Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture

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 l...

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...

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 a...

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...

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 t...

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 repat...

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 cr...

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...

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 resilienc...

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...

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,...

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 shape...

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...

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 an...

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 refl...

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&a...

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 wor...

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 wond...

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 st...

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 th...

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 20...

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 contrib...

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...

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 communiti...

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...