Paul Crooks spent 13 years searching for his African roots. He found out that his great great great grandfather walked free from the Cousins’ Cove sugar plantation, Jamaica in 1838. This prompted Paul’s curiosity about what lay behind the decision to free the enslaved people of the Caribbean.

In this talk, Paul will explain

• how the decision to offer liberty to people enslaved in the Caribbean and North America began when military struggles between Africans in the Caribbean and colonisers; and
• how this unleashed forces that set in motion the demise of slavery in the Caribbean and North America.

Recognising every age rewrites history, particularly black history, Paul will place into historical perspective the factors that contributed to ending the transatlantic slavery. Paul challenges established perspectives on how the abolition was achieved; ideas created in the consciousness of many, by Great Britain are responsible for the creation and guidance of informed opinion.

Premium Ticket holders

Premium Ticket holders will receive the Black Resistance and Abolition Timeline interactive PowerPoint following the event. See the demonstration video below.

Who Is This Talk For?

The talk is suitable for you if

• The talk is suitable for you if
• you want to develop your knowledge and understanding of the parallels between African Caribbean history and African American history
• you’re new to exploring family history

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.

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