Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast: Explore Caribbean Ancestry & Culture
Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast
Hosted by Wendy Aris
A space where Caribbean history, family history, and heritage come to life. This podcast explores the legacies of colonialism and uncovers the often-overlooked stories that shaped the Caribbean and its people.
Whether you're tracing your ancestral roots, exploring regional identity, or simply curious about the past that informs the present, Dis A Fi Mi History offers meaningful insights and resources for anyone interested in Caribbean genealogy and historical storytelling.
Join host Wendy Aris as she speaks with historians, archivists, cultural practitioners, and everyday people who are piecing together the threads of their family and national histories.
Episodes
3 days ago
3 days ago
Host Wendy Aris engages with Michael A. Henry in a captivating conversation about Indo-Jamaican migration, memory, and identity within the broader context of Caribbean history and colonialism. They delve into documenting family genealogy using oral histories and archival research, shedding light on the legacy of indenture and the cultural traditions that shape identity today.
Listeners will explore the historical impact of colonialism on Indo-Jamaican communities through discussions of terms like “coolie,” discoveries from ship and contract records, and the enduring influence of heritage in Caribbean culture. Practical research tips and resources are shared to inspire listeners to reconnect with their own family histories.
This episode is a rich resource for those interested in family genealogy, Caribbean history, and understanding how colonial legacies continue to affect identity and cultural memory in the region.
BIO:
Michael A. Henry is passionate about cultural heritage and based in South Florida with a professional career in financial services. His fellowship project will collect oral histories, migration stories, and cultural artifacts of Indo-Jamaican experiences and culture. This project hopes to broaden the discourse around the South Asian American diaspora to provide representation for minority subgroups.
Article:
https://www.saada.org/explore/publications/tides/articles/uncovering-indo-jamaican-stories
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#IndoJamaican #IndoCaribbean #DiasporaStories #CaribbeanHistory #OralHistory#CulturalHeritage #DisAFiMiHistory #MigrationStories #CaribbeanDiaspora #British West Indies emancipation history #Caribbean History Podcast #African Diaspora Studies #Slavery and Resistance #Atlantic World History #Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast
Saturday Jan 24, 2026
Saturday Jan 24, 2026
In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Wendy Aris interviews Matthew Taylor about his book Black Redcoats, exploring a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in Caribbean history and colonialism. They discuss how formerly enslaved men who joined the British Colonial Marines during the War of 1812 transformed military service into pathways to freedom, land ownership, and community building. This conversation highlights vital themes in family genealogy and heritage, focusing on Black resistance, mobility, and agency across regions like Trinidad, Nova Scotia, and the Chesapeake.
Listeners will learn about the formation, roles, and lasting legacy of the Colonial Marines, and the experiences of women and families during this era. These narratives shed important light on concepts of freedom, citizenship, and belonging during the age of empire, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in Caribbean history, colonialism, and family history.
BIO:
Matthew Taylor is a historian and author specializing in Atlantic World history, slavery, and Black military resistance in the nineteenth century. He is the author of Black Redcoats: The Corps of Colonial Marines, 1814–1816, a groundbreaking study that examines the lives of formerly enslaved Africans who joined the British military during the War of 1812 and later established free Black communities across the Caribbean, Central America, and the Atlantic world.
Taylor’s research foregrounds Black agency, freedom-seeking, and military service as crucial elements in understanding the broader histories of emancipation, migration, and empire. His work draws on extensive archival research across Britain, the Caribbean, and the Americas, challenging traditional narratives that marginalize the role of enslaved and formerly enslaved people in shaping their own liberation.
Through his scholarship, Matthew Taylor contributes to ongoing conversations about African diasporic resistance, colonial warfare, and the global legacies of slavery.
BOOK LINK:
https://www.amazon.ca/Black-Redcoats-Colonial-Marines-1814-1816/dp/1399034014
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/black-redcoats-the-corps-of-colonial-marines-1814-1816/9781399034012.html
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#Matthew Taylor historian #Black Redcoats book #Corps of Colonial Marines #Black soldiers in the British Empire #War of 1812 Black history ##Enslaved people and military resistance #African diaspora military history #Caribbean migration after slavery #Black Loyalists and freedom seekers #British West Indies emancipation history #Caribbean History Podcast #African Diaspora Studies #Slavery and Resistance #Atlantic World History #Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris dives into Caribbean history and heritage through the lens of Jamaican self-taught artist Stafford Schliefer.
They explore his decades-long career, unique movement-based painting style, and how his art reflects and preserves Jamaican cultural identity and family heritage.
Their conversation covers Stafford's artistic journey from depicting vibrant market scenes to abstract expression, ongoing cultural projects like Pocomania, and how art serves as a powerful tool for remembering Caribbean history and the legacies of colonialism.
Tune in for an insightful discussion that weaves together family genealogy, heritage, and the transformative power of art in understanding the Caribbean experience.
Bio:
Stafford Schliefer, self-taught artist, born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1939, has been painting professionally since the age of 28. When asked what motivated him to paint, Schliefer simply says that painting was like breathing for him, and that he remembers painting from early boyhood. His career began humbly, by exhibiting his art on the hotel strips in Kingston and Montego Bay. The recognition from art critics allowed his work to be moved off the streets and into the art galleries and museums. Very early in his career, he received two Certificates of Merit from the Jamaica Festival Arts Commission (1970, 1972) and a High Commendation Award from the Institute of Jamaica (1971). His first solo art show was also in 1971.
https://staffordschliefer.com/
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#StaffordSchliefer #JamaicanArt #CaribbeanArtists #JamaicanCulture #BlackArt #CaribbeanHistory #ArtAsStorytelling #DisAFiMiHistory #KingstonJamaica #CaribbeanCreatives #heritage
Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Explore the vital role of Maroon women in Caribbean history, family genealogy, and cultural resistance. Host Wendy Aris speaks with Dr. Tinde van Andel about Maroon communities in Suriname and French Guiana, uncovering their family histories and resilience in the face of colonialism.
They discuss women’s central contributions to agriculture and survival, focusing on the transatlantic transfer and preservation of rice varieties — a symbol of freedom, identity, and living heritage passed across generations. This episode highlights oral memory through songs, rituals, and naming practices that safeguard ancestral knowledge, emphasizing how understanding family and plant histories can inform present and future generations. Join us in this rich conversation about heritage, resistance, and the enduring legacy of the Caribbean people.
Please enjoy the episode; if you like it, subscribe, like, and review. Welcome to Dis a fi mi History Podcast with host Wendy Aris.
BIO:
Senior researcher Naturalis Professor Ethnobotany, Wageningen University. Clusius chair History of Botany and Gardens, Leiden University NWO-Vidi project "Plant use of the Motherland-Linking Afro-Caribbean and West African Ethnobotany" (2010-2015) ALW postdoc ‘Medicinal plants of Suriname: Changes in plant use after migration to the Netherlands’ (2005-2009). Medicinal and ritual plant use among Suriname Maroons and their ancestral ethnic groups in Ghana, Benin and Gabon.
https://www.wur.nl/en/persons/profdr-tr-tinde-van-andel
https://sebstudentblog.com/2023/02/03/how-i-got-here-tinde-van-andel/
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#MaroonWomen #SurinameHistory #FrenchGuiana #AfricanDiaspora #CaribbeanHistory #MaroonCommunities #WomenInHistory#RiceCultivation #EnslavementAndResistance #CulturalMemory #OralHistory#Ethnobotany #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #HistoryPodcast #BlackHistory #DiasporaStudies #HiddenHistories #AfroDescendant#MaroonHeritage #PlantKnowledge #ColonialHistory #DecolonizingHistory
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into Caribbean history and heritage through an insightful conversation with Professor Karl Offen on the Miskito Kingdom. They explore how colonialism shaped the historical split between the Sambo and Tawira groups, examining the influences of colonial powers, missionaries, race, geography, and language on Miskito identities and movements across northeastern Nicaragua and Honduras.
Professor Offen discusses the rich archival sources underpinning his research, alongside the significant role of Moravian missionaries. The episode highlights how the Miskito people have preserved their cultural traditions and family heritage, showcasing resilience despite centuries of colonial disruption. This conversation offers valuable perspectives on family genealogy and the lasting effects of colonial legacies within the Caribbean and its neighboring regions.
BIO
Professor Karl Offen is a historical geographer and Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. His research focuses on Indigenous geographies, colonialism, race, and the historical formation of place in Central America and the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on the Miskitu Coast of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Professor Offen’s work examines how colonial powers, missionaries, and imperial rivalries shaped Indigenous identities, territorial boundaries, and racial classifications over time. He is especially known for his scholarship on the Miskitu people, exploring intra-Indigenous differentiation, mobility, and resilience through archival research, historical cartography, and oral histories.
His publications have appeared in leading journals across geography, history, and Caribbean studies, and his work contributes significantly to understanding how Indigenous communities have navigated colonial disruption while preserving cultural heritage and autonomy.
Book:
https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9780803248960/the-awakening-coast/
Link:
https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/directory/karl-offen
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #MiskituHistory #IndigenousCaribbean#CaribbeanHistory #CentralAmericanHistory #DecolonizingHistory#IndigenousStudies #HiddenHistories #WendyAris #KarlOffen
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Dis A Fi Mi History: Reflecting on 100 Episodes and Caribbean Family Heritage
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Host Wendy Aris reflects on an extraordinary 2025 for the Dis A Fi Mi History podcast, celebrating 100 episodes with over 10,000 downloads and listeners spanning 125 countries. Charting on multiple Apple Podcasts history charts, this milestone episode honors the podcast's focus on Caribbean history, family genealogy, and the enduring impact of colonialism. Wendy thanks all guests and listeners for their support and highlights vital lessons drawn from family history research, heritage preservation, and uncovering untold stories.
Looking ahead to 2026, Dis A Fi Mi History will continue exploring Caribbean cultural identity through genealogy, DNA research, and historical storytelling, inviting listeners to delve deeper into their roots and the region's colonial past. Join us in keeping the conversation alive by questioning, researching, and honoring the rich and complex histories that shape Caribbean families and communities.
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#CaribbeanHistory #BlackCanadianHistory #CaribbeanHistory #History #DiasporaStudies #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #CaribbeanHistory #Migration #BlackCanadianHistory #DiasporaStudies #CanadianHistory #CaribbeanPodcast #BlackDiaspora #MigrationStudies #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #WendyAris #AcademicPodcast #heritage #migrationhistory
Saturday Dec 27, 2025
Saturday Dec 27, 2025
In this insightful episode, host Wendy Aris dives into Caribbean history and family genealogy with Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor as they discuss his book 'Flying Fish in the Great White North.' Together, they explore the migration of Black Barbadians to Canada, highlighting migration laws, community-building, family impacts, and identity formation among the Caribbean diaspora.
This conversation uncovers overlooked stories of resilience and heritage that shaped the Caribbean diasporic experience in the Great White North, making it a valuable resource for listeners interested in colonialism, Caribbean history, and family heritage.
BIO:
Christopher Stuart Taylor is Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism at the University of Waterloo and an associate professor of History. He holds a PhD in History and Migration & Ethnic Relations from Western University. A recognized leader in anti-racism work, he has served as Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisor and Black Equity Strategist at the University of Waterloo, and as a facilitator with the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit. He is the author of Flying Fish in the Great White North: The Autonomous Migration of Black Barbadians.
Links:
https://x.com/DrCSTaylor
https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/en/article/view/5700
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7pNPltNpUU&list=PL8Jma4QrtD3G8FYIrbX0QXrbYTWgqj8tf&index=5
https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/authors/view/christopher-stuart-taylor
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#CaribbeanHistory #BlackCanadianHistory #CaribbeanHistory #BarbadianHistory #DiasporaStudies #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #CaribbeanHistory #BarbadianMigration #BlackCanadianHistory #DiasporaStudies #ChristopherStuartTaylor #FlyingFishInTheGreatWhiteNorth #CanadianHistory #CaribbeanPodcast #BlackDiaspora #BajanHistory #MigrationStudies #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #WendyAris #AcademicPodcast #BookDiscussion
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Saving Corn Island: Reviving Caribbean Heritage Through a Virtual Library
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
In this episode of Dis A fi mi explores Caribbean history and colonialism with Mr. Shayron Tower, founder of the Corn Islands Virtual Library. They delve into the island's rich family history, Kukra origins, British colonial influences, and Afro-Caribbean culture. The discussion highlights evolving languages, local economies such as fishing and tourism, and political changes that shaped the community. A central focus is on preserving Corn Island's heritage through digital archives, schools, festivals, and an ambitious family genealogy project.
This episode emphasizes the importance of documenting oral histories and cultural artifacts to safeguard community memory. Listeners are invited to discover Corn Island's unique history and explore its legacy online and in person.
Bio:
Shayron Tower is a Nicaraguan communication professional, cultural promoter, and founder of The Corn Islands Virtual Library. He holds a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Sussex in the UK, and has a background in tourism and culture journalism, digital media, radio broadcasting and intercultural communication. He advocates for intercultural education, the conservation of Nicaraguan Caribbean communities’ identity, and the preservation of the Creole heritage of the Corn Islands through The Corn Islands Virtual Library and its Virtual Museum extension.
Website
https://www.cornislandslibrary.org/p/about.html
https://www.cornislandsmuseum.org/
Connect:
https://www.instagram.com/cornislandslibrary/#
https://www.facebook.com/cornislandslibrary
ni.linkedin.com/company/cornislandslibrary
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUSUHp2f3EHdsCRpU3j
https://www.youtube.com/@CornIslandsLibrary
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#CaribbeanGenealogy #FamilyHistory #DiasporaStories #CornIsland #CornIslandHistory #NicaraguaHistory #CaribbeanMigration #AfroCaribbeanHeritage #WestIndianDiaspora #CentralAmericaHistory #CornIslandLibrary #IslandHeritage #CulturalPreservation #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast
#CornIslandNicaragua #CaribbeanRoots #NicaraguaCulture #IslandStories #CaribbeanGenealogy #DiasporaVoices #AfroCaribbeanCulture #PreserveOurHeritage #VirtualLibrary #CornIslandVirtualLibrary #CulturalPreservation #StorytellingPodcast #HistoryPodcast #CaribbeanPodcasters
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Forgotten Voyages: African American Migration and Heritage in Caribbean History
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
In this episode, host Wendy Aris speaks with historian Ryan Mann-Hamilton about the often-overlooked 19th-century migration of free African Americans from the United States to Samaná, Hispaniola. They explore why these individuals left, how they settled, and the rich cultural, linguistic, and genealogical legacies they created. Delving into crucial aspects of colonialism and Caribbean history, this conversation sheds light on family history and heritage that continue to influence the region today.
They discuss archival challenges, the role of faith and the AME Church, inter-Caribbean connections, and why recovering these stories matters for identity, Atlantic-Caribbean history, and family genealogy today. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the intertwined histories of migration, colonial legacies, and Caribbean heritage.
BIO:
Associate Professor Ryan Mann-Hamilton is a historian of the African Diaspora whose work explores forgotten migrations, Black identity formation, and the complex intersections of race, politics, and movement across the Atlantic World. His research focuses particularly on 19th-century African American migrations to the Caribbean, with a special emphasis on Haiti and the Dominican Republic, uncovering stories that challenge mainstream narratives and restore visibility to overlooked Black communities.
Professor Mann-Hamilton’s scholarship bridges archival research, oral histories, and diasporic memory, offering fresh insights into how free African Americans imagined freedom beyond U.S. borders. His work highlights the role of Hispaniola as a site of Black aspiration, geopolitical tension, and cultural transformation.
A dedicated educator and Ryan Mann-Hamilton and I am an Cultural Anthropologist, he is committed to making historical knowledge accessible to wider audiences. His ongoing research continues to reshape our understanding of mobility, belonging, and the broader Black Atlantic experience.
https://centerforthehumanities.org/person/ryan-mann-hamilton/
https://asapjournal.com/node/caribbean-gardener-what-rises-from-the-ashes-ryan-mann-hamilton/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365451/episodes/10256140-dominican-history-with-anthropologist-dr-ryan-mann-hamilton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mann-hamilton-8a867073/
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/trotter_review/vol19/iss1/8/
Caribbean History Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_history_podcasts/
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
Follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/
Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0
Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk
Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip
Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/
Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/
Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
#genealogicallegacies #familygenealogy #Atlantic-Caribbeanhistory #AfricanAmericanmigration #heritage #familyhistory #research #heritage #caribbeanhistory #oralstories #CaribbeanHistory #BlackMigration #HaitianHistory #DominicanHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #AtlanticWorld #DiasporaStudies #BlackGenealogy #HistoryPodcast #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #Haiti #DR #Hispaniola #USHistory #LostHistory
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
In this captivating episode of Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris delves into the complex history of slave marriage and resistance in the British West Indies with Professor Cecilia A. Green. They explore how colonialism and legal frameworks in the Caribbean profoundly shaped intimate family life under slavery.
Professor Green unpacks the legal contradictions and fears colonial powers held regarding slave unions, and the critical role missionaries played in this context. The discussion reveals how enslaved people resiliently created and maintained family and kinship ties despite systemic denial of their rights. These efforts not only challenged planter authority but also laid foundational aspects of Caribbean family genealogy and heritage.
Listeners will gain deep insights into the intersections of colonial law, family history, and resistance, learning how these histories continue to influence Caribbean identity and cultural memory. This episode is essential for anyone interested in colonialism, Caribbean history, and the enduring legacies of family resilience and heritage in the region.
BIO:
Professor Cecilia A. Green is a distinguished sociologist and comparative-historical scholar whose work spans race, class, gender, and sexuality in the English-speaking Caribbean. Her research examines how colonialism, labor systems, and global political economies shape Caribbean societies past and present. She brings a nuanced interdisciplinary approach that bridges history, sociology, and postcolonial studies.
Professor Green’s scholarship also extends into the political economy of globalization, where she analyzes contemporary transformations and their impact on Caribbean social structures. Since 2012, she has been engaged in a major research initiative on the “new Chinese presence in the Eastern Caribbean,” a collaborative project with her doctoral student Yan Liu, who is completing a dissertation under her supervision.
Her ongoing historical sociological work investigates the racial, class, and gender dynamics of the penal system in Barbados between 1875 and 1930, with particular emphasis on the experiences of working-class women and boys. Across her body of work, Professor Green uncovers how systems of power, coercion, and resistance shape Caribbean lives, identities, and futures.
Links:
https://survivingstorms.com/team-members/cecilia-a-green/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-green-16781b66/
https://www.jstor.org/stable/i27641426
Caribbean History Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_history_podcasts/
Caribbean Podcasts
https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/
History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/
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Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV
Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3
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Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations
Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf
Cultural Roots: https://www.skool.com/cultural-roots-reconnection-8301/about?ref=62a97470644b496897d06254e6796add
Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
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Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast
Welcome to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast—where Caribbean history comes alive! Dive into the rich kaleidoscope of the Caribbean’s past and discover how it shapes your own family’s story. Whether you’re tracing your roots or just curious about the region’s vibrant heritage, this podcast is your go-to resource for exploring the people, places, and events that made the Caribbean what it is today.
The title of the podcast Dis A Fi Mi History means in English This is My History.
Wendy Aris | Caribbean Genealogy Specialist








