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Black History and Ancestry: Economic Forces Behind Emancipation

Sunday 18th October 2026

How did the economic forces behind emancipation shape Black history, and what can they reveal about the lives of our ancestors?

This online Black history talk explores how the economic, political and social forces that contributed to emancipation affected the lives of enslaved people and their descendants. Suitable for anyone interested in Black ancestry, family history and the wider historical context, the session examines how understanding these events can deepen our appreciation of the experiences, choices and challenges faced by earlier generations.

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 thousands of people better understand their family histories and ancestral connections.

Drawing on historical evidence and insights gained through tracing his own ancestry, Paul Crooks explores the economic forces that helped bring slavery to an end and examines their impact on the lives of enslaved people. He considers how events such as resistance, economic change and political decision-making shaped the world in which ancestors lived, and why understanding this wider history can bring family history to life in ways that records alone cannot.

By placing individual family stories within their broader historical context, the session offers a deeper understanding of how Black history and family history intersect, helping researchers gain a fuller picture of the lives and experiences of earlier generations.

What You’ll Gain

• Insight into how wider historical events shaped the lives of enslaved people and their descendants
• A deeper appreciation of the relationship between Black history and family history
• An understanding of how historical context can enrich the stories uncovered through ancestry research
• New perspectives on the experiences, opportunities and challenges faced by earlier generations
• Greater awareness of the economic and political forces that influenced emancipation

Who This Talk Is For

• Individuals tracing African American or African-Caribbean ancestry
• Anyone interested in Black history and its relevance to family history
• Researchers who find that records change or become unclear over time
• Those seeking a deeper understanding of the historical forces that shaped the lives of their ancestors

Event Details:

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

Tickets: From £5.00

Location: Online

Premium ticket options include access to the Black History of Resistance and Abolition Timeline interactive PowerPoint and additional digital resources.

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