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 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 Taste 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.

Roger Carmichael — Uncharted Taste

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 #UnchartedTaste #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

What happens when Caribbean voices and community histories are left out of mainstream historical narratives? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, the hosts speak with the founders of Counter Narratives Gyonne Zafira & Nagila Muller, an organization working to challenge historical erasure and preserve the stories, experiences, and knowledge of Caribbean communities.

The conversation explores how oral history, archival research, digital archives, and community mapping can recover forgotten histories and create new ways of understanding the Caribbean and its diaspora. We discuss the power of historical institutions, who gets to control the narrative, and why community-led storytelling is essential to preserving cultural memory.

The episode also examines ethical storytelling, language, identity, representation, and lived experience, highlighting the importance of allowing communities to document and interpret their own histories.

From digitizing archival materials to collecting oral histories and mapping community stories, Counter Narratives demonstrates how technology and grassroots research can make hidden histories more accessible.

Listeners are encouraged to become active participants in preserving history by listening to community stories, sharing overlooked narratives, supporting local archives, and creating spaces where lived experiences can be remembered and valued.

🎙️ Listen to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for more conversations exploring Caribbean history, Black history, genealogy, archives, oral history, migration, and the untold stories of the Caribbean diaspora.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/counternarratives1/reels/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/counter_narratives

Website: https://counternarratives.nl/

Linkden: https://www.linkedin.com/company/counter-narratives/posts/?feedView=all

#CaribbeanHistory #OralHistory #BlackHistory #DigitalArchives #DisAFiMiHistory #CaribbeanDiaspora #HiddenHistory #UntoldHistory #CommunityHistory #ArchivalResearch #PublicHistory #HistoricalMemory #CulturalHeritage #CaribbeanCulture #BlackDiaspora #DecolonizingHistory #DecolonialHistory #CommunityArchives #DigitalHistory #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #HistoricalResearch #Storytelling #LivedExperience #CulturalIdentity #OralTraditions #Archives #HistoryPodcast #CaribbeanStudies #DiasporaStudies

How can DNA testing, artificial intelligence, and genealogical bioinformatics uncover family secrets hidden for generations? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris is joined by Arun Konanur, a genetic genealogist and creator of patented genealogical bioinformatics tools, to explore how advanced DNA analysis is transforming family history research.

Discover how Correlated Multiphasic Analysis (CMA) combines DNA evidence, data mining, and pattern recognition to solve complex genealogical mysteries that traditional research alone cannot. Arun shares the fascinating case of tracing a nineteenth-century Jones family, demonstrating how innovative analytical methods can identify distant relatives, overcome brick walls, and navigate the challenges of endogamous populations.

The conversation also examines the ethical responsibilities of DNA genealogy, including informed consent, privacy, and balancing genetic evidence with archival records, historical documents, and oral history. Looking ahead, Arun discusses the future of genealogy and how artificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatics are creating new opportunities for researchers to uncover ancestral connections with greater accuracy.

Whether you're interested in genetic genealogy, family history, DNA testing, AI in genealogy, or Caribbean ancestry, this episode provides practical insights into the cutting-edge tools shaping the future of genealogical research.

Learn more about Arun's work at DiscoveringNewAncestors.com and through the Genealogical Bioinformatics Facebook community.

BIO:

Arun Konanur is a professional genetic genealogist, bioinformatics researcher, and founder of Discovering New Ancestors, a genealogy research company based in London, Ontario. His work combines DNA analysis, artificial intelligence, data mining, and computational genealogy to solve complex family history mysteries that traditional documentary research alone cannot resolve.

Before entering the field of genealogy, Arun studied classical music composition in New York City and spent more than twenty years in information technology and business consulting. His passion for problem-solving ultimately led him to genealogy, where he developed innovative methods for interpreting DNA evidence and uncovering previously unknown ancestral connections.

Arun is the creator of several patented and patent-pending genealogical bioinformatics processes, including Correlated Multiphasic Analysis (CMA), AASK (Axiomatic Ancestral Stratification by Kinship), Shared Match Differentiation (SMD), and Reverse-CMA. These tools help genealogists analyze distant DNA matches, identify unknown ancestors, address endogamy, and break through long-standing genealogical brick walls using advanced computational techniques.

A sought-after international speaker, Arun has presented to genealogical organizations and conferences across North America on topics including DNA analysis, Genealogical Bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and innovative research methodologies. His work continues to advance the field of genetic genealogy by making sophisticated analytical tools more accessible to researchers and family historians.

On Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Arun discusses how DNA testing, Genealogical Bioinformatics, and AI are transforming family history research. He explains how his Correlated Multiphasic Analysis method combines genetic evidence with archival records to solve complex genealogical puzzles, helping researchers uncover hidden family connections and better understand their ancestral past.

Links:

Website: http://discoveringnewancestors.com/about/about/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/DNAncestors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getyourDNAinfo/

🎧 Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for conversations exploring Caribbean history, genealogy, archives, DNA, and the hidden stories that connect families across generations.

#GeneticGenealogy #DNAGenealogy #FamilyHistory #Genealogy #AncestryDNA #ArtificialIntelligence #Bioinformatics #CaribbeanGenealogy #GenealogyResearch #HistoryPodcast #DisAFiMiHistory #FamilyTree #GeneticTesting #GenealogyCommunity #DNA

How did Black hair become a symbol of race, identity, power, and resistance? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris sits down with Dr. Shaunasea Brown to explore the complex history of Black hair from the era of transatlantic slavery to the present day.

Discover how European beauty standards shaped ideas of "good" and "bad" hair, influencing generations of Black communities across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. Dr. Brown examines the historical roots of hair discrimination, the social and professional pressures surrounding hair straightening, the health and emotional impacts of chemical treatments, and the legal battles that have challenged workplace discrimination.

The conversation also explores the rise of the Natural Hair Movement, cultural identity, self-acceptance, and the ongoing work of dismantling harmful stereotypes while reclaiming Black beauty and heritage. Through history, research, and lived experience, this episode highlights why hair is far more than appearance—it is a reflection of culture, resilience, identity, and freedom.

Whether you're interested in Black history, Caribbean history, race and identity, social justice, genealogy, or the history of beauty standards, this episode offers powerful historical insight and meaningful discussion.

🎧 Subscribe to Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast for conversations exploring Caribbean history, genealogy, archives, and the untold stories that continue to shape our world.

BIO:

Dr. Shaunasea Brown is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University whose research focuses on Black Canadian Studies, Black feminism, womanism, and the politics of Black women's hair. She earned her PhD in the Department of Humanities at York University, where her interdisciplinary scholarship examined the artistic practices of second-generation Black Canadian women of Caribbean descent and their contributions to community care, identity, and cultural expression.

Dr. Brown's research explores how race, gender, beauty, and representation shape the lived experiences of Black communities in Canada and throughout the African diaspora. Her work examines Black hair as a site of identity, resistance, self-love, and cultural politics, challenging Eurocentric beauty standards and highlighting the historical and contemporary significance of Black hair. She is the author of influential publications including "Don't Touch My Hair": Problematizing Representations of Black Women in Canada and "Take the Kinks out Your Mind, Not Your Hair": Black Canadian Girls' Hair Politics & Self-Love.

Beyond her academic research, Dr. Brown is a passionate advocate for Black Studies and community engagement. She is a co-founder of the Black Researchers of Southwestern Ontario (BRSO), a network that supports Black scholarship, collaboration, and mentorship across the region. Her work emphasizes radical community care, cultural expression, and creating spaces where Black voices and experiences are centered.

On Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, Dr. Brown explores the history of Black hair from the era of slavery to the present day, examining how colonialism, racism, and Eurocentric beauty ideals shaped perceptions of "good" and "bad" hair. She discusses the lasting impacts of hair discrimination, the Natural Hair Movement, and the ongoing work of reclaiming Black identity, self-expression, and cultural pride across the Caribbean and the African diaspora.

#BlackHair #NaturalHair #BlackHistory #CaribbeanHistory #HairDiscrimination #AfricanDiaspora #CulturalIdentity #Genealogy #HistoryPodcast #DisAFiMiHistory