In this episode of the Dis A Fi Mi History podcast, we delve into the intricate colonial history of the Irish in the Anglo-Caribbean. Special guest, Associate Professor Matthew C. Reilly, an anthropological archaeologist at CUNY, leads an enlightening discussion on race formation, colonial modernity, and the roles that Irish individuals played within the indentured servitude and slavery systems. This episode serves to highlight the complex dynamics of colonialism and family history as we explore legal distinctions that differentiated Irish indentured servants from enslaved Africans—revealing insights about personhood and societal structures of the time.

The podcast takes listeners back to the 1640s and 1650s, uncovering how labor transitioned from Irish indentured servants to enslaved Africans, and how this impacted Caribbean societies. With an eye on the socio-cultural implications, we dissect primary sources like wills and census records, aiming to reconstruct the lived experiences of the Irish diaspora in the Caribbean.

We also examine the vital role of archaeology in retelling suppressed narratives and understanding heritage, while addressing misrepresentations surrounding Irish involvement in Caribbean slavery. Join us for a comprehensive understanding of colonial history, race relations, and their enduring legacies.

BIO:

Matthew Reilly is a historical archaeologist exploring issues of race, colonialism, slavery, and freedom in the Atlantic World. His work is primarily based on the Caribbean island of Barbados and in the West African nation of Liberia. With the support of National Geographic, he is working with an international team and local partnering institutions in Liberia studying heritage and archaeology associated with the nineteenth-century Back-to-Africa movement. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the City College of New York. He is the author of Archaeology below the Cliff: Race, Class, and Redlegs in Barbadian Sugar Society (2019).

Books: 

https://www.amazon.ca/Archaeology-Below-Cliff-Redlegs-Barbadian/dp/0817320288

https://www.amazon.com/Pre-Colonial-Post-Contact-Archaeology-Barbados-Directions/dp/908890846X

Article:

https://www.historyireland.com/the-irish-in-the-anglo-caribbean-servants-or-slaves/

Follow: Twitter: @eppinghall

Instagram: @berkshirehalleppingpress

Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV 

Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3

Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

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