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Caribbean Ancestry: DNA Tests — What They Reveal and Miss

Sunday 19th July 2026

Explore what DNA testing can and cannot reveal about Caribbean ancestry — and why results often leave important questions unanswered.

 

This online talk examines the role DNA testing can play in understanding African-Caribbean and African American ancestry. Suitable for anyone who has taken a DNA test or is considering doing so, the session explores what genetic results can reveal about ancestry, where their limitations lie, and how a broader understanding of family history can help place those results into context.

Paul Crooks is a genealogist, author and speaker specialising in Black history and African-Caribbean ancestry. He is known for one of the earliest documented reconstructions of African-Caribbean ancestry from the Caribbean to Africa using archival records, tracing his own ancestry from London to West Africa via Jamaica.

His work explores themes including ancestry, identity, migration, slavery, emancipation, Windrush and the interpretation of historical records. He is the author of A Tree Without Roots: The Guide to Tracing British, African and Asian-Caribbean Ancestry and the novel Ancestors. His research has been featured by the BBC and has helped inspire thousands of people to explore their own family histories.

Drawing on his own research, Paul explains how DNA results fit within a wider body of evidence and why, on their own, they rarely resolve the deeper questions people are trying to answer. The session explores how historical records and genetic evidence intersect — and where they do not always align.

Whether you are new to genealogy or already researching your family history, this event provides valuable insight into how DNA testing can support ancestry research while highlighting the importance of historical records in building a fuller picture of the past.

What You’ll Gain

• What DNA test results are actually measuring
• Why ethnicity estimates can shift and vary
• Why DNA matches do not always clarify relationships
• Where DNA evidence stops — and records become essential
• A clearer understanding of how DNA fits into Black ancestry research

Who This Talk Is For

• Those who have taken a DNA test and want to better understand their results
• Individuals confused by ethnicity percentages or unexpected matches
• Anyone researching African-Caribbean or African American ancestry
• Those seeking clarity on how DNA connects to historical records

Event Details:

Start Time: 7:00pm
Finish Time: 8:00pm

Tickets: Free and paid ticket options available

Location: Online

Ticket packages include optional digital resources such as the African–Irish–Creole Caribbean Culture Guide, Descendants eBook and DNA Testing Demystified.

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