Tracing Black and British Ancestry | Africans and Irish of the Caribbean

Explore the fusion of African and Irish cultures in the Caribbean and discover untapped Windrush legacies.
About this Event

Paul Crooks is unique among UK Black History Month speakers discussing engaging topics relating to the experience of Black British & North American people.

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

In this talk, Paul will help attendees broaden their understanding of

the blend of black and white people of the Caribbean
the cultural legacy of African Caribbean and Irish Caribbean people drawing on Paul’s research into the extent to which Irish people may have impacted Caribbean culture
the economic status of Africans and Irish in the Caribbean during the period of enslavement.

Who Is This Talk For?

This talk is ideal for:

People eager to explore the intricate cultural and economic interactions between African and Irish communities in the Caribbean.
People with African-Caribbean or Irish ancestry, looking to deepen their research into ancestral links and legacies.
Anyone seeking to enrich their understanding of Caribbean history.
Anyone interested in the broader narratives of Black History and its impact on contemporary multicultural contexts.

Receive discounted access to Paul Crooks' Caribbean Surname Origins Search. It's designed to help you discover the earliest mentions of your family name and connections within the Caribbean. A successful search provides a valuable starting point for further research. More details will be available to those registering for this event.

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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