Hi, my name is Paul Crooks and I am a speaker for schools KS3 History and school enrichment programmes. I spent many years using public records to search for my roots.
My love of history was inspired by unprecedented success tracing my African ancestors enslaved on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. It strengthened my knowledge of Black peoples of the Americas, Britain’s transatlantic slave trade and the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. I speak because I’m passionate about inspiring pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.
I wrote my historical novel Ancestors to bring to light the hidden tale of Jamaican rebels who forced the British Government to reset the timetable for bringing slavery to an end.
I wrote A Tree Without Roots as a guide for Brits interested in discovering ancestral links with the Caribbean.
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- Paul speaking on the topic of Slavery and abolition
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- Inspiring KS3 history students to ask questions
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- Engaging with Year 7s on the topic of Ancestry
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- Paul speaking to the Boys Books Club at a primary school in London
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- Article – UK Roots
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- Being Interviewed by BBC School Reporters at Holyhead School, B’ham
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- Paul signing a book
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- Delivering inspirational classroom workshop
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- Paul and seniors share a joke
Enrichment Programme Activities
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- Connecting the Past to the Present
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- Inspiring a love of learning
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- Speaking of Hidden Histories
