8 episodes
Heirs of Enslavement Persephonica
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- History
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3.9 • 54 Ratings
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This is the story of how two Heirs of Enslavement - Clive Lewis MP, a descendent of the enslaved, and Laura Trevelyan, of the enslaver - can come together to right the wrongs of the past.
In this six-part series, Clive and Laura will travel to Grenada, Barbados, and back to London to delve into their shared history. They’ll be asking what people across the Caribbean and beyond want, how to find a way forward, and whether true reparatory justice can be achieved.
New episode every Friday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell
Clive Lewis sits down with Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a wide-ranging conversation on the local and international politics of reparatory justice.
From Grenada's own history to their relationship with China, what an agreement could mean for the NHS, to how money is loaned on the international stage, PM Mitchell gives frank and thoughtful answers to the themes that have cropped up throughout Heirs of Enslavement.
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
The return
This is the story of how two Heirs of Enslavement - Clive Lewis MP, a descendent of the enslaved, and Laura Trevelyan, of the enslaver - can come together to right the wrongs of the past.
In this first episode, Clive and Laura travel to Grenada - the island of their shared history - to explore the past of their families with two special guests: Clive’s dad, Tony Lewis, and Laura’s close friend and historian, Nicole Phillip-Dowe. As they delve into how they both came to this issue, they’re asking why reparatory justice is a conversation now, how their involvement can help, and what the future could look like.
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
What now?
In this final episode of Heirs of Enslavement, Clive Lewis and Laura Trevelyan are reflecting on everything they’ve learned, and asking, what will happen next? Will a British government face up to the case for reparations? And if not, what could happen instead?
They speak to Financial Times columnist Stephen Bush, lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie and Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell about the outlook for an agreement between the Caribbean and the United Kingdom. Plus, they hear from businessman Denis O’Brien about some of the progress being made in the West Indies.
Clive and Laura’s reading list:
Britain’s Black Debt by Hilary McD. Beckles
The First Black Slave Society by Hilary McD. Beckles
How Britain Underdeveloped the Caribbean by Hilary McD. Beckles
Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams
Junior History of Grenada by Dr. Nicole Phillip-Dowe
The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings by Olaudah Equiano
Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera
Slave Empire by Padraic. X. Scanlan
Uncommon Wealth by Kojo Koram
Legacy of Violence by Caroline Elkins
Paradise and Plantation by Ian Gregory Strachan
Beyond a Boundary by C. L. James
A to Z of Grenada Heritage by John Angus Martin
African Europeans by Olivette Otele
A Short History of Slavery by James Walvin
The Case for Reparations (article in The Atlantic) by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
The Windrush link
The West Indies is looking to the UK government for reparations, so this week, Clive Lewis and Laura Trevelyan are heading back to London, to understand the link between the Caribbean and Britain. It’s time to revisit the history of the Windrush generation - the men and women who travelled to Britain for work and to help rebuild after World War Two. Clive talks to his dad about his experience, and Professor Olivette Otele explains how the treatment of the Windrush generation adds to the call for reparations.
With that in mind, Laura and Clive are keen to know what the reparatory justice movement looks like in London. Clive’s Labour colleague Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, shares her insights.
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
The climate question
Clive Lewis and Laura Trevelyan have heard what Grenada and the Caribbean islands want reparatory justice to address, but now it’s time to find out whether any of those issues are moving forward.
There’s one policy area that’s seeing more development than any other in terms of global support - and that’s climate resilience. In this episode, Laura and Clive hear about why the West Indies is at particular risk in a warmer world, and how a plan designed by Barbados could offer a solution that brings reparations and climate planning together.
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
The big ask
Clive Lewis and Laura Trevelyan have heard about the legacies left behind by enslavement in the Caribbean - but what do people in the West Indies actually want reparatory justice to address?
In this episode, they hear about the specific needs of Grenada and beyond - illiteracy, poverty, healthcare and more. Clive and Laura visit the Grenada Community and Resource Library to see firsthand how important education resources are to the island. They speak to Arley Gill, chair of Grenada’s national reparations committee, and to Russell Fielden, a Brit-turned-Grenadian and local entrepreneur.
Producer: Rosie Stopher
Production support: Edwin Frank
Production Manager: Flick Heath
Original music: Andre Greenidge
Score and artwork: Sena Verdi
Sound design: Airaphon
This is a Persephonica Production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Excellent, Well Considered and Well Presented Show
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. An incredibly well balanced and informed show which has given a platform for the decedents of both the enslaved (on both sides of the Atlantic) and the slave owners.
The interviews with knowledge of the history, experience of life in the Caribbean and who are working to effect positive change were wonderful
I’ve learnt so much and have already recommended this podcast to my friends and family. Thank you for a brilliant podcast.
Listen and learn
Whilst listening to this podcast the key to all the conversations IS listening. Listening to learn. Being ‘teachable’ and open to all the facts, feelings, history and consequences. Both presenters have deep roots connected to Grenada and come together to present to us where we are now. And how we (and this is a we, globally) move forward. Listen for yourself. Thanks Laura and Clive, excellent stuff, keep going!!
Extra note - Love that the wonderful Grenada community library was included here. An excellent grassroots org if anyone is looking for ways to personally contribute please get in touch with them. I’m sending a Christmas donation!
Moving the Conversation Forward
Great to hear the pragmatic views of smart people from all sides of the debate, and different generations, moving the conversation forward. They fully acknowledge the past and the hurt done but seem to be considering how that knowledge can bring connection and confidence to ask for the deserved support to move forward.