The history of the Bahamas
The history of The Bahamas is a tale of exploration, colonisation, and cultural diversity. Situated in the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies, this island country has a rich past that spans …
Black in the Caribbean
Tracing my roots
History has been one of my favourite subjects since Primary school so it’s not surprising that my family history is important to me. Black History Month is a good opportunity to think about our …
6 facts about Jamaica’s debt
For over 40 years the people of Jamaica have suffered under the weight of massive debt. Jamaica is one of the most indebted countries and spends twice as much on debt repayments as it does on …
The untold history of Jamaica
This is a lecture that contradicts what we know of our history. It manages to span over 10,000 years of our history in under an hour. It looks at the people who lived on the island of Jamaica prior to …
Ackee and Saltfish – a match made in taste bud heaven
Ackee and Saltfish is the National Dish of Jamaica, but neither ingredient is of Jamaican origin.
Ackee
Ackee is derived from the original name Ankye, which comes from the Twi language of Ghana. …
Street Boys of Jamaica
Jamaica has a population of 2.7 million people and 1.1 million people live below the poverty line. It’s no wonder then that some young children are the breadwinners for their families, often weaving …
Marcus Garvey: Look For Me in the Whirlwind
This is a comprehensive documentary telling the life story of the controversial leader, Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
The documentary uses a wealth of material from the Garvey movement. Written documents, …
History of Jamaica Welfare
Jamaica Welfare was founded by Norman Manley in 1937. It was the first large scale social welfare organisation on the island. It was formed from suggestions Manley made to United Fruit Company …
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement emerged in 1930s Jamaica as an anti-colonial religious movement deeply rooted in the philosophies of the Back to Africa movement led by Marcus Garvey. The Rastafari movement …
British Slave-ownership database – See who benefited from slavery
A new database called Legacies of British Slave-ownership has been launched by University College London (UCL). The database allows anyone to find out details of the families involved in slavery …
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche – the only black man to have died on the Titanic
Not many will know of Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, who is notable for being the only black man to have died on the Titanic.
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti, …
The History of Rocksteady: Jamaica’s influential music genre
Rocksteady, a music genre that originated in Jamaica around 1966, played a significant role in shaping the sound of modern reggae music. This short-lived yet impactful genre evolved from its …