Dis a Fi Mi History Podcast: Explore Caribbean Ancestry & Culture

What happened when the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity collided with the realities of slavery, colonialism and racial hierarchy in the French Caribbean? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with historian Bill Cormack about the French Revolution and its impact on Martinique and Guadeloupe between 1789 and 1794. Together, they examine how revolutionary politics unfolded in the Caribbean, where competing visions of citizenship, freedom and racial equality challenged established colonial power structures. The conversation explores how free people of colour, white planters and petits blancs (poor and working-class white colonists) negotiated power through colonial militias, public ceremonies and political petitions. We discuss the significance of the 1792 legislation extending political rights to free men of colour, enslaved people's uprisings and claims to revolutionary citizenship, and the role of Victor Hugues in advancing French republican authority and the abolition of slavery in Guadeloupe. How did revolutionary ideals translate into colonial realities? Who was entitled to freedom and citizenship, and who determined the boundaries of equality? And how did the competing interests of race, class, slavery and political allegiance shape the course of revolution across the French Caribbean? This episode offers a deeper look at the complexities of the French Caribbean Revolution and the long struggle over emancipation, racial equality and colonial power—history that remains essential to understanding the wider Caribbean and the Atlantic world. BIO: About Professor Bill Cormack Professor William S. Cormack is a historian and Professor in the Department of History at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the French Revolution, revolutionary political culture, eighteenth-century naval history, and the impact of revolutionary movements on France’s Caribbean colonies, particularly Martinique and Guadeloupe. Professor Cormack is the author of Revolution and Political Conflict in the French Navy, 1789–1794 (Cambridge University Press, 1995) and Patriots, Royalists, and Terrorists in the West Indies: The French Revolution in Martinique and Guadeloupe, 1789–1802 (University of Toronto Press, 2019). His scholarship examines the competing political loyalties, struggles for authority, and contested interpretations of revolutionary ideals that shaped France and its Caribbean territories during a period of profound upheaval. Holding a PhD from Queen’s University, Professor Cormack has taught at the University of Guelph since 1998. His work offers valuable insight into the complex relationship between the French Revolution and colonial Caribbean society, including the tensions between revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality and the realities of slavery, racial hierarchy, and colonial power. 🎧 Listen to this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for a conversation about the French Revolution, slavery, emancipation, race and the contested meaning of freedom in Martinique and Guadeloupe. #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #FrenchCaribbean #HaitianRevolution #CaribbeanHistory #HistoryOfSlavery

What if the story of Christopher Columbus was told through the voices of the Taíno people? How would it change our understanding of Caribbean history, Indigenous resistance, and the origins of colonialism? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris welcomes author and historian Andrew Rowan to discuss his groundbreaking book, Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise, 1492–1502. Drawing on primary historical sources, archaeology, anthropology, and early Spanish accounts, Rowan reexamines one of the most pivotal periods in world history through both European and Taíno perspectives. The conversation explores the remarkable leadership of Queen Isabel I of Castile and Chief Anacaona, one of the Caribbean's most influential Indigenous leaders, whose diplomacy, resilience, and courage shaped the early encounters between Europeans and the Taíno people. Rowan discusses how language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and competing worldviews influenced the course of history, ultimately contributing to the rise of colonial rule in the Caribbean. Together, they examine the beginnings of the encomienda system, the emergence of mestizo society, Indigenous resistance to Spanish conquest, and the political events that led to Christopher Columbus's removal from power. Rowan also explains how historians can recover Indigenous perspectives by critically reading colonial records alongside anthropology, archaeology, and oral traditions. This episode challenges long-standing narratives of discovery and conquest, offering listeners a richer understanding of Taíno history, Indigenous Caribbean history, colonialism, and the enduring legacy these events continue to have on Caribbean identity, genealogy, and the African and Indigenous diasporas. Whether you're interested in Caribbean history, Taíno culture, Indigenous studies, genealogy, Atlantic World history, or historical research, this conversation provides a compelling new perspective on one of history's most consequential encounters. In This Episode ✔️ The true story behind Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise✔️ The leadership of Queen Isabel I and Chief Anacaona✔️ Taíno resistance to Spanish conquest✔️ Christopher Columbus and the events leading to his removal from power✔️ Language, culture, and misunderstanding during first contact✔️ The origins of the encomienda system and colonial society✔️ The emergence of mestizo communities in the Caribbean✔️ Using primary sources, archaeology, and anthropology to recover Indigenous voices✔️ Why rethinking conquest narratives is essential to understanding Caribbean history today If you're passionate about Caribbean genealogy, Indigenous history, Black history, Atlantic World studies, historical preservation, and the untold stories that shaped the Americas, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 🎧 Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for engaging conversations exploring Caribbean history, genealogy, African diaspora studies, Indigenous history, archival research, and the people whose stories continue to shape our understanding of the past. BIO: Andrew Rowan is an author and independent historian whose research focuses on the early history of the Caribbean, the Taíno people, and the first encounters between Indigenous societies and Europeans. He is the author of Isabel Anacona and Columbus's Demise, 1492–1502, which reexamines the Columbian era through Indigenous and European perspectives using primary historical sources, archaeology, and anthropology to illuminate overlooked voices and reshape traditional conquest narratives. Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Isabel-Anacaona-Columbuss-Demise-1498-1502/dp/0999196162 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

What does the food on your plate tell you about Caribbean history? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris speaks with Roger Carmichael of Uncharted Tastes about the fascinating history behind Caribbean food and the many peoples, cultures, migrations and traditions that have shaped what we eat today. Caribbean cuisine is not simply a collection of recipes. It is a record of history, migration, survival, adaptation, trade, culture and memory. Together, Wendy and Roger explore the Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Chinese and other influences that have contributed to the diverse food traditions found throughout the Caribbean. From ingredients and cooking techniques to recipes passed down through generations, the food we eat can reveal stories about colonialism, migration, the African diaspora, Indigenous Caribbean peoples, indentureship, trade and cultural exchange. The episode also explores sustainability, food heritage and cultural memory, encouraging us to look more closely at the everyday foods we may take for granted. 🌴 What is the history behind Caribbean food?🍲 How did different cultures influence Caribbean cuisine?🌍 How did migration shape the foods we eat?🌱 What can food tell us about sustainability and our relationship with the land?📖 How do recipes preserve family and cultural memory?🔎 What happens when we become curious about where our food comes from? The next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: Where did this dish come from? Who grew the ingredients? Who brought them? Who changed the recipe? Who passed it down? And what history is sitting on your plate? Join us for a conversation about Caribbean food history, cultural heritage, migration, foodways and the stories hidden within the dishes we eat. Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast explores Caribbean history, genealogy, family history, archives, culture and the stories that deserve to be remembered. 🎙️ Guest Roger Carmichael — Uncharted Tastes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unchartedtastes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unchartedtastestv Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unchartedtastes TikTock: https://www.tiktok.com/@unchartedtastes Website: https://keap.page/lfsm/uncharted-tastes.html #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanFood #CaribbeanFoodHistory #CaribbeanCuisine #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanCulture #CaribbeanHeritage #FoodHistory #FoodHeritage #CaribbeanFoodways #AfricanDiaspora #AfricanFoodways #IndigenousCaribbean #CaribbeanMigration #CulturalMemory #FoodAndCulture #JamaicanFood #CaribbeanCooking #CaribbeanStories #UnchartedTastes #HistoricalStorytelling

Season 10 of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast is here! Join Wendy Aris, Caribbean historian, genealogist, author, and host of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, for another season exploring Caribbean history, family history, genealogy, archival research, migration, memoir, culture, and the stories that shape our understanding of the Caribbean and its people. Season 10 explores the power of language and storytelling—how books, articles, memoirs, family stories, archives, DNA, and personal memories can help us uncover histories that are often overlooked, misunderstood, or left out of the traditional narrative. This season takes us across the Caribbean, Scotland, Cuba, Jamaica, Canada, the United States, and the African diaspora, exploring topics including: 🔎 Caribbean genealogy and family history research📜 Archives, historical records and hidden Caribbean histories⛓️ Caribbean slavery, the British Empire and the transatlantic slave trade🌍 Migration and Caribbean diaspora stories🧬 Genetic genealogy, DNA testing and African ancestry💭 The emotional impact of researching difficult family histories✍🏾 Writing and documenting your family's history📚 Memoirs, books and using the written word to preserve memory🍲 Caribbean food, culture and the history behind what is on our plates🎥 Historical documentary and archival storytelling We will also explore unexpected connections between Scotland and Caribbean slavery, colonial Cuba and Madrid, Jamaican and Caribbean migration to Canada, the complexities of African ancestry, and the networks that connected the Caribbean with North America, Britain and beyond. Alongside the podcast, Wendy is also introducing Archival Griot Films, a new film project bringing Caribbean history, genealogy, archival records and ancestral stories to life through documentary filmmaking and visual storytelling. Follow along for behind-the-scenes updates, research, filming and developments from the project. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArchivalGriotFilms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archival_griot_films/ This season is about more than finding names and dates. It is about asking questions, reading between the records, understanding the history behind our families, and bringing stories that deserve to be remembered to light. 🎙️ Subscribe, follow, listen, and join the conversation. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate, review, share and click that star—your support helps Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast reach new listeners around the world. Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast — Caribbean history. Family history. Archives. Memory. Stories that deserve to be told. #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanHistory #CaribbeanGenealogy #BlackGenealogy #FamilyHistory #FamilyHistoryResearch #Genealogy #BlackHistory #AfricanDiaspora #CaribbeanHeritage #JamaicanHistory #CaribbeanCulture #ArchivalResearch #HistoricalResearch #GeneticGenealogy #DNA #AfricanAncestry #CaribbeanHistoryPodcast #HistoricalDocumentary #ArchivalStorytelling #CaribbeanDiaspora #MigrationStories #HiddenHistory #ArchivalGriotFilms

How far back can DNA and genealogy take you? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, we explore the fascinating history of the Sotomayor family in Puerto Rico, tracing ancestral connections back to the late 1500s through the combination of genetic genealogy, archival research, and historical records. Professor Antonio Sotomayor explains how Y-DNA testing, TMRCA (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor), agnatic lineages, surname variations, and maternal ancestry can help genealogists uncover connections hidden within incomplete Caribbean records. The conversation examines the variations between Sotomayor and Soto, as well as maternal family connections including González de la Cruz and Colón de Santiago. We also explore the challenges researchers face when parish registers and other historical records have gaps, been lost, or provide limited information. Learn how DNA genealogy can help fill historical silences, complement traditional archival research, and provide new clues for tracing Caribbean ancestors across centuries. Professor Sotomayor also shares practical advice for researching Puerto Rican and Caribbean genealogy, including which DNA tests may be useful, how to understand historical context, why surname research requires flexibility, and the importance of collaborating with other family historians and researchers. Whether you're researching Puerto Rican ancestry, Caribbean genealogy, Spanish colonial history, DNA matches, or family history, this episode offers valuable strategies for breaking through genealogical brick walls and discovering connections across generations. 🎙️ Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for conversations about Caribbean history, genealogy, DNA, archives, migration, and the stories hidden within our family trees. BIO: Dr. Antonio Sotomayor, Ph.D. is an associate professor, historian, and librarian specializing in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois. He serves as the Librarian for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and holds faculty appointments in History and Spanish and Portuguese, with affiliated appointments in the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies, and the Center for Global Studies. His research interests include Caribbean and Latin American history, identity, nationalism, international relations, religion, genealogy, family history, and the politics of culture. Dr. Sotomayor is also an accomplished author whose scholarship explores Puerto Rico and its connections to broader histories of colonialism, identity, politics, and culture. His book, The Sovereign Colony: Olympic Sport, National Identity, and International Politics in Puerto Rico, received the 2017 José Toribio Medina Book Award. He co-edited Olimpismo: The Olympic Movement in the Making of Latin America and the Caribbean and is currently working on Religious Games: The YMCA, Sport, and Imperial Statecraft in Cuba and Puerto Rico, 1898–1940s. Genealogy is also a significant part of Dr. Sotomayo Links: https://www.asotomayor.com/ https://www.asotomayor.com/genealogy https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-sotomayor-ph-d-64443625/ https://jogg.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/101-Issue.pdf https://www.asotomayor.com/familiaypoder #PuertoRicoGenealogy #PuertoRicoHistory #CaribbeanGenealogy #GeneticGenealogy #DNAGenealogy #FamilyHistory #GenealogyResearch #YDNA #DNAAncestry #Sotomayor #PuertoRicanAncestry #CaribbeanHistory #Genealogy #AncestryResearch #SpanishColonialHistory #FamilyTree #GenealogyDNA #GenealogyPodcast #HistoryPodcast #DisAFiMiHistory