Black History Month | How to Trace Your Black Ancestors

Join Black history speaker Paul Crooks for an insightful masterclass on tracing African ancestry. Known for his pioneering research into Black ancestry, Paul Crooks will delve into the legacy of British slave-ownership and Black British heritage, focusing on the African Caribbean and African American communities.

In this event, Paul will use his personal journey as a case study to:

• Reveal how he traced his family's Black history back to the early 1800s
• Discuss records specific to research into Black ancestry, and other valuable resources
• Share a step-by-step approach to uncovering ancestral records
• Explain challenges encountered in this research and how to overcome them

This talk is for anyone inspired by the inspirational figures and historical events that shape our current understanding. Discover stories of ancestors who resisted racial injustice, igniting the imagination and driving personal and professional growth.

Ideal for those who are:

• New to exploring family history
• Experienced in searching for ancestors and seeking additional sources of information
• Interested in uncovering more about their heritage and ancestral records
• This event offers invaluable insights for Caribbean and African American people keen on tracing their African ancestry.

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.

Browse Ancestry Talks e-publications when you get your free ticket

• The 'Africans, Irish, and the Music of the Caribbean (non-fiction) e-publication.
• DNA Demystified | Separating Fact from Fiction (non-fiction), e-publication.
• Descendants | A Memoir of a Windrush Adventurer’s Coming of Age (fiction).
• Black History | Ancient & Medieval Timeline interactive PowerPoint.
• The First Maroon War interactive PowerPoint.
• The Haitian Revolution interactive PowerPoint.
• Black History of Resistance and Abolition Timeline interactive PowerPoint.
• Fables Aesop (The Ethiop)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Finsbury Library, 245 Saint John Street, London, United Kingdom