This week's episode features the brilliant Alexandria Miller who is a historian, writer, and multimedia documentarian who is passionate about capturing Caribbean stories. This episode we talk about our academic journeys, doing a PhD and some of the differences in studying Caribbean history for a US vs UK perspective. We discuss Alexandria's work on Jamaican women and her motivations for researching a community so close to home. You can find out more about Alexandria's work on her podcast...

Have you ever wondered how bun and cheese became Jamaica's Good Friday treat? Tune in to this week's episode to find out more about this history, how it came to be and what it signifies.

On Thursday 14th March, in a landmark decision the UK’s privy council overturned the murder conviction of the Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, impacting also the ruling on his three co-defendants: Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John.  It was overturned due to findings that the original conviction was compromised due to juror misconduct, during the 2014 trial. Vybz Kartel at this point has been in prison since 2011 was convicted of the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams in one...

An episode based on my undergraduate dissertation that was all about political and religious influences of reggae music in the 1970s, which coincidentally talks us through some of things I wish the Bob Marley: One Love film did not give enough time to. This episodes explores the political context in 1970s Jamaica as well as the Rastafarian movement and the influences of these on reggae music as the mouthpiece for the oppressed.

“Try to pigeon hole Benjamin Zephaniah at your peril. Poet, writer, lyricist, musician, actor, republican, activist, campaigner, freedom fighter. It’s impossible. His achievements are too plentiful to mention.” – Opening for an interview with Shelley Carter for Birmingham Living magazine. Benjamin Zephaniah was born on 15th April 1958 in Handsworth, Birmingham. This episode looks at his life, his activism and all he stood for. It explores his refusal to accept an MBE and the implications...

The Race Relations Act was passed in 1965. It set about to formerly criminalise racial discrimination but only certain kinds. This episode we'll be thinking about how successful this was in improving the situation for Black people in Britain, or was it performative and largely unhelpful? For more information on my PhD study email me at: [email protected] or message me on social media. Keep up to date with us.

The second part of our episodes with Dr Michelle Yaa Asantewa and Craig Riley where we continue to discuss the life and legacy of Michael Abbensetts and Empire Road.

Why does Venezuela claim Essquibo and what will this mean for Guyana? Currently a referendum is on to Venezuelans to claim part of Guyana which is oil rich, which could mean the annexation of the territory from Guyana. Tune in more to find out about what is happening in the region and how this links to other global conflicts in Palestine and Congo as the powers that be exploit for their own gain. Articles consulted: The Financial Times and Al Jazeera. I also speak about my call for...

Join us this week as I chat with Dr Michelle Yaa Asentewa and Craig Riley to talk about Michael Abbensetts and Empire Road. Empire Road is a British television series that was aired by the BBC from 1978 to 1979. It was produced by Peter Ansorge and written by Michael Abbensetts. It was the first British TV series to be written, directed and acted by predominantly Black artists and creatives. Born in Guyana, Michael Abbensetts was the first Black British playwright to be commissioned to write...

This week we're joined by Ama Badu (English Literature BA, QMUL 2018). Ama is an assistant editor at Faber and Faber. We talk about all things literature, history, publishing and the current state of British society. Connect with us here Follow Ama here Books mentioned: Clean by Juno Dawson, The Women in Me by Britney Spears, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson, All About Love by bell hooks, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Black Skin White...

In August 1970, the MV Christena, a government owned and operated ferry boat crashed in between the islands of St Kitts and Nevis. This week's episode explores what happened that day and the legacy of such a tragedy for one of Britain's colonies. Follow us on social media here.

A YouGov poll has found that 53% could not name a single Black British historical figure. This was reported in a Guardian article which was shared widely with many comments about the state of the education system amongst other issues with the public perception of Black British history. In this episode I'll be discussing the research and thinking about the ways we might see a change in this area. Check us out on social media.

After a brief pause (apologies) we're back! This week's episode is all about critical thinking amongst many other things. I talk about my experiences on the Young Archivist course organised by Serendipity.I also think about what is happening in Palestine and how we must critically evaluate and think about the way we are taking in information in the age of [mis]information. Our socials #FreePalestine

This week we talk about the Black British Voices survey and wider findings (https://www.bbvp.org/) as well new publications within Black British History. Lawrence Wishart Radical Black Women series (https://lwbooks.co.uk/radical-black-women-series) and Preeti Dhillon's new book (https://www.dialoguebooks.co.uk/titles/preeti-dhillon/the-shoulders-we-stand-on/9780349702827/) Our socials: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryhotline

This month is Black History Month in the UK and the theme is 'Saluting Our Sisters' so this first episode is all about Mary Prince (c.1 788 - c. 1833) who was the first Black woman to publish an autobiography of her experience as an enslaved person. Our socials: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryhotline BHM Events, Wandsworth Library: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caribbean-women-in-britain-tickets-728854101237 Lawrence Wishart:...

This week's episode reflects on the Black British History conference I co-organised, exploring 'truths' within Black British History... bringing together scholars, students, public historians, practitioners and those in adjacent studies together to discuss the discipline and these are my reflections and musings. Our socials: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryhotline

This week's episode is all about the Black Parents Movement (BPM) and intergenerational activism featuring Hannah Francis. We discuss her chapter in Many Struggles: New Histories of African and Caribbean People In Britain edited by Professor Hakim Adi (https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745347653/many-struggles/) the campaign to save the MRes at Chichester (https://www.historymatters.online/save-mres-campaign) the Young Historians Project (https://www.younghistoriansproject.org/) and The History...

On this week's episode I talk through my PhD research and give you a little bit more of an insight into my current work exploring 'the intergenerational experiences of West Indian children in the British education system in Britain and the West Indies.

This week we're joined by Raafeke from Parrotbeetie podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lxVY4Cmn4INPwuyXqI3yY?si=5120fcc66f5e43d4 Our Socials: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryhotline

This week we'll be thinking about the first iteration of Caribbean carnival on British soil, in January 1959. Spearheaded by Claudia Jones and supported through the work of the publication she founded: The West Indian Gazette. We'll explore the carnival and the Carnival Queen beauty contest it boasted and what that meant for the politics of beauty and how Black women's beauty was broadcasted on the BBC for the first time. This episode contains conversations about colourism and racism.An...

You might be just as shocked as we are to find out that The University of Chichester have stopped enrolment onto The History of Africa and the African Diaspora MRes (Masters of Research) and Professor Hakim Adi who worked tirelessly to build the course has been told his post is at risk of termination. This is disgusting behaviour by the University of Chichester and action is urgent to re-open enrolment and safeguard this course and Professor Adi’s post. In this episode we speak to Professor...

This is an end of season roundup, I'll be discussing Windrush75 "celebrations" and also thinking about some current news topics and updates of events covered in previous episodes such as the Stephen Lawrence case and the case of ChildQ. If you have any episode requests for after the summer break please email us at: [email protected] or contact us via social media... Socials: https://linktr.ee/thehistoryhotline

The arrival of the Windrush ship to Britain in 1948, is the symbolic mark of post-war migration from the Caribbean. It is often credited with being the first (even though it wasn’t) ship to bring people from the Caribbean to Britain and 'Windrush Generation' is now the term given to that generation that arrived between 1948 and the early 1970s.This episode is part two of episodes on the Windrush Scandal which saw the threat of and in some cases the actual deportation of members of the...

The arrival of the Windrush ship to Britain in 1948, is the symbolic mark of post-war migration from the Caribbean. It is often credited with being the first (even though it wasn’t) ship to bring people from the Caribbean to Britain and 'Windrush Generation' is now the term given to that generation that arrived between 1948 and the early 1970s.This episode begins to explore the Windrush Scandal which saw the threat of and in some cases the actual deportation of members of the 'generation'...