Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture
Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture is a biweekly podcast hosted by Alexandria Miller that explores the rich history, diverse culture, and global impact of the Caribbean. Through interviews with historians, artists, and experts, the show delves into the region's past, present, and future, celebrating its heritage and diaspora. It aims to empower and unify Caribbean communities worldwide.
Episodes
*Throwback* Caribbean Sign Languages with Kris M. Ali
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Most of us talk about Caribbean language like it only lives on the tongue, but the region has a whole world of languages that live on the hands, in space, and through community memory. We sit down with linguist Kris Ali, a PhD candidate at UC Santa Barbara from Trinidad and Tobago, to trace the real story of Caribbean Sign Languages and why they des
How Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz United A Nation
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Jamaica qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup is one of those rare moments that people can locate in their body: where they stood, who they were with, what they heard first, and how the whole community sounded afterward. We wanted to honor that feeling, so we built something different this time, a chorus of voices sharing what France ‘98 meant to t
The Hidden Architects Of Reggae And The Women Who Built It
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Reggae has never been a boys-only story, so why do women keep getting filed under “backup,” “footnote,” or “first female to…”? Mikelah Malcolm from Style and Vibes guest hosts a Breadfruit Media crossover and sits down with me to talk about my dissertation on women in reggae, what pushed me to spend years on the research, and what I found when I we
Barrel Children And The Stories Caribbean Film Can Hold with Meschida Philip
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.A child grows up learning that love can arrive in a barrel, but comfort cannot. That tension sits at the heart of our conversation with Grenadian director, producer, and creative industry strategist Meschida Phillip, whose documentary work asks what migration costs families long after the plane takes off. We trace how the Grenada Revolution, early s
What If Caribbean Cuisine Funded Caribbean Futures with Taymer Mason
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Caribbean food travels the world as flavor, nostalgia, and restaurant culture but what if it also traveled as real economic infrastructure? We’re asking a harder question: how do we move from beloved recipes to Caribbean food systems that reduce import dependence, strengthen food security, and create durable industries across the region. I’m joined
Caribbean Futures Through Creative Power with Alistair Scott
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Caribbean culture is one of the most copied, quoted, and consumed forces on the planet and yet the Caribbean is still too often treated like a place to extract value from, not a place to build value with. That tension sits at the heart of my conversation with Alistair Scott, founder of the Diaspora Legacy Collective, as we dig into how Caribbean fut
Caribbean American Heritage Month And The Work Beyond Celebration
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Caribbean culture is everywhere, but visibility is not the same as power. As we mark Caribbean American Heritage Month this June, I want to push past the easy parts of celebration and ask a harder question: what are we building with what we know about our history, politics, and cultural practices?In today's episode, we ground ourselves in Carib
*Throwback* How Caribbean Museums Built National Identity with Kevin Farmer
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Museums don’t just preserve history. They decide which stories become a nation’s memory and which stories get buried under polite silence. I’m joined by Kevin Farmer, Deputy Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, to talk about Caribbean museums as real tools of nation building, cultural heritage, and post-independence identity. We s
How Colonial Jamaica Turned Obeah Into A Crime with Dr. Katharine Gerbner
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Obeah has been called superstition, “black magic,” and even a crime but those labels have a history, and that history was built to serve colonial power. We sit down with historian Dr. Katharine Gerbner to trace how African-derived spiritual and healing traditions in Jamaica were deliberately stigmatized through slavery, missionary politics, and law.
The Truth Is A Process And We Still Have To Live With It
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The strangest thing about the truth is how often it arrives late. A story your elders carried for years gets dismissed as “just talk” until an archive opens, a report drops, a government admits wrongdoing, or scholars finally confirm what communities already knew. When that happens, the past doesn’t simply become clearer. It becomes heavier, more co
*Throwback* How Exile From St. Vincent Shaped Garifuna Identity with Dr. Paul López Oro
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Today, we reshare our reasoning with Dr. Paul López Oro to trace the Garifuna story across Caribbean history, from St Vincent and the Carib Wars to forced exile in 1797 and the building of communities along the Central America Caribbean coast in Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and beyond. Along the way, we wrestle with what it means to be Bl
Rethinking Borders, Rethinking Belonging with Drs. Patsy Lewis and Kristen Kolenz
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Headlines turn migration into a single story about borders and crisis. We open the lens, traveling through the Caribbean and Latin America to reveal routes, identities, and cultural worlds that rarely make it into the frame. Joined by co-editors Dr. Patsy Lewis and Dr. Kristen Kolenz, we share how our new book, Unbordering Migration Studies in the C
Building A Living Archive Of Caribbean Women’s Wisdom
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What happens when you go searching for the words of Caribbean women—and find silence where there should be an echo? We follow that uneasy question into the kitchens, verandas, classrooms, and studios where wisdom has always lived, then ask why so little of it appears on slides, posters, and timelines. Along the way, we unpack how publishing power, a
Recovering Architects Of The UNIA with Dr. Natanya Duncan Part II
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.A woman signs up 3,000 new members, walks into a meeting she was invited to lead, and is assassinated at the podium. That single moment opens a window into the hidden architecture of a global movement and the women who kept it alive when headlines and historians looked away. We continue our conversation with Dr. Natanya Duncan to explore the life an
Recovering Architects Of The UNIA with Dr. Natanya Duncan Part I
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What happens when the archive starts talking back? We sat down with Dr. Natanya Duncan to illuminate the women who built the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) from the ground up and gave the movement its global muscle. From a Kingston porch to Harlem kitchens and London cafés, their labor carried Garveyism across continents while reshap
Two Amys, One Movement
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Think you know the Garvey story? Meet the two Amys who built its backbone. We dive into the lives of Amy Ashwood Garvey and Amy Jacques Garvey, Jamaican visionaries whose organizing, editing, and leadership turned a charismatic vision into a global movement. Their names appear in the margins of many textbooks, but their fingerprints are on every cha
Five Years, Forward for 2026!
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.We are starting the year with a heart of gratitude and a clear plan for what comes next. We celebrate five years of Strictly Facts by looking at how this community-built project became a classroom, a living archive, and a love letter to Caribbean voices. Along the way, we reflect on the milestones of 2025. We revisit why this space exists: to center
*Throwback* Celebrating the Holidays in the Caribbean
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Celebrate the holidays with us with a throwback episode as we open a window onto a season where streets become stages, kitchens turn into archives, and every drumbeat and carol carries a story. From the clatter of cowbells in Nassau to the smoky crackle of a roast pig on Christmas Eve, the region’s holidays reveal how history lives in sound, taste,
School Hair Codes, Colonial Respectability, And Caribbean Rights with amílcar peter sanatan
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.A school bans “edges,” a graduation blocks braids, a child with locks is told to stay home—on the surface, they’re dress code debates. Look closer and you see a lineage of power: colonial respectability, “imperial cleanliness,” and the policing of Black and Brown bodies through hair. We sit down with artist, educator, and gender rights advocate amil
Reclaiming Caribbean Architecture with Professor Dahlia Nduom
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.A building can be history you can walk through, and in the Caribbean those stories are contested, resilient, and alive. With Professor Dahlia Nduom, we explore how colonial styles, tourist imagery, and community ingenuity have shaped what gets built and what gets erased as we move from great houses to tenement yards, spaces that encode climate logic
We Will Rise Again: A Post-Melissa Reflection
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.A storm can level homes, but it also reveals what we stand on. Hurricane Melissa’s record winds and devastating surge tore through Jamaica and neighboring territories, but the story is bigger than wind speed—it’s a living history of language, science, memory, and community that runs through the Caribbean. We trace the roots of “hurricane” to Taino a
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Three Hundred-Year Fight For Sovereignty with Dr. Garrey Dennie
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Sacred land, contested memory, and a centuries-long fight for sovereignty, this conversation with Dr. Garrey Dennie traces the deep antiquity of the Kalinago in St. Vincent, their transformation into a maritime powerhouse, and the strategic choices that delayed European domination for generations. Instead of a single “first contact,” we explore two:
Where Land, Memory, and Medicine Meet with Aleya Fraser
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What if the medicine you need was growing right outside your door? We sit down with author and farmer Aleya Fraser to trace the living thread of Caribbean herbalism as she details in her new book Caribbean Herbalism: Traditional Wisdom and Modern Herbal Healing. Together, we unpack the tension between modern convenience and disappearing habitats, an
Beyond the Canon: Unearthing Early Caribbean Literary Treasures with Dr. Alison Donnell
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What if everything we thought we knew about Caribbean literary history was incomplete? That's the premise of today's captivating conversation with Professor Alison Donnell, whose groundbreaking new book, Lost and Found: An A to Z of Neglected Writers of the Anglophone Caribbean (Papillote Press 2025), challenges the traditional narrative t
Cuban and Puerto Rican Cinema's Political Lens with Dr. Pedro Noel Doreste Rodríguez
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.In the mid-20th century Caribbean, cinema became a powerful tool for nation-building, education, and political messaging through two remarkable organizations with surprisingly parallel methods but divergent ideologies. Dr. Pedro Noel Doreste Rodríguez joins us for this enchanting history in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The story begins in
Caribbean Horror: Bringing Folklore to Film with Alyscia Cunningham
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Storytelling lies at the heart of Caribbean identity. Award-winning filmmaker Alyscia Cunningham joins us to unravel the power of Caribbean folklore through the lens of modern cinema. As a first-generation Trinidadian-American, Cunningham's childhood was filled with spine-tingling tales from her parents' homeland in southern Trinidad. Toda
From Jamaica to England: Documenting Caribbean Family Histories with Calvin Walker
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.When we lose a loved one, the stories they carried often disappear with them—unless we find ways to preserve them. This powerful truth drives creative consultant Calvin Walker's experimental audio project "Daylight Come," which traces his family's migration from Jamaica to the United Kingdom and connects deeply personal narrative
The Art of Truth: How Documentary Filmmaking Captures Caribbean Political Movements with Richard Vaughan
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What drives someone to pick up a camera and document untold Caribbean history with no formal training? For Richard Vaughn, it was a simple realization: the political stories that shaped the modern Caribbean were either missing from film archives or told through a heavily biased lens. Vaughn takes us on his remarkable journey from curious Jamaican-Am
Six Days That Shook Trinidad: The 1990 Coup Attempt with Eskor David Johnson
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts. Thirty-five years ago on July 27, 1990, Trinidad and Tobago experienced a shocking violation of its democratic foundations when Yasin Abu Bakr and the Jamaat al-Muslimeen stormed Parliament and the national television station, holding the Prime Minister hostage and declaring the government overthrown. This episode delves into a Caribbean coup that
The Chain is Broken: Emancipation Day and Dutch and Danish Colonial Legacies
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Freedom wasn't granted—it was seized through blood, sweat, and unwavering resistance. Across the Dutch and Danish Caribbean colonies, enslaved Africans fought against brutal systems of oppression that are often overshadowed in mainstream historical narratives focused on British, Spanish, and French colonial powers.When thousands gathered in St.
Caribbean Airmen: Untold Stories of World War Heroes with John Concagh
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.When we picture World War I and II, we rarely envision Caribbean soldiers in RAF uniforms flying bombing missions over Nazi Germany or Trinidad's oil refineries fueling the Battle of Britain. Yet these overlooked contributions not only helped defeat fascism but transformed the Caribbean's political landscape forever. In this eye-opening ep
From Colonial Marines to Caribbean Pioneers: The Merikins of Trinidad
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Caribbean American Heritage Month invites us to explore the rich tapestry of identities that shape our diaspora experience. In this episode, we uncover the fascinating yet often overlooked story of "The Merikins" – formerly enslaved Black people who joined British forces during the War of 1812 and later established thriving communities in
Between Two Empires: The Battle for Freedom in the Atlantic World with Matthew Taylor
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The forgotten liberation of thousands stands at the intersection of British military history and the African diaspora. When historian Matthew Taylor stumbled upon brief mentions of Black soldiers in British uniform during the War of 1812, he brought to light an extraordinary story of self-emancipation that would reshape communities across the Caribb
Our Culture Doesn't Break, It Transforms: Evolving Caribbean Identity
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What remains of Caribbean identity when our most treasured traditions begin to shift? Bridging thoughts from our recent episodes, I tackle this profound question on cultural evolution. Caribbean culture has never been static—born from struggle, layered with influences, and shaped by resistance, our traditions have always been in motion. But what do
The Caribbean Front Room as Architecture and Cultural Archive with Dr. Stacy Scott
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Step into the Caribbean front room – that formal, pristine space with plastic-covered furniture, carefully displayed china, and family photographs that many Caribbean descendants immediately recognize. Dr. Stacey Scott joins us to explore how this distinctive domestic space functions as both cultural archive and architectural expression.We dive deep
What Happens When Art Preserves What Nations Cannot? with Keisha Oliver
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The Caribbean's artistic traditions reveal profound truths about our history, identity, and resilience. Keisha Oliver, PhD candidate at Penn State, joins Strictly Facts as we discuss Bahamian visual culture that challenges conventional understandings of Caribbean creativity. From the gendered practice of straw craft—where women wove not just m
Split Me in Two: Exploring Dougla Identity in the Caribbean
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Have you ever wondered about the beautiful complexity that arises when different cultures blend? The Caribbean term "Dougla" captures exactly that—specifically describing people of mixed African and Indian heritage in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname. Today we unpack this fascinating identity that emerged from the region's co
Banking on Community: The Caribbean's Alternative Economy with Dr. Caroline Shenaz Hossein
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The Caribbean's financial revolution has been quietly unfolding for generations. We delve into the powerful world of rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) known throughout the region as Padna, Susu, Boxhand, and countless other names. Dr. Caroline Hossein joins us as we reveal how these grassroots financial systems challenge Western
How One Pregnant Woman Helped Lead a Revolution: The Story of Lumina Sophie
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Dive into the extraordinary story of Lumina Sophie (1848-1879), a lesser-known yet powerful figure in Caribbean history, as we explore her inspiring journey during a time of revolutionary fervor. Born in a post-emancipation Martinique, Sophie defied traditional gender roles by leading a revolt for liberation while pregnant, embodying the spirit of r
A Brief History of the West India Regiments with Isaac Crichlow
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join Strictly Facts as we uncover the hidden stories of the Caribbean's military past, featuring the intriguing West India Regiments established by the British Army. Our guest, Isaac Crichlow, a graduate student from the University College of London, helps us explore the paradoxical roles of these soldiers, who found themselves fighting both fo
How Faith Built Bridges for Black Unity in the Guianas with Dr. Briana Royster
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Journey through Black history and Caribbean connections, revealing the incredible legacy of Black missionaries in the British and Dutch Guianas. Dr. Briana Royster joins us to discuss how the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the National Baptist Convention played pivotal roles in connecting African American and Afro-Guyanese communities during
The Legacy of Jose 'Cha Cha' Jimenez: The Young Lords' Path of Radical Action
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Learn about the visionary leadership of Jose "Cha Cha" Jimenez (August 8, 1948 – January 10, 2025), who turned the Young Lords from a street gang into a powerful political force. Jimenez, inspired by the Black Panther Party, reshaped the landscape of Latino activism in the U.S., addressing systemic racism, poverty, and police brutality. Th
Celebrating Milestones and Hidden Histories for the New Year!
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.As we kick off a new year and celebrate five incredible years of Strictly Facts, we're taking a fresh angle by focusing on those narratives that lie just beneath the surface, often ignored by mainstream stories. This year, we're shining a light on hidden treasures. These overlooked stories not only enrich our understanding of our past but
Art and Heritage of the Cayman Islands with Maia Muttoo
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Art speaks volumes about history and resilience. Join us as we chart the artistic evolution of the Cayman Islands with Maia Muttoo, Education Manager at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. With her fascinating pan-Caribbean roots, Maia offers a unique perspective on how storytelling, history, and art intertwine to shape the Caribbean narrati
Tracing Ancestral Threads: A Journey from the West to Sierra Leone with Alya Harding
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Our history of migration spans across the world. Join us as we journey with Alya Harding, a community organizer and PhD student, who shares her heartfelt exploration of Sierra Leonean Creole/Krio culture and her personal quest to uncover her Trinidadian roots. We examine the historical migrations that have woven a diverse Creole culture, bringing to
The Multinational Identities & Impact of Caribbean Icons
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Have you ever considered how the people we associate with one Caribbean island might actually hail from another, and how these stories of migration shape identities? Join me as we uncover the intriguing tales of Caribbean icons and their unexpected island origins. This episode of Strictly Facts takes you on a journey through the intertwined historie
Exploring Aruba: Cultural Resilience, Autonomy, and Identity with Dr Gregory Richardson
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What can Aruba teach us about cultural resilience and the quest for autonomy? Join Strictly Facts as we sit down with Dr. Gregory Richardson from the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano to unveil the intricate layers of Aruba's history and culture. Dr. Richardson, a notable educator and researcher, sheds light on how Aruba's unique status within
The Hidden Leaders of Martinique's Schools with Nora Eguienta
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join Strictly Facts as we share the captivating journey of education in the French Caribbean, focusing on Martinique's rich history throughout the 20th century. With the insightful PhD candidate Nora Eguienta by my side, we unravel the largely untold stories of women educators who profoundly shaped the educational and political landscape from 1
Rhythms of St. Kitts and Nevis: The Evolution of Wylers and Caribbean Music with Dr. Jessica Swanston Baker
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What if the rhythm of an island could reshape global music? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Swanston Baker who both brings her rich family heritage and academic expertise to trace the roots and evolution of wylers, its integral role in Carnival, and reveal how Caribbean music has profoundly influenced the global soundscape.Journey with
The Sociology of Trinidad and Tobago's National Development with Dr. Zophia Edwards
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Recently celebrating 62 years of independence, Trinidad and Tobago is regarded as one of the most successful nations in the Caribbean. However, what are the signs of a successful independent nation? In this episode, Dr. Zophia Edwards joins us to discuss the complexity of what constitutes “success” and the role of ordinary people in shaping the coun
Crossover with Carry On Friends: Martine Powers on Creating ‘The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop’
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Embark on a remarkable journey through Caribbean history with us as we welcome Martine Powers, the senior host of the Washington Post Reports, as well as the host creator of the gripping series "The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop." Martine's personal connection to the Caribbean, stemming from her Trinidadian heritage and family ties to
The Dominican Republic's Restoration Day: Reclaiming Independence and Shaping National Identity
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.What if your country had to fight for its independence not once, but twice? Join us as we unveil the incredible story of the Dominican Republic's Restoration Day, celebrated on August 16th. This episode of Strictly Facts explores the Dominican Restoration War from 1863 to 1865, during which the nation valiantly reclaimed its sovereignty from Sp
*Throwback* Big People Tings: The Life and Legacy of Claudia Jones
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.With the renowned Notting Hill Carnival coming up at the end of the month, what a better time than now to reshare about the extraordinary life and work of one of its co-founders, activist and intellectual Claudia Jones. Jones was a pioneering Caribbean activist whose contributions have shaped movements for human rights and equality across the globe.
The Legacy of the Negritude Movement and Black Women’s Activism in the French Caribbean with Dr. Sanyu Mulira
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.In this episode of Strictly Facts, we're joined by Dr. Sanyu Mulira, a recent NYU graduate with a passion for feminism and anti-colonial activism in the Francophone Black Atlantic. Together, we discuss the intricate history of the French Caribbean through the Negritude movement and its impact on global Black intellectualism, illuminating the le
From Soup Joumou to Flying Fish & Cou-Cou: Exploring Caribbean Food Stories through Haitian and Bajan Cuisine
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.We continue our Caribbean culinary voyage with Haitian and Bajan cuisine alongside experts, Kerline Ordeus and Leanna Pierre. Together, we uncover the culinary ties between West African and Caribbean dishes, drawing enlightening parallels between the shared heritage of cassava and okra through Haitian tomtom and Barbados' national dish, flying
From Mofongo to Sancocho: Caribbean Food Stories in the Hispanic Caribbean with Dr. Mónica Ocasio Vega
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The food on our plates tell stories of colonialism, cultural resistance, and resilience. Join Strictly Facts and guest Dr. Mónica Ocasio Vega, esteemed cultural scholar, cook, and assistant professor at Trinity University for a fascinating culinary journey through the Hispanic Caribbean. Drawing inspiration from her father's activism and her ac
From Jerk to Pepper Pot: Caribbean Food Stories from Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Ever wondered how Caribbean cuisine became a melting pot of flavors and cultures? Join us for the first part of an eye-opening series with three culinary experts who have dedicated their lives to celebrating and preserving the rich food traditions of the Caribbean. Featuring Jamaican-Canadian chef Noel Cunningham, seasoned home cook and food writer
The Producer's Perspective: History and Heritage in Caribbean Podcasting with Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.From the cobblestone streets of Montego Bay to the airwaves of your favorite podcasting platform, Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown, founder of Breadfruit Media and producer of Strictly Facts, joins us as we reflect on the evolution of Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History & Culture and discuss her passion for Caribbean American narratives. Wading thr
The Return of the Jamaican Giant Galliwasp: A Tale of Cultural Heritage and Reparations with Dr. Shani Roper
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join us for a riveting discussion with Dr. Shani Roper, Curator at the University of West Indies Museum, as we celebrate a monumental event—the homecoming of the Jamaican Giant Galliwasp from Scotland, an emblem of natural heritage that's been away since the 1850s. The stirring tale of this lizard's return is not only a first in the repatr
Shaping Identity and Preserving Heritage: The Evolution of Caribbean Museums with Mr. Kevin Farmer
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Joined by Mr. Kevin Farmer of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, we explore identity, cultural preservation, and the journey of Caribbean museums from colonial-era institutions to centers that shape national consciousness and safeguard heritage. Mr. Farmer's insights illuminate the evolution of Caribbean museums, spotlighting their cru
Language as Liberation: The History of French-based Antillean Kwéyòl with Soir Smith
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join us as we journey through the linguistic heritage of Saint Lucia with Soir Smith, a passionate St. Lucian Kwéyòl advocate, guiding us through the colorful landscape of French-based creole languages that flourish across the Caribbean. These tongues, far from just a derivative of French, are rich embodiments of culture, history, and identity. We u
Exploring the History and Diversity of Caribbean Sign Languages with Kris M. Ali
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The Caribbean is a region of a myriad of languages, Caribbean sign languages included. In this episode, we’re joined by Caribbean sign language scholar Kris M Ali to discuss the diversity of sign languages, from the shores of Jamaica to the Bay Islands. It's not just about communication; it's a tapestry of identity, history, and resiliency
On the Wrong Side Women's History: Judith Phillip's Role in the Colony of Grenada
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.There are stories we typically don't tell during Women's History Month, one of whihc is the narrative of Judith Phillip (1760-1848), an enslaver from Grenada whose family's dominion over Carriacou and Petit Martinique tells a story not just of land and wealth but race and colonial allegiances against the backdrop of the transatlantic
The Fabric of Words: Caribbean Women Weaving History in Literature with Dr. Warren Harding
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.As we weave through Women's History Month and International Women's Day, the patchwork of Caribbean women's literature takes center stage. With scholar Dr. Warren Harding, we celebrate the novels and poetry that carve out a space for the stories of Caribbean women. Our conversation turns the pages of history, culture, and activism, a
What's In a Name? Geography, Governance, and the Grit of National Identity
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join us as we voyage through the seas of Caribbean geography and politics as we explore the layers of history etched into nations' names and named and unnamed islands that are part of them. From twin islands like Antigua and Barbuda to archipelagos such as The Bahamas, we explore the entwined nature of geography and governance and how it shapes
Navigating the Crossroads of Law, Race, and Sovereignty in Puerto Rico with Dr. Mónica Jiménez
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Join the conversation with Dr. Mónica Jiménez on Strictly Facts, where we peel back the layers of Puerto Rico's unique political situation and the heavy hand of U.S. legislative decisions on the island's fate. Through Dr.Jiménez's personal ties and her scholarly examination in her forthcoming book, Making Never, Never Land: Race and L
The History behind the Guyana-Venezuela Border Dispute
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Celebrate with us as Strictly Facts hits a milestone 75th episode—our heartfelt thanks goes out to each one of you for embarking with us on this journey of enlightenment and shared knowledge. Today, we raise the curtain on the contentious and historic border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, a saga with roots tangled deep in the colonial era and
Embracing Our Legacy and Honoring Ancestral Wisdom: Reflections on Another Year of Strictly Facts
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The echoes of Caribbean carnivals, the rhythm of calypso, and the wisdom of our elders - these are the threads that weave the rich tapestry of our heritage. As I navigated the bittersweet waves of personal loss this holiday season, I was reminded just how vital it is to preserve the legacy of our ancestors. This brief but poignant episode is a refle
Caribbean Footprints: Tracing Jamaican Influence in American Culture through the Life of Martha Gayle with Damion R. Evans
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.The Caribbean influence in the United States is undeniable, especially in states like New York. In this episode, guest Damion R. Evans helps illuminate this story through the engrossing life story of Ms. Martha Gayle, a Jamaican immigrant who journeyed to the US almost a century ago. He'll also be sharing his experiences of discovering Gayle&ap
Framing Culture through Caribbean Cinema with Klieon John
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.In this episode, Klieon John, founder of Twin Island Cinema, joins Strictly Facts as we shed light on the pivotal role Caribbean films have played in shaping the region's vibrant culture and history. Expect a deep dive into the evolution of Caribbean cinema, from the early days of foreign influence to the emergence of globally recognized works
Citizenship through Education and Imperialism in the Dominican Republic with Dr. Alexa Rodriguez
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.We're thrilled to have Dr. Alexa Rodriguez join us for a deeply engaging discussion through the Dominican Republic's educational history. With her unique insights developed through her Dominican heritage and academic background, Dr. Rodriguez deftly unveils the obscured narratives of education under the shadow of US imperialism. Ever wonde
Education and Empire: Schooling, Colonialism, and Migration, in Britain and the British Caribbean with Deanna Lyncook
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Education shapes lives - but how is this journey shaped by race, colonialism, and migration? Join us as we navigate the establishment of school systems in the British Caribbean post-Emancipation to the increasingly diverse classrooms of mid-20th century Britain. We're enlightened by the insights of Deanna Lyncook, a fellow podcaster and PhD stu
Turtle Soup, Maritime Boundaries, andTurtlemen in the Cayman Islands: An Environmental Odyssey with Dr. Sharika Crawford
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Our guest, award-winning author and U.S. Naval Academy professor, Dr. Sharika Crawford, takes us on a historical journey to the heart of the Cayman Islands, unearthing the complex relationship between the environmental landscape and the Islands; inhabitants through turtle soup. Together, we traverse the Cayman's fascinating evolution, from the
Cuban Domestic Labor: A Complex History Unearthed with Dr Anasa Hicks
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, this episode promises to enlighten you with a deep dive into the complexities of Cuba's domestic labor history, guided by the expert insights of our guest, Dr Anasa Hicks, Associate Professor of History at Florida State University. We journey together through the significant shifts of the 20t
Exploring Black Women's Impact in Early 20th-Century Cuba with Dr. Takkara Brunson
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Have you ever wondered what Cuba was like before the 1959 Revolution? This fascinating episode promises to take you there. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us as we are joined by Dr. Takkara Brunson for a riveting exploration of the Republic of Cuba period (1902-1958) through the lens of Black Cuban women. We unravel their significant contribu
Considering Caribbean Students' Experiences with Dr. Emmanuela Stanislaus
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Learning as a Caribbean person doesn't stop with understanding our history. In this episode, Dr. Emmanuela Stanislaus joins us for a discussion on the challenges of being educated outside of the region and how students can seek support and resources as they pursue their education. Dr. Emmanuela is an author, podcaster, consultant, and founder o
A Brief History on Caribbean Myths, Legends, and Folklore with Amanda Alcántara
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Did you grow up hearing chilling stories of duppies and jumbies? Have you ever thought about what these tales and legends mean for Caribbean history and culture? In this episode, Amanda Alcántar joins us to do just that as we explore the impact of Caribbean folklore on our past and uphold their importance, particularly for Black and Brown communitie
Six Moments in Jamaican Sports Her-story for Sixty-one Years of Independence
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.One of my favorite parts of Caribbean culture is how we rally our islands and show our regional pride for our sports teams. In honor of Jamaica celebrating 61 years of independence and Jamaica's Reggae Girls making women's football history, I'm sharing six of my favorite Jamaican women's sports moments of all time. Support the sh
Strictly Facts' Scary Caribbean Travel Spots
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Are there any Caribbean places that give you the creeps? Join us as we continue our summer travel list, this time sharing some of the top spots for hair-raising Caribbean history for your summer adventures. Be sure to let us know on social media if you plan on visiting any of these sites this summer!Support the showConnect with Strictly Facts - Ins
Strictly Facts' Summer World Heritage Sites Recommendations
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.Looking for somewhere new to travel to this summer while still learning something new about the region? Check out our recommendations for some of UNESCO's well-preserved World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean, where history, culture, nature, biodiversity, and legacy all come together. See the full list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites here.
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