Today I speak with Richard Atkinson, author of Mr Atkinson's Rum Contract , the story of a tangled inheritance-a detective biography uncovering new truths in his family archives about Britains role in Transatlantic slavery. Evidence which can no longer be denied.
Richard speaks of his conflicted feeling in writing and exposing this story, but ultimately feeling morally obliged to publish, as an act of radical honesty, only a few months before the horrific murder of George Floyd.
After publication he had one last extraordinary discovery when an unknown and most unexpected family connection takes him right back to where this story started in Jamaica, connecting the past directly to the present and affirming his belief that despite his fears his family history has ultimately widened and deepened his world in the most unexpected and positive ways.
Today he encourages others to unearth their records and bring them into the public domain , believing it is in all our interest to engage in these journeys of truth and reconciliation .
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
View all episodes
By Tamara GordonToday I speak with Richard Atkinson, author of Mr Atkinson's Rum Contract , the story of a tangled inheritance-a detective biography uncovering new truths in his family archives about Britains role in Transatlantic slavery. Evidence which can no longer be denied.
Richard speaks of his conflicted feeling in writing and exposing this story, but ultimately feeling morally obliged to publish, as an act of radical honesty, only a few months before the horrific murder of George Floyd.
After publication he had one last extraordinary discovery when an unknown and most unexpected family connection takes him right back to where this story started in Jamaica, connecting the past directly to the present and affirming his belief that despite his fears his family history has ultimately widened and deepened his world in the most unexpected and positive ways.
Today he encourages others to unearth their records and bring them into the public domain , believing it is in all our interest to engage in these journeys of truth and reconciliation .
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.