeminent speaker on Black history and ancestry, sharing his unparalleled expertise widely.

During the event, Paul will:

Provide guidance on how to trace your ancestry back to the 1860s, shedding light on ancestors who lived during that period.
Deliver insights into how he overcame significant barriers in tracing his own great-grandfather.
Cover records specific to Black ancestry and discuss other materials of general interest for those embarking on journeys to discover their roots.

Who is this talk for?

This talk is designed for anyone motivated by learning about the inspirational figures and historical events that shape our present. Stories of ancestors who resisted racial injustice can ignite the imagination and spur individuals to achieve greater heights in their personal and professional lives.

The talk is particularly suitable if:

You are new to exploring family history.
You have some experience in genealogy and are looking for additional resources.
You've started your search but are encountering obstacles in furthering your research.

Receive discounted access to one-on-one advice on tracing your African ancestry with Paul Crooks, a Genealogy Specialist. More details will be available upon completing your registration for this event. Trailer video:

How to gain access to this event

This talk will be held over Zoom. Details of how to join the session will be in your registration confirmation email.

Plus Ticket: Along with event access, Plus Ticket holders will receive a digital copy of the 'Africans, Irish, and the Music of the Caribbean' eBook, delivered via email after the-event.

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Premium Ticket: Premium access includes all Plus offerings, plus a digital copy of Paul Crooks' latest novel 'Descendants,' sent to you electronically after the event.

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Deluxe Ticket: Deluxe attendees enjoy all Premium benefits, with the added bonus of the 'DNA Testing Demystified: Separating Fact from Fiction in Genealogy' eBook to deepen your understanding of genealogy sent to you electronically after the event.

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About the speaker

Trailblazing family historian Paul Crooks pioneered research into Black genealogy during the 1990s. He traced his family history from London, back 6 generations, to ancestors enslaved on a sugar plantation in North America.

Paul was told that it would be impossible to trace records of slave-ownership let alone his Ancestors enslaved on plantations in North America. “No one had tried because such records did not exist.” Undeterred, he embarked on a journey of discovery that led from suburban North London to North America and ultimately back to the Gold Coast.

His books, Ancestors and A Tree Without Roots - The Guide To Tracing British, African and Asian Caribbean Ancestry brought him international recognition for his breakthrough research into Black genealogy.

Paul is credited with inspiring an upsurge in interest in Black and British ancestry. He is also recognised for having spawned an industry in African Caribbean genealogy.

Paul is first among peers being an individual advocate for helping schools figure out how to deliver empowering history that