Books
Paul Crooks is the author of publications exploring Black genealogy, African-Caribbean history, migration, identity, and evidence-based historical reconstruction.
Each work draws on archival documentation, historical context, and applied case analysis. Collectively, the books demonstrate how genealogical conclusions are reached responsibly — showing both what documentary evidence supports and where uncertainty remains.
Researching Black Family Histories Through Records
These works examine how archival records can be used to reconstruct Black family histories where conventional documentation is incomplete.
A Tree Without Roots
Examines how British and Caribbean archival records can be used to reconstruct African Caribbean family histories where conventional documentation is incomplete.
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Tracing African American Family History
Explores how census data, Freedmen’s Bureau records, slave registers, and DNA evidence can be combined to rebuild African American family lines disrupted by enslavement.
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Tracing African Caribbean Family History
Provides guidance on researching African Caribbean ancestry using British records, oral tradition, and DNA, with particular attention to working with limited or missing information.
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Cultural and Historical Context
These titles explore the wider historical and cultural environments that shaped African-Caribbean societies and migration histories.
African, Irish and Creole Culture of the Caribbean
Investigates cultural exchange, migration, and colonial history to explain how African and Irish influences shaped Caribbean cultural records and traditions.
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The Fables of Aesop (The Ethiop)
Re-examines classical narratives through an African-Caribbean lens, exploring how historical misrepresentation and cultural erasure affect how Black history is recorded and remembered.
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Case-Based and Interpretive Works
These publications use case studies and narrative interpretation to explore how historical evidence and family history reconstruction intersect.
DNA Testing Demystified
Explains what African ancestry DNA testing can and cannot reveal, and how genetic evidence must be interpreted alongside historical documentation.
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Ancestors
A historically grounded narrative inspired by documented ancestry, illustrating how archival evidence and family history research can be woven into responsible reconstruction.
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Descendants
A post-war migration story inspired by real family history, exploring Black British identity and intergenerational legacy.
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How These Books Are Used
These publications are used by individuals, educators, libraries, and organisations seeking evidence-led perspectives on Black genealogy and African-Caribbean history. They are designed to be read alongside primary sources, supporting careful interpretation of archival material within its historical context.